For Britain and its surrounding island neighbors, it’s isolation from the mainland by sea led to the various tribes occupying what would become Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England splintering from those on the mainland and forming a mix of various cultures and peoples that would become modern day Great Britain. Cities were built around water sources, the most well known of these the River Thames, which London was built around. The Scandinavian countries’ cold weather forced the settlers there to adopt warm clothes, and the the emphasis on forestry as opposed to agriculture in the northern and mountainous areas. It’s coastal nature led to tribes becoming seafaring, with seafood becoming a major staple of their diet, and traveling by ship common. This seafaring nature led to the development of the Viking raiders, who attacked other European coastal areas. Iceland, due to being an island far away from the European mainland, would later be colonized sparsely by Nordic peoples due to its remoteness and harsh environment. The Scandinavian highlands would encourage crop growth to move to less harsh and rugged land, and acted as a barrier to travel.
- Landforms of North European Countries:
- Ireland:
- Rivers: Suir, Shannon, Boyne
- Mountain Ranges: Brandon, Galtymore, Croagh Patrick
- Rivers: Suir, Shannon, Boyne
- England:
- Rivers: Thames, Severn, Wye
- Mountains:Scafell, Helvellyn, Ill Crag
- Rivers: Thames, Severn, Wye
- Iceland:
- Rivers:Hvítá, Árnessýsla, Norðurá, Ölfusá
- Mountains:Snæfellsjökull, Hvannadalshnúkur, Herðubreið
- Rivers:Hvítá, Árnessýsla, Norðurá, Ölfusá
- Denmark:
- Rivers: Gudenå, Skjern River, Odense River
- Mountains: Himmelbjerget, Møllehøj, Ejer Bavnehøj
- Rivers: Gudenå, Skjern River, Odense River
- Norway:
- Rivers: Namsen, Glomma, Gaula
- Mountains: Galdhøpiggen, Store Skagastølstind, Rondeslottet
- Rivers: Namsen, Glomma, Gaula
- Sweden:
- Rivers: Torne, Lule River, Dalälven
- Mountains: Kebnekaise, Sarektjåkkå, Helagsfjället
- Rivers: Torne, Lule River, Dalälven
- Finland:
- Rivers: Kemijoki, Vantaa, Simojoki
- Mountains: Saana, Ridnitšohkka, Koli
- Rivers: Kemijoki, Vantaa, Simojoki
- Estonia:
- Rivers: Pärnu, Emajõgi, Võhandu
- Mountains: Suur Munamägi, Vällamägi, Kerekunnu mägi
- Rivers: Pärnu, Emajõgi, Võhandu
- Latvia:
- Rivers: Daugava, Gauja, Lielupe
- Mountains: Gaiziņkalns, Egļukalns,
- Rivers: Daugava, Gauja, Lielupe
- Lithuania:
- Rivers: Neman, Merkys, Šešupė
- Mountains: Aukštojas, Juozapines, Nevaišių Kalnas
- Rivers: Neman, Merkys, Šešupė
- Ireland:
From 1911 to 2016, borders have changed in Europe, due to a variety of events and reasons. At the time the historical map was made, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia were not recognized as independent states; instead, they were part of the territories of the Russian Empire. These three countries declared independence in the 1910’s but all three countries were later either absorbed or annexed into the Soviet Union, where they would remain until around 1990 to 1991, where they would declare themselves independent states amidst the dissolution of the Soviet Union, becoming one of many former Soviet bloc states. Northern Ireland, which is found on the up-to-date map, does not appear on the of 1911. Northern Ireland was formed after the British Parliament partitioned Northern and Southern Ireland in 1921, separating it into Northern Ireland, part of the UK, while Southern Ireland became the Irish Free State in 1922, a country independent of Britain.