Physical Geography/Environment
Which physical feature does Russia see as a buffer between it, Turkey, and Iran?
The Caucuses Mountains
The population of Central Asia is most concentrated in and around the ____ valley
Fergana
A region of incredible cultural diversity, the __________ region is also a hot spot between major world powers in Russia, Turkey and Iran
Caucasus region
The __________ is the longest war in US history
War in Afghanistan
What is the Indian diaspora?
The historical and contemporary propensity of Indians to migrate to other countries in search of better opportunities
Central Asia has low population densities and is thinly settled due to the dominance of _____ climate classification
Type B
While the Green Revolution was successful in doubling India’s agricultural output, it also had negative socio-ecological effects such as ________
environmental degradation due to intense fertilizer application, social stress (poor farmers could not afford the modified seed strains and many committed suicide due to bankruptcy)
What is Confucianism?
A philosophical system based on the ideas of Confucius, a Chinese philosopher who lived in the 6th century BCE. A philosophy that stresses education, respect for authority, authority that must act responsibly, and social stability
By 1900 China had been divided into separate __________ in which each colonial power had no formal political authority, but much informal influence and tremendous economic clout
Spheres of influence
What is the European Union?
The current association of 28 European countries that are joined together in an agenda of economic, political, and cultural integration
Name the climatic process that causes heavy rainy during part of the year in South Asia.
Monsoons
Describe the population distribution of Russia.
More densely settled in the west (historical core of country). Eastern Russia and Siberia are thinly settled primarily due to climate and terrain.
South Asia separated into two counties after the end of British colonization. The new countries were formed based on which cultural characteristic?
Religion. India was to be the Hindu majority country and Pakistan was to be the majority Muslim country.
Describe the Cold War (provide dates, countries involved, ideologies of those countries, etc.)
An ideological struggle between the United States (representing democracy) and the Soviet Union (representing communism) that was conducted between 1946 and 1991; East and West Europe were divided by an "Iron Curtain" which has had lasting impacts on Eastern Europe in particular
Rank these three East Asian countries from highest to lowest GNI per capita, PPP (2013): China, Japan, and South Korea
1) Japan, 2) South Korea, 3) China
The population of mainland East Asia is focused on the coast. What characteristics of the physical geography make settlement on the coast favorable (list 2 examples)?
Rivers (Huang He, Yangtze, Xi). Mild climates (type C), lower elevation/manageable terrain, suitable for agriculture, proximity to Oceans
What are the pros and cons of China’s Hukou system?
Pros = rural citizens own a plot of land to farm. It controls migration to cities preventing slum formation. Cons = rural and urban people have access to separate (not equal) education and health systems. It may be difficult for rural migrants to remain in cities permanently.
The Balkan region of Europe lies at the confluence of which 3 religions?
Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Islam
Define devolution and provide one example of devolution within Europe
The breaking apart or separation within a political unit, which includes decentralization of power (nation-states of Germany and France; fragmentation of Yugoslavia in 1990's; separatist movements in Scotland, Catalonia, etc.)
Name at least two defining features of Soviet Russia's centrally planned economy before the collapse of the USSR in 1991
The state controlled production targets and industrial output, heavy emphasis on basic industries (steel, machinery, electricity generation), agricultural land divided between large collectives and state-controlled land
Why is Western Europe dominated by C climates whereas Eastern Europe is dominated by D climates?
Western Europe has the gulf stream that provides warm water and air, where Eastern Europe is further away from the Atlantic Ocean
What is the Schengen agreement? How does it relate to the European migrant crisis?
The Schengen agreement allows for free movement of people between member countries with few formal checkpoints. In terms of recent migration, if migrants arrive in a Schengen country, it would be efficient for them to travel throughout Schengen Europe.
Contrary to East Asia which is dominated by Sino-Tibetan languages, Central Asia is dominated by _____ languages
Turkic
What two border countries does India have geopolitical tensions with and why?
Pakistan: Horrific partition of India and Pakistan after independence of both countries in 1947, continuation of conflict in Kashmir and Jumma, nuclear cold war today. China: Brief war with India in 1962, continued border disputes (e.g. Aksai Chin area)
Name one way China has influenced the regional economy of Central Asia and one way Russia has influenced the regional economy of Central Asia
China commissioned the Central Asia-China pipeline, has invested in Central Asian regional infrastructure, and is a top trade partner of the region. Russia formed the Eurasian Economic Union (customs union) with two Central Asian countries in 2015.