Asia

What tectonic movement created the Zagros and Alborz Mountains?

The collision of the Arabian Plate with the Eurasian Plate caused tectonic uplift, forming these young, steep mountains.

The collision of the Arabian Plate with the Eurasian Plate caused tectonic uplift, forming these young, steep mountains.

Earthquakes are common because the tectonic plates are still moving.

What makes the Asir Mountains unique in Saudi Arabia?

They are older, lower, smoother, and have more vegetation due to 30 inches of annual precipitation (orographic effect).

Why do wealthy Saudis have summer homes here?

Cooler temperatures and lush greenery make it a desirable summer retreat.

What does “Mesopotamia” mean?

Between two rivers” (Tigris and Euphrates).

Why were river floodplains ideal for agriculture?

Flooding deposited fertile silt, creating rich soils for crops.

How did Mesopotamia act as a culture hearth?

Early agriculture and civilization developed here, spreading culture outward.

Which civilization first arose in Mesopotamia?

The Sumerians and later the Babylonians.

Where is most oil located relative to the plateau of Saudi Arabia?

On the eastern edge near the Persian Gulf.

What are the main fossil fuels found on the Saudi Arabia Plateau?

Oil, natural gas, coal.

What organisms contributed to fossil fuels?

Tiny marine organisms from ancient seas.

Why little oil on the plateau?

It was never underwater, so no fossil fuel deposits formed.

What does “basin and range” mean?

Alternating high mountains and low valleys.

Where are deserts (Kavir, Lut) located?

In low-lying basins.

Where do most Iranians live and why?

In lower plateau areas where water and resources are available.

What happened to the Ottoman Empire after WWI?

It collapsed and was replaced by modern Turkey.

Who is considered the father of modern Turkey?

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

What is a secular country?

Religion is separate from government; Atatürk made Turkey secular.

Who are the Kurds?

Ethnic group seeking autonomy; they have conflicts with Turkey.

Why are Iranians not Arabs?

They speak Farsi (Persian), not Arabic.

Why was Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi unpopular?

Brutal secret police (SAVAK), Westernization, and disregard for Islam.

What is Iran’s dominant Islamic denomination?

Shia Islam (90% of population).

Who led the 1979 Islamic Revolution?

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

How does the Islamic Republic differ from the monarchy?

Religion and state are unified; leaders follow Sharia law.

Why did Iraq invade Iran in 1980?

To seize resources and control the Shatt al-Arab waterway.

Why invade Kuwait in 1990?

Oil and boundary disputes; claims of slant drilling.

How was Saddam Hussein removed?

U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Environmental damage from Desert Storm?

Oil spills and fires; thousands of barrels burned.

How were fires put out quickly?

Jet engines on tanks blew out flames, extinguishing them in six months

Oil reserves rank worldwide- Saudi Arabia?

Second largest.

Difference between absolute and constitutional monarchy?

Absolute: all power with king; UK: power shared with Parliament.

Five Pillars of Islam conceptually?

Faith, prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage (Hajj to Mecca).

Natural gas reserves rank- Qatar?

Third largest.

North Field type?

Mostly non-associated gas.

How is gas exported in Qatar?

Converted to liquefied natural gas (LNG).

How many emirates are in the UAE?

Seven

Capital of UAE?

Abu Dhabi

Symbolic meaning of projects like Burj Khalifa?

Demonstrates national wealth and global status.

Territory controlling Strait of Hormuz?

Musandam Peninsula.

Why is the strait of Hormuz critical?

20% of the world’s oil passes through this shipping lane.

Proxy conflict in Yemen between which powers?

Saudi Arabia vs. Iran

Who makes up many famine victims in Yemen?

Children and civilians affected by civil war.

Jewish Diaspora: where did Jews settle

Mostly Europe for nearly 2,000 years.

How did the Dreyfus Affair influence Zionism?

Showed need for a Jewish homeland.

Balfour Declaration?

Supported creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.

UN Partition Plan basics?

56% to Israel, 43% to Palestine, 7% Jerusalem as international city

1948-49 Arab-Israeli War outcome?

Israel controlled 72% of territory; Egypt took Gaza, Jordan the West Bank.

1967 Six-Day War result?

Israel occupied all original mandate and additional territory (Golan Heights, Sinai).

Oslo Accords effect?

Some land turned over to Palestinians; Hamas control complicated talks.

Why many Palestinian refugees in Jordan?

Geographic proximity to Israel.

Why support right of return?

Legal and humanitarian obligation.

Why Israel opposes it?

Would shift demographics, Palestinians could become majority.

How did Arab Spring lead to civil war?

Uprisings toppled government; led to conflict.

Where did Bashar al-Assad flee?

Moscow

Beirut’s nickname pre-civil war?

Paris of the Middle East.”

Why did Christians become minority rulers in Lebanon?

Population shifted to Muslim majority by mid-20th century

What is Hezbollah?

Shiite militant group backed by Iran.

What tectonic movement formed the Pamir Knot?

Indian Plate colliding with Eurasian Plate.

Term for mountain-building?

Orogenesis

Why is the Hindu Kush suited for guerrilla warfare?

Rugged terrain, steep peaks, difficult travel.

Why is the Hindu Kush called “graveyard of empires”?

Invading forces like Soviets and British failed due to guerrilla resistance.

Meaning of the name “Tian Shan”

“Mountains of Heaven”

Turpin depression and Ayding lake?

Lowest points in China, below sea level.

How were the Himalayas formed

Continental crust collision; ongoing tectonic activity.

Mount Everest location?

Border of Nepal and China

Hazard for mountaineers?

Avalanches

Northeast China Plain: Why not called Manchuria today

China avoids referencing last Manchu dynasty.

What is alluvium?

Sediment deposited by rivers

North China Plain: Status as culture hearth?

Core area of ancient Chinese civilization; Han people

What is loess?

Fertile wind—blown soil deposited by rivers

Why is the Huan He (yellow river) a depositing river?

Carries sediment that builds soil but increases flood risk.

Main crop of Huang He river?

Wheat

Chang Jiang (Yangtze river) length rank?

Longest river in Asia, 3rd in the world

What is a hydrophyte?

Plant requiring standing water (e.g. rice)

Sericulture produces?

Silk

Three Gorges Dam significance?

Largest hydroelectric facility in the world.

Peoples Republic of China: Continuous agriculture since?

2000 years

First and last imperial dynasties?

Qin first, Qing (Machu) last

Who led the 1911 revolution?

Sun Yat-sen

Long march significance? 

Spread communist ideology, gained peasant support, helped ccp victory 

WWII effect?

Nationalists and communists temporarily united against Japan?

Deng Xiaoping and Modern China: Economic Impact?

Socialistm with asian characteristics- introduced marker reforms, boosting growth

One child policy effect? 

Gender imbalance, male biased sex ratio. 

Has Taiwan declared independence?

No, claims to be Republic of China until 1996

UN membership of Taiwan?

Only China is recognized

Renegade province meaning?

Taiwan seen as part of China; Independence could provoke military action.

Why are there tsunamis in subduction zones of Japan?

Upward movement of ocean floor displaces water

Industrialization reason?

Forced open by U.S. in 1853; adopted British industrial expertise.

Imperial expansion reason (japan)

Lack of natural resources

Population issues in Japan?

Below replacement rate, 99% ethnically Japanese, restrictive immigration.

Korean Peninsula: 38th Parallel division?

Temporary post WWII division; still divided

Korean War leader (North)

Kim II Sung

Peace treaty signed?

No, only armstice; technically still at war

North Korean economy under communism?

Poor, isolated

Rogue state actions north korea?

WMD development, terrorism support. 

South Korea: Land Reform Success?

Yes, increased agricultural productivity.

Economic model of Japan?

Japan and other asian tigers. .

K pop as a soft power?

Promotes cultural and global influence.

Mongolia population density? 

Lowest in the world.