Sources of maps

Pressbooks, which is how this book is created, doesn’t allow PDF files to upload and embed so I suggest using the following links to the BYU Map page and the World Factbook maps when studying.

For many years I used maps produced by the BYU Geography department for my map quizzes. Here’s the link to the BYU Map page.

Another good source of country and regional maps is the CIA World Factbook. The maps section of the World Factbook is here.

How to study for map quizzes.

Actively study

To learn the location of countries and cities and landforms, I recommend printing out several copies of outline maps without labels. Also find a labeled map. Look at 5-7 countries on the labeled map. Observed their shapes, locations relative to each other and oceans and mountain ranges. Look at the labeled map and say ALOUD “Country A is west of Country B and B has this shape…” Next, close your eyes and envision all 5-7 countries.

Now, on the blank map, label those countries. Work in groups of 5-7 items because that’s about all most people can keep track at one time (think about remembering phone numbers with seven digits).  Repeat this several times to truly learn those 5-7 locations. Once done, move to another group of 5-7 countries.  After doing perhaps 4 different groups, go back to the first group again to make sure you still remember it.

The next step, or concurrent with the above step, is to trace the outline of each country by hand on the paper map. Again say ALOUD “I am tracing the north border of Country A. On the other side is Country D. The shape of the border is a [straight line, follows River X…]”. You should touch (draw), hear (say aloud), and observe (see) the shape and spatial characteristics of the country and borders.

Finally find another map that has only the regional outline, such as Europe without the countries. Now roughly draw in the locations of each country. The first try may have crude circles for approximate locations. Large circles for large countries, small circles for small countries in about the correct location. On a later attempt you should try to duplicate the shape and location of the borders.

Passively study

Get a map or several maps of the region you’re studying and put them on the wall where you will often see them. I like having a map next to the TV, the top of the stairs, the wall opposite the dining room table. You look at the map many times throughout the day and passively learn where places are. You can do the same with math formulas and diagrams of biogeochemical cycles.

Placenames lists

These are the places I include on map quizzes in Introduction to Geography. Only countries, capitals, and some major cities are included. No landforms for this course.

European Place Names

Europe maps:  Outline Countries,   CIA Names,   Regional outlineThe Region: Iceland, UK, to the Russian Border, Scandinavia to the Mediterranean Sea.

Significant cities

EU institutions: Brussels, Frankfurt, Luxembourg City, Strasbourg

Antwerp (diamonds)

Barcelona

Berlin

Cagli, Italy (Spokane Sister City)

Geneva

Limerick, Ireland (Spokane Sister City)

London

Madrid

Milan

Paris

Rome

Rotterdam

The Hague

Countries

Learn all countries and their capitals, other than the micro-states.  If you’re short on time, focus on these:

Belgium

France

Germany

Greece

Italy

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United Kingdom

Russia and Central Asia

Maps: Outline Countries, CIA Names,  Region Outline,

The Region: Former Soviet Union (USSR) Ukraine, Baltic through C. Asia to Pacific.

Countries and capitals:

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Belarus

Estonia

Georgia

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

Lithuania

Russia

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Ukraine

Uzbekistan

Baku

Grozny

Minsk

Moscow

Murmansk

Norilsk (non-capital)

Novosibirsk

Nur-Sultan

St. Petersburg

Tashkent

Vladivostok

Mariupol

Odessa

Donetsk

Volgograd

Asia (East and South and Southeast, not Central)

Maps: Outline Countries,   Countries Named,   Cities,   Region Outline

The Region: From Pakistan/Afghanistan to Japan/Philippines, SE Asia to Singapore.

Not the former USSR.

Countries: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, India, Maldives, Myanmar/Burma, Sri Lanka, China, Mongolia, Japan, N/S Koreas, Taiwan, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei and their capitals

Political regions

Guangdong

Major Cities

Bangalore

Chennai (Madras)

Dhaka

Jecheon, South Korea

Jilin City, China

Karachi

Kolkata

Lahore

Mumbai (Bombay)

Nishinomiya, Japan

Chongqing

Guangzhou

Hong Kong

Macau

Shanghai

Urumqi

plus capitals

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) orSouthwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA)

Maps: MENA Core,   MENA Broad,   Outline Broad,   Outline Core,   Core Named CIA,

The region: All countries and capitals within the area bounded by the Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf, Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea, from Afghanistan to Morocco.

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Abu Dhabi

Alexandria

Baghdad

Beirut

Benghazi

Cairo

Damascus

Gaza Strip

Golan Heights

Istanbul

Jerusalem

*Karbala*

Mecca

Medina

*Najaf*

*Qom*

Riyadh

Samarkand

Tehran

Tel Aviv

West Bank

*Shiite holy sites

Africa

Maps: Outline Countries,   Region Outline,   Countries CIA

Know ALL countries of the Sahel and south of the Sahara.  Will not include MALE and Tunisia

The Political Geography quiz with include all countries, capitals, plus these important cities:Cape Town, Douala, Lagos, Timbuktu, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma

Note: The capital of Burundi is shifting from Bujumbura to Gitega as of late 2019.

The capital of Tanzania is officially Dodoma. Dar es Salaam is the economic & historic capitol.

Latin America

Maps: Outline Countries,  Region Outline,  South America CIA,   C. American & Caribbean CIA

The region: Everything south of the US border including Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean islands, South America.

Sub Regions:  There are fewer countries in the region so I add these: Greater and Lesser Antilles, Leeward and Windward Islands, Galapagos Islands, Falkland Is. Tierra del Fuego, Straits of Magellan, Galapagos Is., Falkland Is.

Additional cities:

Manaus, Brazil

São Paulo, Brazil

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Bogotá Colombia

Lima, Peru

Santiago, Chile

Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Salvador, Brazil

Fortaleza, Brazil

Cali, Colombia

Medellin, Colombia

Monterrey, MX

Guadalajara, MX

Ciudad Juárez, MX

Tijuana, MX

Oaxaca, MX

Nuevo Laredo, MX