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Ch. 19-21 Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
subcontinent | The area of Asia that is bound by the Himalayas on the north & by the Indian Ocean on the south; bigger than a peninsula, but smaller than a continen |
monsoon | A seasonal wind caused by the heating & cooling of large landmasses |
caste system | System within Hinduism that assigns people to different classes, each with its own privileges & responsibilities; strictly determines one's social class |
Brahmins | Priests & teachers who occupy the highest caste along with rulers & warriors |
Jainism | Religion of India related to Hinduism & Buddhism |
typhoon | Hurricane that occurs over the waters near Eastern Asia |
tsunami | Huge wave caused by earthquakes |
animism | Religious belief that ascribes a spiritual powers to animals and plants |
Himalayas | Highest mountain range in the world |
Mt. Everest | Highest mountain in the world; in the Himalayas |
Ganges River | One of the longest rivers in the world; worshipped as a god int he Hindu religion |
New Delhi | Capital of India |
Mahatma Ghandi | Leader of Indian nationalism in British ruled India (civil rights leader); taught non-violent civil disobedience |
Kashmir | An area which is claimed by both India & Pakistan (disputed border) |
Taj Mahal | White marble memorial and tomb in India |
Sherpas | People of Nepal who are often hired as guides in the mountains |
Gurkhas | People of Nepal who are known for their fighting abilities |
rupees | The currency of India |
Mohenjo-Duro | An ancient Indian city in Pakistan; Indus Valley civilization from 2500-1700BC |
Intensive farming | A type of subsistence farming in fertile areas that allows individuals to raise crops on a small plot of land |
Ancestor worship | The belief that the dead have a continued existence & possess the ability to influence the lives of the living (veneration of the dead) |
Dalai Lama | Religious leader in Tibet who is viewed as the reincarnation of Buddha |
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) | A neutral zone separating hostile countries, usually used in reference to South and North Korea |
Hiroshima | Japanese city & site of the first atomic bomb attack |
Samurai | Ancient Japanese warriors |
Pacific Rim | The countries that touch the Pacific Ocean, especially those of East Asia |
Shanghai | China's largest city |
Beijing | China's capital |
Hong Kong | British colony China's southern coast; reverted to China in 1997; the busiest port in the world |
Tibet (Xizang) | A plateau region in Asia; northeast of the Himalayas; highest region on Earth |
Forbidden City | The Imperial City where Chinese emperors used to live; In Beijing |
Tiananmen Square | Large city square in Beijing; site of a series of pro-democratic protests in 1989 |
Mao Zedong | Communist leader in China; founding father of the People's Republic of China; 1949-1976 (death) |
Taiwan | Island in the South China Sea; under Chinese leadership despite a strong desire for independence |
Ulaanbaatar | Capital of Mongololia |
Gobi Desert | World's coldest & most northerly desert |
Seoul | Capital of South Korea |
Honshu | Japan's largest island |
Shinto | Japan's main religion |
Tokyo | Japan's capital |
Indochina | The mainland portion of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, & Myanmar |
Insular countries | Countries that are isolated or cut off form other countries |
Archipelago | Large group of islands |
Nirvana | In Buddhism, the state of complete happiness & rest |
ASEAN | Association of Southeast Asian Nations Goal: to promote political & economic cooperation |
Domino Theory | The idea that if one country in Southeast Asia fell to communism the others would soon fall too, just like dominoes |
Golden Triange | Area where the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand meet |
Mekong River | The border between Thailand & Myanmar |
Siam | The former name of Thailand |
Khmer Rouge | The communist regime in Cambodia; in the mid 1970s it decided to "eliminate' any opposition; killed approx. 1.5 million people |
Hanoi | Capital of Vietnam |
Ho Chi Minh City | Largest city in Southern Vietnam; formerly Saigon |
Java | Island in Indonesia; most densely populated in Indonesia |
Jakarta | Indonesia's capital |
Luzon | Largest & most populated island in the Philippines |
Manila | Capital of Philippines; on Luzon |