World Geography Chapter 2
What is a kibbutz?
a communal society where people voluntarily live and work together for the good of the community
List three characteristics that dominate the Arabian Peninsula.
desert, Islam, oil
What major landform marks the northern border of the Indian subcontinent?
the Himalayas
What is the root of conflict in the Middle East? What other factors contribute to the tension in this area?
the common ancestry of the Jews and Arabs through Abraham; disputes over religion, land, and water
List three characteristics that dominate the Arabian Peninsula.
the desert, Islam, oil
What large island nation once belonged to the Netherlands? Which island nation is the only predominantly Catholic country in Asia?
Indonesia; the Philippines
Name India's three main rivers.
Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra
Where are the ruins of ancient Babylon found?
Iraq
What is the chief religion of Pakistan and Bangladesh?
Islam
Why is the Middle East called the "Crossroads of the Ancient World"? Explain the significance of this region to the modern world.
It is called the Crossroads of the Ancient World because of its central location at the intersection of the overland trade routes which connected Europe, Asia, and Africa. The region is important for several reasons: civilization began there; it is the birthplace of Christianity, Jadaism, and Islam; and it influences the world politically and economically.
Why is the Fertile Crescent called the "Cradle of Civilization"? What event marked the beginning of nations?
It is the place where mankind established the first civilization after the Flood; the dispersion from Babel marked the beginning of nations.
Main ethnic group of Israel
Jews
Identify the two main religions in Israel.
Judaism and Islam
Name the two large deserts in the southern half of Central Asia.
Karakum and Kyzylkum
Which country is the largest republic in Central Asia?
Kazakhstan
Who was Turkey's first president? To what city did he move the capital?
Kemal Atatürk; Angora (Ankara)
Name the nations that occupy Mainland Southeast Asia. What nations make up Insular Southeast Asia?
Mainland Southeast Asia - Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, vietnam; Insular Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines
What is the official language of both China and Taiwan?
Mandarin
What two cities in Saudi Arabia are visited by millions of Muslim pilgrims every year?
Mecca and Medina
Which Japanese city is the largest city (in population) in the world?
Tokyo
Main ethnic group of Turkey
Turks
Name the countries in Indochina that are dominated by Communism.
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
When was the modern state of Israel established?
1948
What parallel of latitude divides North Korea and South Korea?
38th parallel
Explain the difference between the "People's Republic of China" and the "Republic of China."
A Communist government dominates the People's Republic of China on mainland China, while the Republic of China is a free country located on teh island of Taiwan.
Name the plateau and peninsula occupied by Asiatic Turkey.
Anatolian Plateau and Asia Minor
How have Hinduism and the observance of caste hindered progress in India?
Answers will vary. Hinduism has fostered a spirit of resistance to change and progress, and the caste system has resigned people to accept poverty rather than work to better their condition.
Explain the effects of the that religion and the caste system on the people of India.
Answers will vary. Hinduism has fostered a spirit of resistance to change and progress. The caste system has resigned people to accept poverty rather than work to better their condition.
Name the largest peninsula in Asia. What is the largest archipelago?
Arabian Peninsula; Malay Archipelago
Main ethnic group of Jordan
Arabs
Explain the relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan and their connection to India.
Bangladesh and Pakistan were originally one nation but were divided by the British to provide a haven for Muslims in Hindu India. Ethnic differences led to a civil war, and with India's help, East Pakistan broke away from West Pakistan forming the new nation of Bangladesh.
Which national capital in the Fertile Crescent was destroyed by civil war in the 1970s?
Beirut
Main ethnic group of Bangladesh
Bengalis
Why is there so much livestock in India?
Cattle are not slaughtered because they are considered sacred.
Name two of the greatest Chinese dynasties. Which dynasty built the Great Wall of China?
Ch'in and Han; Ch'in
What large landmass consists of the continents of Asia and Europe?
Eurasia
What is Central Asia's most populous region?
Fergana Valley
Name the three countries that make up Transcaucasia. What empire ruled these countries before 1991?
Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan; Soviet empire
What is the coldest desert in the world (outside Antarctica)?
Gobi Desert
Main ethnic group of Taiwan
Han chinese
What is the chief religion of India?
Hinduism
Name the four main islands of Japan. On which island are Mount Fuji and the Kanto Plain found?
Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu; Honshu
Name China's two most important rivers.
Huang He, Yangtze
Describe the climate of India.
Most of India has a savanna climate characterized by three seasons: cool, dry winters; hot, dry springs,; and hot wet summers. The moutains have a highland climate.
What is the highest point on the earth? The lowest point on land?
Mount Everest; Dead Sea
Name the two small kingdoms located in the Himalayas. In which country is Mount Everest located?
Nepal, Bhutan; Nepal
What countries make up Northeast Asia?
North Korea, South Korea, Japan
Main ethnic group of Afghanistan
Pashtuns
By what name was Iran known before World War I? Who began the drive to modernize Iran after the war?
Persia; Shah Reza Khan Pahlavi
What ancient city in Jordan draws tourists?
Petra
What plateau is called the "roof of the world"? Why?
Plateau of Tibet - It is the earth's highest plateau.
Main ethnic group of Pakistan
Punjabis
What is Japan's oldest religion? Name the other leading religion in Japan.
Shinto; Buddhism
Identify the prosperous little island nation at the tip of the Malay Peninsula.
Singapore
Main ethnic group of Sri Lanka
Sinhalese
What ethnic group is the largest in Sri Lanka?
Sinhalese
Name the canal that separates Asia from Africa.
Suez Canal
Which people trace their language and culture to Persia?
Tajiks
Which of the countries in Southeast Asia has a fairly stable monarchy and maintains ties with the West?
Thailand
What is the root of the conflict in the Middle East? Name another source of tension.
The Jews and Arabs have a common ancestry through Abraham. Some other sources of tension are religion, land, and water.
What name did the ancient Chinese give to their land? Explain.
They called it Chung-Kuo, or "Middle Country," because they believed it was the geographic and cultural center of the earth.
How did the Soviet Union harm the land in eastern Kazakhstan?
They contaminated thousands of acres by using the land as a testing site for nuclear weapons.
How did General Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist Chinese who fled China after the Communist Revolution help Taiwan?
They kept the Communist out of Taiwan.
Name the three key rivers of the Fertile Crescent.
Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan
