Asia Geography Unit Vocabulary

2. System A traditional social hierarchy in India that historically divided people into rigid hereditary classes, deeply influencing social and economic life.
4. A religion founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), emphasizing the path to enlightenment through practices such as meditation, ethical conduct, and wisdom.
5. Steepe A large, flat grassland region in Mongolia and parts of China, characterized by its dry climate and used primarily for herding livestock by nomadic groups.
8. Dictatorship A form of government where a single leader or ruling party has complete and absolute control over all aspects of public and private life.
12. An ancient Persian religion founded by the prophet Zoroaster, focusing on the duality of good and evil and the worship of Ahura Mazda, the supreme god.

1. Parallel The latitude line that separates North Korea and South Korea, established as the boundary after World War II and solidified after the Korean War.
2. A political and economic system in which the government controls all property, resources, and means of production, with the goal of creating a classless society.
3. A person or movement advocating for the interests and culture of a specific nation, often emphasizing independence, sovereignty, and pride in national identity.
6. A portable, round tent traditionally used as a dwelling by nomadic peoples in Central Asia, particularly in Mongolia.
7. An indigenous religion of Japan that emphasizes worship of kami (spirits) found in nature, ancestors, and sacred places.
9. Child Policy A former population control policy in China that limited most families to having only one child, implemented to reduce population growth.
10. A fine, windblown yellowish-brown soil that is fertile and often found in regions like the Huang He (Yellow River) Valley in China.
11. One of the world’s oldest religions, originating in India, that emphasizes dharma (duty), karma (action), and moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth.