Final answer:
Serbia features the Dinaric Alps in the southeast and an extensive western region with plains and river basins. The terrain has significantly influenced cultural and political separation amongst various Slavic groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Serbia has the Dinaric Alps in the southeast and the western region with its coastal plain, river basins, and small foothills in the west. The Dinaric Alps, a high mountain range that runs through the center of the Balkan Peninsula, forms a part of Serbia's rugged terrain. In the western part of Serbia, the landscape transitions to a more gentle topography with river basins and smaller hills that make up the extensive coastal plains.
The mountains have played a significant role in shaping the cultural and political landscape of the area. They have historically separated and isolated different Slavic groups such as the Slovenes, Macedonians, Bosnians, Montenegrins, Croats, and Serbs, which has led to distinct identities and, at times, conflict and division, especially with the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Understanding Serbia's geography is essential for grasping the complexity of its cultural and political history.