GEOG 101 AMU Introduction to Geography American Military University Week 2 assistance is available at Domyclass
WEEK 2: Europe and Russia
Lesson Overview
This week looks at the geographic realms of Europe and Russia. Europe’s unique situation and historic contribution to the development of western civilization is discussed. Agrarian, Industrial, and Political Revolutions are delineated and described. Contemporary Europe is explored in regards to its urban political and economic challenges. The regions of this realm are located and discussed in some detail. Highlights include the concepts of centripetal and centrifugal forces, Supranationalism, and Balkanization. Russia is the largest territorial state in the world. The recent devolution of the United Soviet Socialist Republic is explored in the context of Russia’s current dimensions and distributions of resources. Evolution of the Russian State along with its colonial legacy is explained. The Soviet legacy and Russia’s changing political geography is described. The regions of this realm are located and discussed in some detail. Conceptual highlights include climatology, imperialism, and the Heartland theory.
Students will be able to:
- Recognize the major geographic qualities of Europe and Russia. (CO-2, CO-3)
- Identify the major climate types associated with Europe and Russia. (CO-3)
- Relate the languages of Europe and Russia to cultural areas. (CO-1, CO-2, CO-6)
- Contrast the devolutionary pressures felt in Europe and Russia. (CO-1, CO-4, CO-5)
- Recognize the regions of Europe and Russia. (CO-2, CO-3)
In this lesson, we will discuss:
- Europe Geographic Qualities
- Europe Physical Landscape
- European and Russian Infrastructure
The following activities and assessments need to be completed this week:
- Reading:
- World Regional Geography: People, Places, Globalization – Chapter 2 and 3
- Forum #2
- Quiz 2
In this lesson, we will be introduced to the major geographical features of the European and Russian geographic realms, including their evolving borders, resources, climates, human diversity, and locational advantages and opportunities. The historical significance of these two realms, including the revolutions that have shaped them and impacted most all other realms of the world, is explored. Human geography characteristics of contemporary Europe and Russia include discussion of languages and religions, issues of spatial interaction, urbanization and population issues. Political issues are discussed followed by examination of the regions within these realms, as well as future prospects and unresolved human and physical problems.
Topics covered will include:
- The European Realm
- Revolutions in Modern Europe
- Contemporary Europe
- European Regions
- The Russian Realm
- The Evolution of Russian States
- The Russian Climate
- Regions of Russia
n this lesson, we will be introduced to the major geographical features of the European and Russian geographic realms, including their evolving borders, resources, climates, human diversity, and locational advantages and opportunities. The historical significance of these two realms, including the revolutions that have shaped them and impacted most all other realms of the world, is explored. Human geography characteristics of contemporary Europe and Russia include discussion of languages and religions, issues of spatial interaction, urbanization and population issues. Political issues are discussed followed by examination of the regions within these realms, as well as future prospects and unresolved human and physical problems.
Lying on the western flank of the Eurasian landmass is the third most populous geographic realm, Europe. While heavily populated with nearly 750 million residents in 40 fragmented states, Europe is physically small in respect to other geographic realms. For many centuries, Europe has stood out in the world as a harbinger of achievement, invention, and innovation, with its influence spreading around the world. Europe’s wealth of natural resources and raw materials has been the source of much of this achievement and dominance.
Europe’s enduring world influence results mainly from advantages accrued over centuries of colonial and imperial domination. At the beginning of the twentieth century, European flags flew over much of Africa, Asia, and the Austral realm, though European colonialism has since dwindled. Its location and proximity—convenient to Russia, Africa, and the Middle East—has allowed for easy contact with the rest of the world, as has the continent’s extensive coastline. Its many port cities have made it a long-time leader in trade as well as exploration.
The Roman Empire was headed by an absolute ruler, and after its fall absolute rulers continued to hold dominance in Europe. That began to change in the sixteenth century, when economic development grew to the point that it began to undermine these rulers. The self-made city merchant was gaining wealth and becoming more and more influential in European society.
At the same time, a number of revolutions began to spread throughout Europe. One was the Scientific Revolution, marked by great leaps and bounds in science and technology. Many of these developments involved agriculture. Crop rotation, the practice of dividing fields and planting different crops in the same soil each season, was practiced. Crops discovered in the New World were introduced into Europe, such as potatoes and corn. Inventions such as the horse-drawn seed drill made farming easier.