Asia and the Middle East to the Present Regents Review

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the historical context, key leaders, and conflicts in Asia and the Middle East from the early 20th century to the present.

Russo-Japanese War

A conflict ending in $1905$ after which Japan began its occupation of Korea.

Republic of Korea

A democratic-based government established in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula following the Japanese surrender in $1945$.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

A communist-style government established in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula following $1945$.

Korean War

A conflict from $1950-1953$ where US and UN troops fought with South Korea to defend against a North Korean invasion.

Armistice of $1953$

An agreement that reached a stalemate in the Korean War and divided Korea along a demilitarized zone.

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

The area dividing North and South Korea established after the $1953$ armistice.

38th Parallel

The latitudinal line that serves as the division between North Korea and South Korea.

South Korea Economic Profile

An anti-communist economic powerhouse known for exporting higher-priced goods such as automobiles and computers.

Kim Jong-un

The communist leader of North Korea who spends large sums of money on the military.

North Korean Military

One of the world’s largest standing armies, funded by large sums of government money.

Vietminh

A communist group that fought the Japanese during World War II in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh

The communist leader of the Vietminh who declared Vietnam free.

1954 Geneva Convention

An international meeting that led to the division of Vietnam into a communist north and a noncommunist south.

Ngo Dinh Diem

The leader of South Vietnam supported by United States troops and advisors.

Domino Theory

The US fear that if one country in a region fell to communism, surrounding countries would also fall.

Vietnam War

A conflict from $1955-1975$ that resulted in Vietnam reuniting under communist control.

Boxer Rebellion

A push to remove westerners from China due to dissatisfaction with foreign influence.

Sun Yat-sen

A leader who wanted to end foreign domination, form a representative government, and create economic security in China.

Three Principles of the People

A philosophy focused on nationalism, democracy, and economic security for everyone.

Guomintang

The nationalist party that fought a civil war against the Communists in China.

Mao Zedong

The leader who gained power in China after the Long March and promised land reform to peasants.

Long March

A military retreat undertaken by the Chinese Communists which led to Mao Zedong gaining power.

Great Leap Forward

A failed program that called for an increase in agricultural production and industrial output through communes and production quotas.

Communes

Large collective farms created during the Great Leap Forward that had high production quotas.

Cultural Revolution

A failed movement intended to reestablish people's loyalty to communism in China.

Red Guards

Students who attacked professors, government officials, factory managers, and skilled workers during the Cultural Revolution.

Deng Xiaoping

The Chinese leader who introduced the Four Modernizations and allowed for some capitalism.

Four Modernizations

Deng Xiaoping's plan to improve farming, industry, science and technology, and defense systems.

Tiananmen Square

The location of $1989$ demonstrations where students demanded more rights and freedoms, resulting in a violent government crackdown.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of all of the goods and services produced in a country.

Mohandas Gandhi

A leader who used civil disobedience, passive resistance, and nonviolent protests to seek India's independence.

Civil Disobedience

The refusal to obey certain laws or commands of a government as a form of nonviolent protest.

Salt March

An act of civil disobedience where Gandhi and his followers picked up salt from the sea to protest British control of natural resources.

Partition of India

The division of the Indian subcontinent into two countries: India and Pakistan.

Muslim League

A political group led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah that demanded a separate Muslim state.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

The leader of the Muslim League who advocated for the creation of Pakistan.

Pakistan

A country created specifically for Muslims following the partition of India.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

The leader who helped westernize Turkey to prevent it from being taken over by European countries.

Westernization of Turkey

The process under Ataturk that changed schools, language, and the way people dressed.

Reza Shah Pahlavi

The leader of Iran who tried to modernize and westernize the country similarly to Ataturk.

Ayatollah Khomeini

The leader who rose to power during the Iranian Revolution, ending westernization.

Iranian Revolution

A movement that brought about a theocracy and Islamic Fundamentalism in Iran.

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.

Islamic Fundamentalism

A movement to return to the foundational principles of Islam, established in Iran after the revolution.

Arab-Israeli Conflict Context

A dispute over the land of Palestine, claimed by both Jews (historical rule) and Palestinian Arabs (continuous living).

1947 United Nations Partition Plan

A proposal to divide Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state; accepted by Jews but rejected by Arabs.

Birth of Israel

The establishment of a Jewish state in $1948$ following the United Nations partition plan.

China's Nominal GDP in $1952$

The total value of goods and services produced in China was $67.9$ billion RMB yuan.

China's Nominal GDP in $2005$

The total value of goods and services produced in China reached $18,232.1$ billion RMB yuan.

Sino-Japanese War

A conflict that revealed China’s weakness and led to internal calls for reform.

Sun Yixian

The president named for the Chinese Republic in $1911$ who focused on the Three Principles of the People.

Chinese Land Reform

A promise made by Mao Zedong to peasants to gain their support during the revolution.

Deng Xiaoping's Economic Reforms

Market-based reforms launched in $1978$ that allowed for foreign technology and capital.

British Imperialism in India

The control of India by Great Britain for natural resources like gems and cotton.

Religious Violence in India

Conflict that occurred as people moved between India and Pakistan based on their religion after the partition.

Jewish Claim to Palestine

The belief that they were entitled to return to the land they once ruled $3,000$ years ago.

Palestinian Arab Claim to Palestine

The belief that they were entitled to the land they had lived on since Roman times.

Migration to Israel

Between $1948$ and the $1980s$, approximately $2$ million Jews moved to the new state.

Arab Nations' Vow

The commitment by surrounding countries to drive the Jews out following the creation of Israel.

Shenzhen SEZ

A Special Economic Zone in China shown as part of the economic growth under Deng Xiaoping's reforms.