Oh! Those Elusive European Historical Regions Quiz

Answer: Ukraine

Halychyna, also known as Galicia, is a region of Ukraine comprising the Oblasts (prefectures) of Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk. The name most likely derives from the word "halytsa", meaning "small hill" in Ukrainian. The region, starting from the medieval Halych-Volyn principality, has been a bastion of Ukrainian patriotism against successive waves of foreign occupation and assimilatory policies.

Answer: Ukraine

Volyn, also known as Volhynia, includes the Oblasts of Volyn (with its capital at Lutsk) and Rivne. Already a part of the Kyivan state in the tenth century, before the baptism of Prince Voldymyr, it is also the place where the Peresopnytsia Gospel, which is used by the Presidents of Ukraine when taking their oath of office, was written. Lithuanian Prince Liubartas also built a magnificent castle in the region.

Answer: Ukraine

The region of Podillia (also splled as Podolia) includes Khmenytskyi Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast, as well as small parts of Odesa Oblast and Cherkasy Oblast. It is first mentioned in the context of the consolidatory activities of Prince Helgi (Oleh) of Kyiv. One of the most important cities of the region is the walled city of Kamianets-Podilskyi, which was especially designed with the aim of withstanding predatory raids by nomads and later Ottoman invaders.

Answer: Ukraine

Pryazovia literally means "above the Sea of Azov". It covers the southern parts of Donetsk Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as the southeastern portion of Kherson Oblast. In the past, the region was part of the Kalmius Palanka, one of the military-civilian subdivisions of the territory controlled by Ukrainian Cossacks.

The region also contained a large Greek population, descending from the Crimean Greeks, whom tsarist Russian troops forcibly evicted from their homeland. One of the most important cities of the region is Mariupol, a major industrial and maritime trading hub.

Answer: Lithuania

Zemaitija is also known as Samogitia. Initially the region was separate from Lithuania Proper, but became consolidated with it in the 13th century, when the Baltic peoples, the last Pagans of Europe, had to face repeated onslaughts by Roman Catholic crusaders.

The most important city of Zemaitija is Siauliai, where the 1236 Battle of Saule was fought, resulting in a stunning Lithuanian victory against the Livonian Order.

Answer: Lithuania

Aukstaitija is the cradle of Lithuanian statehood, given that Kernave, the first Lithuanian capital, was located there. Its name means "Highland", due to the fact that it is to be found in the upper basin of the Nemunas river, in contrast to the "lowlands" of Samogitia.

Answer: Lithuania

Dzukija comprises the southeastern parts of Lithuania. Because of its sandy soil, it is mostly unsuitable for agricultural activities. Pine forests and swamps predominate, yet both the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius and the city of Trakai, which contains a magnificent 14th-century castle, are to be found within the region.

Answer: Lithuania

Suvalkija is a part of the broader Suwalki region, which is shared by Lithuania and Poland. The name derives from the Sudovians or Yotvingians, a Baltic tribe akin to the Old Prussians, which joined Lithuania in the late 13th century. The Lithuanian Suvalkija is also called occasionally the Suwalki Gap, because it separates the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad (itself on former Baltic and German lands, ceded to Russia in 1945) and Belarus.

Answer: Italy

Picenum takes its name from the Picentes, an ancient Italic tribe inhabiting most of modern-day Marche and a part of Abruzzo. Although initially they fought against Rome, the Picentes were subdued by it and remained loyal to the Eternal City during the war against Hannibal. The foe of Caesar, Pompey, was born there.

Answer: Italy

Lucania was located in southern Italy, its borders roughly corresponding to the modern-day region of Basilicata. The name is taken from the Lucani tribe. The coastal regions of the area were also the place of dense Greek settlement, with splendid cities like Metapontium and Thurii dotting the landscape.

Answer: Italy

Bruttium as a region corresponds to modern-day Calabria. The first inhabitants of the region are said to be the Greek Oenotri ("cultivators of vines") and the Italic Bruttii (whence the Roman name "Brutus" and the English word "brute") came there somewhat later. The city of Rhegium, located in Bruttium, was the birthplace of Ibycus, one of the most renowned ancient Greek lyric poets.

Answer: Italy

Samnium was the homeland of the Samnites, the rivals of early Rome. It included most of modern-day Campania, but also parts of Molise and Abruzzo. The name Samnium survived for much longer than the independence of the Samnites, being used as late as the sixth century AD as an administrative division.

Answer: France

Septimania refers to a coastal strip in southern France, including the modern-day cities of Carcassonne and Narbonne. In 462 AD, the region became part of Visigothic Spain, remaining so until the kingdom was destroyed by the Arab invaders. Subsequently, it was annexed by the Franks, who used the names Septimania and Marca Gothica ("Gothic frontier region") interchangeably.

Answer: France

Armorica (famous from the "Asterix" comics even for those not well-versed in History) includes the peninsula of Brittany as well as parts of modern-day Normandy. In Late Antiquity, inhabitants of Britain, escaping the turmoil in their island, settled there. Because of the Brythonic language they spoke, the name Brittany arose and gradually eclipsed the name Armorica.

Answer: France

Dentelin is to be found in modern-day northeastern France, including the cities of Tournai, Arras and Cambrai. In the early medieval era, it was the bone of contention between the Frankish kingdoms of Neustria (which had Paris as its capital) and Austrasia (which extended into Belgium and Germany).

The fact that in the Dentelin lay the earliest foci of Frankish power made the contest a fight for prestige and precedent and not merely a border dispute.

Answer: France

The name Occitania is broadly used to denote the area where the Occitan language is spoken, laying overwhelmingly in southwestern France, corresponding largely with the medieval Duchy of Aquitaine (whence came the mother of Richard the Lionheart, Eleanor). The status of the Occitan language and its relation to French have been the subject of major disputes.

Answer: Latvia

Latgale is located in the eastern parts of Latvia, including most of the Latvian-Russian border. Its major city is Daugavapils. In contrast to the mostly Lutheran Latvia, Latgallia has a Roman Catholic majority of two-thirds and a sizeable Orthodox community. Historically, it has also seen minimal German settlement, in contrast to the regions of the country that touch the Baltic Sea.

Answer: Latvia

Kurzeme (also known as Courland or Curonia) is the westernmost region of Latvia. Its major city is Liepaja. From the mid-16th century to 1795 (when tsarist Russia occupied the Baltic lands), Courland and the neigbouring region of Zemgale (Semigallia) were united in a single duchy, vassal of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Answer: Latvia

Zemgale (also known as Semigallia) lies in southwestern Latvia. Its major city is Jelgava. The region was well-known to the Vikings and is mentioned in runestones and sagas. It became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in about 1290.

Answer: Latvia

Vidzeme is the northernmost region of Latvia, containing the country's capital, Riga. Alongside the Baltic Latvians, a Finno-Ugric population called Livs or Livonians also inhabits the area.