ASIAN STUDIES (LESSON 1)

Landforms

A feature on the Earth’s surface that is part of the terrain.

Mountains

A landform that rises prominently above its surroundings, exhibiting steep slopes and considerable local relief.

Hills

A landform higher than the surrounding land with a visible summit.

Plateaus

A flat, elevated landform that rises sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side.

Plains

A broad, relatively flat area of land, covering more than one-third of the world’s land area.

Buttes

Tall, flat-topped, steep-sided towers of rock created through erosion.

Canyons

A deep, narrow valley with steep sides formed by the erosive action of rivers, streams, or glaciers.

Valleys

A low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through it.

Basins

A depression or dip in the Earth’s surface shaped like a bowl, with sides higher than the bottom.

Body of Water

Any significant accumulation of water on Earth's surface, such as oceans, lakes, and ponds.

Oceans

Vast and deep bodies of water that separate continents from one another.

Seas

Large bodies of water, smaller than oceans, partly enclosed by land and connected to the ocean.

Bay

A body of water partially surrounded by land.

Gulf

A portion of the ocean that penetrates land.

Strait

A narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.

Lake

A body of water surrounded by land.

Lagoon

Shallow water separated from the sea by low sandy dunes.

River

A large, natural stream of flowing water.

Creationism

The belief that life was created by a divine being, as described in the Old Testament.

Evolutionism

The theory that organisms develop through natural processes over millions of years.

Homo erectus

One of the earliest human ancestors to migrate out of Africa, living around 1.8 million years ago.

Dmanisi Hominin

Early human ancestors discovered at Dmanisi, Georgia, dating back about 1.8 million years.

Peking Man

Fossils of Homo erectus from Zhoukoudian, China, believed to have lived around 750,000 to 200,000 years ago.

Java Man

Fossils of Homo erectus found on Java, dating between 700,000 and 1.5 million years ago.

Denisovans

A distinct lineage of archaic humans known from limited fossils and mostly from genetic evidence.

Stone Tool Technology

Tools made from stone, progressing from basic choppers to advanced handaxes.

Control of Fire

The discovery and use of fire by early humans for warmth and cooking.

Paleolithic Era

The earliest period of human history, marked by the use of stone tools.

Paleolithic Age

A period where humans were hunter-gatherers using simple stone tools.

Neolithic Age

The period when humans began farming and developed permanent settlements.

Agriculture

The transition from foraging to farming, with the domestication of animals.

Social Hierarchy

The emergence of social structure, where leadership and organized communities began to form.

Jiahu (China)

An early agricultural community around 7,000 BCE known for fermented beverages.

Mehrgarh (Pakistan)

A precursor to the Indus Valley Civilization, notable for advancements in agriculture.

Banpo (China)

A site known for its matriarchal society and advanced pottery.