How sure are you of your geographical knowledge? Americans' geography knowledge was recently put to the test with a survey in which participants had to write in countries' names on a blank map of Europe. Unfortunately, they didn't fare too well, but some of their responses are hilarious (or hilariously misinformed).
But don't be so quick to judge Americans - when a similar survey was testing Brits' knowledge of the 50 United States, they also came up short. On the one hand, knowing a country's states is different from knowing independent countries on the map, but on the other, some U.S. states are larger than some European nations, and some U.S. states have greater economies than some European nations.
The gaps in these survey-takers' knowledge also speak to historical and political realities. Very few survey-takers could correctly identify the former Soviet satellites, parts of Eastern Europe, or the nations that make up the Balkan peninsula. Many of the countries in these areas haven't been around (independently) for quite as long as their counterparts in less turbulent parts of Europe's map.
No matter what, though, after this Europe map quiz we can all probably agree that there are at least a few Americans who should dust off the old atlas or geography textbook and check out what the world looks like across the pond!
Now, scroll down for a map of European countries geography lesson below!
