Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania Study Guide Notes

Central Asia

Aral Sea: Shrinking due to irrigation projects.
Caspian Sea: Landlocked with no access to an ocean.
Gobi Desert: Important to know its location.
Climate Change: Melting glaciers are a significant issue.
Water Resources: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are major water resource countries.
Silk Road Cities: Samarkand is a prominent example.
Emigration: Many emigrants go to Russia.
Loess: Define the term (a loosely compacted deposit of windblown sediment).
Alluvial Fans: Define the term (a fan-shaped deposit of sediment built by a stream where it emerges from the uplands into a broad valley or plain).
Religion During Communism: Understand the state of religion during the communist era.
Taliban: A fundamentalist Islamic group.
Fergana Valley: Identify the countries it encompasses.
Opium Production: Know which country is a leading opium producer.
Natural Resources: Oil and gas are the most influential natural resources for economic growth.

Pollution Export: Japan is identified as a pollution export country.
Environmental Hazards in Japan: Primarily earthquakes and tsunamis.
Three Gorges Dam: Main reasons for construction were to control flooding and generate power.
Anthropogenic Landscapes: The North China Plain is an example.
One Child Policy: Understand its impacts.
Population Pyramids: Note the differences between China and Japan, particularly regarding the aging population.
Writing System: Uses ideographs.
National Language of China: Mandarin.
Shinto: Focuses on nature and harmony with human existence.
Hong Kong: Consider Britain’s colonial rule.
Korean Peninsula: Divided into democratic and politically isolated countries.
Shogunate Country: Japan.
China’s Development Path: Export and market-based oriented.
Chaebols: South Korean industrial conglomerates.

Natural Hazard in Bangladesh: Primarily flooding.
Himalayas Formation: Created by the collision of India and Asian landmasses.
Electricity Resource in India: Coal is the main natural resource.
Sustainability: Bhutan is committed to sustainability.
Major River in Pakistan: Indus River.
South Asian Monsoon: Low-pressure cells on land during summer bring rain.
Green Revolution: Agricultural success but with ecological and social failures.
Bustees: Sprawling squatter settlements.
Pakistan Capital: Know the capital city.
Sikhism: Understand its blend of religious elements.
Most Spoken Language: Hindi.
Caste System: Associated religion needs to be identified.
Territorial Claim: Territory claimed by both Pakistan and India should be known.
Bengali Independence: Bengalis fought for independence because they were treated as second-class citizens.
Grameen Bank: Provides low-interest credit funds.

Longest River: Mekong River.
Malaysia: Both mainland and insular country.
Climate Type: Tropical monsoon.
Transmigration: Understand what it refers to (population resettlement).
Cash Crop: Identify in the Golden Triangle.
Population Pyramids: Note the differences between Singapore and the Philippines, particularly regarding the lower NIR (Natural Increase Rate) in Singapore.
Animosity Toward Chinese Immigrants: Due to their economic prosperity.
Regional Language in Philippines: Tagalog.
American Colonialism: Philippines.
Pho Origin: Know the origin (likely Vietnam).
Khmer Rouge: Ruled over Cambodia.
Domino Theory: After Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were expected to fall to communism.
Commercial Sex Trade: Exists in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Entrepot Country: Identify which country serves as an entrepot.
Female Labor Migrants: The Philippines is a global source.

Climate Change: A significant environmental threat.
Atoll Example: Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands; they are volcanos.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Support to limit, even though Oceania is not a major emitter but bears most of the risk.
Great Barrier Reef: Located northeast of Australia.
Outback: Australia's dry interior.
Australian Cities: Primarily located on the coastlines.
Aboriginals: In Australia.
Maori’s: In New Zealand.
Penal Colony: Australia.
Population Pyramids: Note the differences between Australia and the Solomon Islands.
White Australia Policy: Promoted migration of white Europeans.
Lingua Franca: Pidgin.
Native Title Bill 1993: Compensated aboriginals for land.
Maori Women: Historically were equal to men.