Final answer:
Most people in Northern Europe live in large cities due to the urbanization following the Industrial Revolution and subsequent economic and technological developments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student question regarding where most people in Northern Europe live can be answered based on historical and recent demographic trends. Despite the fact that around 90 percent of the European population lived in rural areas during the Middle Ages, the Industrial Revolution brought dramatic changes. The mass production of goods and advancements in technology led to a decrease in the need for agricultural labor and an increase in factory jobs, prompting a rural-to-urban shift.
In the context of Northern Europe specifically, including countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland, which were significantly influenced by Viking heritage, there has been a notable progression from agricultural to industrialized economies. Given this information, and the fact that the capital cities of these countries, which are also major ports, are their largest urban centers, it is most accurate to say that today, most people in Northern Europe live in large cities.