East and Southeast Asia: Geography, Climate, and Economic Development

Altay Mountains

A major physical barrier separating East/Southeast Asia from northern Asia.

Gobi Desert

A vast desert region formed partly due to the rain-shadow effect from surrounding mountains.

Himalaya Mountains

Mountain range dividing China from South Asia; includes Mount Everest.

Karakoram Range

A high mountain range northwest of the Himalayas; home to K2.

Rain-shadow effect

Process in which mountains block rain, creating deserts like the Gobi.

Yangtze River

China's longest river and a foundation of civilization; site of the Three Gorges Dam.

Yellow River (Huang He)

River known as "China's Sorrow" for its historical flooding; cradle of early Chinese civilization.

Three Gorges Dam

One of the world's largest hydroelectric dams, located on the Yangtze.

Mekong River

A major Southeast Asian river essential for agriculture and transportation.

Irrawaddy River

A key river in Myanmar, supporting farming and settlement.

Climate of East Asia

Humid temperate climate dominates much of coastal East Asia.

Climate of Southeast Asia

Generally tropical with year-round high rainfall.

Terracing

Agricultural technique used to create flat land on hillsides for rice cultivation.

Typhoons

Powerful tropical storms affecting East and Southeast Asia.

Earthquakes & volcanism

Common natural hazards due to the region's tectonic activity.

Ancient migration patterns

Early settlers migrated along coasts; lower ice-age sea levels connected islands to the mainland.

Rice domestication

Began around 6500 BCE along the Yangtze River, shaping diets and culture.

Confucianism

A Chinese philosophical system emphasizing order, education, and hierarchy.

Great Wall of China

Series of defensive walls built over centuries to protect against northern invasions.

Colonialism in Southeast Asia

Most of the region was colonized by European powers by the 1800s.

Only uncolonized SE Asian state

Thailand (then Siam) avoided European colonization.

Japan's post-WWII transformation

Rapid modernization and industrialization turned Japan into a global economic power.

Four Asian Tigers

Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan — known for rapid industrialization and export-driven growth.

Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

Areas offering incentives for foreign investment, used heavily in China.

Strait of Malacca

A vital global shipping route linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Uneven economic development

Coastal cities tend to develop rapidly while inland/rural areas lag.

Ring of Firre

An area of high tectonic activity along the Pacific Ocean basin around 90% of earthquakes occur here. 

Neolithic period

New stone age where several cultural groups emerged.