Europes Landscapes and Historical Shifts- Physiographic Regions, Russian Empire Evolution, and the Ottoman Mandate System
The physiographic regions of Europe
Europe’s physical geography is divided into four main regions. The western uplands or the Northern Highlands are characterized by hard and old rocks formed through glaciation. Glaciation is defined as the process of land transformation through ice sheets and glaciers. This type of landscape is found in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, and France’s Britany region. As the glaciers recede from a specific area, specific features such as fjords, lakes, and marshlands are formed. Most European fjords are found in Scandinavia and Iceland (National Geographic Society, 2021). A fjord is a long and narrow sea inlet surrounded by rugged and high cliffs.
The North European Plain is located below 152 meters in elevation. The physical terrain extends to areas such as Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Denmark, and Belarus. The plains host navigable rivers such as the Rhine, Oder, Vistula, Elbe, and Weser. The climate in this region supports various seasonal crops. In the past, the physical regions have been densely populated and support travel, early communication, and agricultural advancements (National Geographic Society, 2021).
Central uplands are not as rugged as the Alpine regions, which are heavily wooded. Areas with the characteristic region include Central Europe, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Western France, and Southern Germany. Lower altitudes characterize the central uplands. The significant highlands include the Ardennes in Belgium, the Black Forest, the Taunus in Germany, Ore and Sudeten in the Czech Republic, France’s Vosges, and the Massif Central. Only a few people occupy the Central upland regions except for the Elbe, Rhine, Danube, and Rhine river valleys. The Alps’ foothills provide a reliable source of raw materials such as coal and other forest products that support industrial activities. Cattle and dairy farming are common activities in the Central Uplands. The typical vegetation includes elms, maple, and oak trees, which grow among pines and firs.
The Alpine mountains are the final physiographic region of Europe. The areas that are characterized as the Alpine mountains include Balkan and Italian Peninsulas, south of France, and North of Spain. The main mountains in the region include the Balkans, Apennines, Pyrenees, Alps, Dinaric Alps, and the Carpathians. The main features include rugged plateaus, high elevations, and steep slopes. Subsequently, the highest peak is Mount Elbrus, which is 5,642 meters and is found in Russia’s Caucasus mountains (National Geographic Society, 2021). There are active volcanoes in these Alpine mountains, such as Mount Vesuvius and Etna in Italy.
Moreover, the mountains are a reliable source of minerals and other ores which were deposited during the formation process. The climate in these regions is warm during summer and cool, wet during winter. This type C climate allows for the cultivation of various food items, including olives, citrus fruits, apricots, grapes, and figs.
Key events that shaped Russian history between the 15th century and 1904
During the 15th century, Ivan III became Moscow’s grand prince and freed Russia from the Mongols. In the 16th century, Ivan IV was crowned as Russia’s first Tsar. He also conquered Kazan and enlarged his kingdom. When the 17th century began, Poland attacked Russia in 1609. In 1613, the Romanov dynasty began after the election of Michael Romanov as Tsar. In 1648, the Salt Riot took place in Moscow due to the introduction of a tax on salt. Later on, Russia attacked Poland, and a peace treaty was signed later in 1667 between the two nations. By the century’s end, Peter the Great was Tsar, and he established Russia as a global power through a standing army and reforms (TSI, 2021).
Consistently, in the 18th century, the war with Sweden kicked off, and Russia managed to win and gain additional territories; Livonia and Estonia Saint Petersburg became the Russian Empire’s capital city. After the demise of Peter the great, his spouse Catherine I became Russia’s Empress. Furthermore, in the 20th century, Tsar Alexander II and III ruled during this period and passed on. The famine also killed at least 400,000 people and affected millions. A stampede, the Khodynka Tragedy, took place during the coronation of Nicholas II and killed at least 1300 people. At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia experienced civil unrest, which ended in a coup (British Library, n.d).
The relationship between the Ottoman Empire and the impact of the mandate system imposed on that imperial region following World War I
The Mandate system was created after the end of World War 1 in 1918. The League of Nations created the Mandate System, intending to end the war over land that had already been conquered. The land would be appropriated to German colonies and the Ottoman Empire. Accordingly, territories were divided into three. Some were close to achieving independence, some were far from it, and some lacked hope. The larger and established states would manage these colonies. The mandate system had three classes: classes A, B, and C. Essentially, this system was expected to avoid the creation of chaos following the loss of colonies that the Ottman Empire and Germans ruled. It did not intend to promote new colonialism or further acquisition of colonies by the more established powers (Matz, 2005).
Despite the notion that continued colonialism was unnecessary, the continued rule over nations that were not close to achieving independence reinforced the idea that some people were incapable of establishing administration. In most cases, the Africans and Asians were perceived as too uncivilized and incapable of establishing order in their territories. This perception affected the democratic journey of nations that continued under the rule of the established countries. The colonies had different cultures and could not be put in a basket based on similarities. However, the nations that ruled over these colonies were less democratic, and most were monarchies. This means that the labeling of some countries as civilized and others as uncivilized was misplaced because it was and still is impossible to shun all the differences and utilize a Western democracy as the globally accepted form of civilization.
Today, certain nations ‘assist’ others to attain democracy, emphasizing the lack of civilization for some and its presence for others. It is common for certain nations to be considered as failed when measured based on the Western notion of civilization and democracy (Matz, 2005). Therefore, the use of the mandate system may have promoted decolonization but furthered a different impact on the perceptions that ‘more civilized’ nations have on other nations around the world. It also promoted the lack of respect and regard for differences among nations, a significant determining factor in their civilization.
References
British Library. (n.d). Timeline of the Russian Revolution. Retrieved from https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution
Matz, N. (2005). Civilization and the Mandate System under the League of Nations as Origin of Trusteeship. Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, 9, 47-95.
National Geographic Society. (2021). Europe: Physical Geography. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/europe-physical-geography/
TSI. (2021). Russia.
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Question 
Directions: Be sure to save an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English, spelling, and grammar. When called for, sources must be cited in APA format. You can refer to the “Format Requirementsʺ page for specific format requirements. Respond to the topics for this writing assignment using your own words and examples. Design your responses as if you are explaining facts, concepts, and ideas to someone unfamiliar with the subject matter. Be sure to include creative examples wherever they may be appropriate. Also, be sure to provide a title for each essay response. (4 pages total)
Europe Landscapes and Historical Shifts- Physiographic Regions, Russian Empire Evolution, and the Ottoman Mandate System
This assignment requires you to write essays in response to all of the following:
Part A In your own words, describe the four physiographic regions of Europe.
Part B, concerning the rise of the Russian Empire, briefly outlines key events that shaped Russian history between the 15th century and 1904.
Part C Describe the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and the impact of the mandate system imposed on that imperial region following World War I.