Colonization & Independence
The 1884–85 European meeting that formalized rules for partitioning Africa and accelerated the Scramble for Africa.
What is the Berlin Conference?
A system where the executive (president) is both head of state and government, commonly adopted by many post‑independence African nations
What is a presidential system?
This epidemic severely reduced life expectancy and labor forces in several African countries from the late 20th century onward.
What is HIV/AIDS?
the single political party that controls the People’s Republic of China’s state, military, and government.
What is the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
The system that emphasizes filial piety, proper relationships, and social harmony; it heavily influenced Chinese government and education
What is Confucianism
This West African colony became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence in 1957 under Kwame Nkrumah.
What is Ghana?
The continental organization founded in 2002 to promote unity, political cooperation, and economic development among African states
what is the African Union?
The idea that heavy reliance on valuable natural resources (like oil or minerals) can hinder diversified economic growth and good governance.
what is the resource curse?
This East Asian country is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government and experienced major postwar economic growth.
What is Japan
The philosophy that teaches living in harmony with the Dao (the Way) and practicing natural non-action, or wu wei
What is Daoism (Taoism)
This term describes the 19th–20th century process by which European powers took political control of African territories and exploited their resources.
What is colonization?
The official South African system of legally enforced racial segregation and discrimination from 1948 to 1994.
What is apartheid?
Rapid movement of people from rural areas to cities, often producing slums and straining urban services
what is urbanization (rapid urbanization)
This demographic problem — especially severe in Japan — results from low birth rates and high life expectancy, stressing pensions and labor supply
What is an aging population
The Warring States–era school that argued for strict laws and harsh punishments as the key to social order.
What is Legalism
This leader of the African National Congress was imprisoned for 27 years and later became South Africa’s first Black president.
Who is Nelson Mandela?
Under apartheid, these designated territories (also called homelands) were used to segregate Black South Africans and deny them citizenship rights in white areas.
What are Bantustans (homelands)?
The environmental process, often worsened by overgrazing and climate change, that turns productive land into deserts
What is desertification
This disputed body of water contains strategic shipping lanes and potential energy resources and is contested by China and several Southeast Asian nations.
What is the South China Sea
This religion/philosophical system from India spread into China and influenced thought about suffering, karma, and rebirth.
What is Buddhism
This ideology and movement promoting unity among Africans and people of African descent influenced many independence leaders across the continent.
What is Pan-Africanism?
Frequent seizing of power by the military after independence, which has interrupted democratic development in several African states.
What are military coups?
the general term for public officials exploiting state power or resources for private gain, undermining development and trust.
What is corruption (or kleptocracy
This description fits much of Southeast Asia: a mainland peninsula plus thousands of islands, tropical rainforests, monsoonal climate, river deltas, and active volcanism (Ring of Fire).
What is Southeast Asia
The Confucian concept stressing respect, duty, and care toward parents and elders — central to family and social order.
What is filial piety