World Geography

Spring Final Review

THE RUSSIAN CORE

1. What major resource does Russia have?

Iron ore, mineral fuels, petroleum, forest.

2. Why are there so many environmental problems in Russia today? Consider the history of the area. 
Lacks restrictions due to Soviet Era policies.

3. Why did Russia need access to warm water ports?

Trade, many of Russia’s ports freeze in the wintertime.

4. Why did Yugoslavia break up? Know Balkanization

Ethnic tensions.
Balkanization – Division of a region in to smaller, hostile regions
5. Why did the Russian Revolution occur?  Who was a major leader in the revolution?
Hardships due to World War I, protests for “bread and freedom”, lack of leadership from Czar Nicholas
II. Lead by the new communist party and Vladimir Lenin.

6. Who is Vladimir Putin?  Josef Stalin?  Mikhail Gorbachev?

Putin – Current president of Russia
Stalin – Communist leader of the Soviet Union
Gorbachev – Last leader of Soviet Union, moved towards a market economy

7. What is Russification?
In nineteenth and twentieth century Russia and the Soviet Union, a government program that required
everyone in the empire to speak Russian and to become a Christian; assignment of some Russian-
speaking people to non-Russian ethnic regions

8. What are collective farms? Who forced peasants to work on them in Russia?
Instead of small family farms, a collective farm is one large farm owned by the government where many
people work for the Soviet Union.

9. Why did democracy fail in Russia?

Communist ideals were on the rise due to unhappiness amongst the peasant population

10. How has Russia’s shift to communism and later to capitalism/democracy impacted Russia socially,
economically, politically, and environmentally?
Russia has experienced steady economic growth since 1998, due in part to increases in productivity,
wages, consumption, and a growing middle class. The anchor in the economic success has been its vast
supplies of natural resources that are marketed to industrialized countries.
AFRICA
11. Physical Geography- Great Rift Valley
This long geologic feature begins well north of the subregion in Syria in Southwest Asia, and it extends
south of the subregion to Mozambique in the southeastern part of Africa. This natural wonder cuts
through much of East Africa and is a defining feature of the landscape. A rift valley is a crack in Earth’s
surface formed by shifting and separating tectonic plates.

12. Does Africa have a lot of natural resources? What are some of the continent’s major natural
resources?
Diamonds, salt, gold, oil, rubber, forest.

13. What is desertification? What causes it? What is being done to deal with it?
The destruction of land in arid and semi-arid climates. Often caused by human activity or overgrazing.
Education and the Great Green Wall have been used to help fix the problem.

14. What river is the Aswan High Dam built on?

Located on the Nile River.

15. What is the Berlin Conference? What are its effects?

A conference, known as the Berlin Conference, was held between 1884 and 1885 to regulate European
colonization. Boundaries were set with no regard for ethnic and cultural differences amongst groups of
people already living in Africa.

16. Who is Nelson Mandela?

Leader in the Antiapartheid movement in South Africa. South Africa’s first black president.

17. What is apartheid? In which country did it occur? What did it do in that country?
Under apartheid, blacks and coloureds were required to live in specific places. They were allowed certain
jobs, needed permits to leave their neighborhoods, and were prohibited from having social contact with
whites.

18. What is the Arab Spring? What are its causes?

 The Arab Spring is a series of protests, revolutions, and civil wars that began to spread across the Arab
world in late 2010. All protesters have shared the same general goals: less corruption in the country’s
leadership and more democratic forms of government.

19. What are effects of HIV/AIDS in Africa?

More than a million Southern Africans die each year because of HIV/AIDS, resulting in lower life
expectancy and a rise in the number of orphans.

20. What happened in Rwanda? What were the causes?

The civil war in Rwanda in the 1990s between the Hutu and Tutsi resulted in the genocide of over 800,000
people, most of whom were Tutsi. Over 2 million people became refugees.

21. What best describes the economic base of most African nations?
Primary

22. Why did European countries want to colonize Africa? What is imperialism?
Resources, land, “White Man’s Burden”.
Imperialism – a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through military or diplomatic force.

23. Why is it difficult to preserve wildlife in Africa?

Poaching is an easy way to make money, competition over limited land and water supplies, and illegal
trade in ivory.

24. Regions: How is North Africa different from the rest of Africa? Why is East Africa known as the cradle of
humanity?
- North Africa is different due to language and religion
- East Africa is known as the cradle of humanity due to the large amounts of prehistoric bones found
there

25. What are reasons for political instability in Africa?

Colonization, civil wars, ethnic conflicts.

NORTH AFRICA, SOUTHWEST, AND CENTRAL ASIA

26. Physical geography- Euphrates River, climates, Strait of Hormuz, Aral Sea (and why is it shrinking?)
Know the location of Euphrates, Strait of Hormuz, and Aral Sea.
Climates – Desert and dry climates
The shrinking of the Aral Sea began in the 1960s when water from the main tributary was diverted to
irrigate fields. This diminished the water supply to the Aral Sea. Also, the sea sits in a hot, dry region where
high temperatures evaporate the water faster than rainfall replaces it. There was also a lack of Soviet
regulations on protecting the environment.

27. Describe women in North Africa, Southwest and Central Asia.

Women’s rights are a significant issue in some countries of the subregion. Most women are expected to
stay at home to take care of the children and provide a comfortable home for their husbands. Some
progress can be seen. In Saudi Arabia women won the right to vote in municipal elections in 2005.

28. What are causes of the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991)?

Saddam invaded Kuwait - Oil

29. What is theocracy?

System of government in which those who rule are regarded as divinely inspired

30. Who is the Taliban?

From Arabic for “seeker” or “student”; name of a fundamentalist Sunni Muslim group, active in
Afghanistan, which controlled the Afghan government from 1996 to 2001

31. Why were France and Britain interested in colonizing the Arabian Peninsula?
Control over the Suez Canal

32. Where is Mesopotamia? What are some characteristics of the area?

Modern day Iraq. The rich alluvial soils of Mesopotamia supported the development of agriculture.

33. What is O.P.E.C.?

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Purpose:
- Coordinate /unify policies to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers
 - To supply an efficient and regular system of petroleum to consuming nations

34. Why was Israel created?

Soon after World War II, armed conflicts broke out among Jewish and Arab ethnic groups in the British
Palestine Mandate. The Jews wanted an internationally recognized homeland in a part of the Mandate.
The Arabs wanted all of Palestine. In 1947, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly voted to divide the
Palestine Mandate into a Jewish state and an Arab state.

35. What was Iraq’s goal in Kuwait?

To control Kuwait’s oil fields

36. What is the Iranian Revolution of 1979? What were its results?
Events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy (Pahlavi dynasty) under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the
revolution.

37. Know the religions studied in this region: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism
Christianity – monotheistic, believe Jesus is the son of God, Bible is the holy book, worship in churches
Islam – monotheistic, founded by the Prophet Muhammad, Koran is the holy book, worship in mosques
Judaism – monotheistic, oldest monotheistic religion, Torah is the holy book, worship in synagogues

SOUTH ASIA
38. Physical geography- monsoons, Ganges River, Indus River
Monsoon - a seasonal wind that brings warm, moist air from the oceans in summer and cold, dry air from
land in winter
Know the locations of the Ganges and Indus Rivers
Ganges River is sacred in Hindu culture

39. What is the conflict in Sri Lanka that we studied? Who was involved?
Sri Lanka was torn for decades by a civil war. The Tamil minority demanded a separate Tamil state, and
many died in the fighting. The government declared an end to hostilities in 2009.
 40. What is the caste system?
The Aryans created a rigid social structure based on castes. A caste, or jati, is the social position into which
a person is born.

41. What is the partition? What occurred during the partition?

The Partition of India of 1947 was the division of British India into two independent dominion states, India
and Pakistan.

42. Who is Mohandas Gandhi? How did he impact movements around the world?
Led Indians to seek freedom using nonviolent methods of civil disobedience.

43. Know the religions studied with this region: Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism
Hinduism – No single founder, reincarnation , karma, living and acting the right way, monotheistic
(however some argue polytheistic).
Sikhism – Founded by Guru Nanak, monotheistic, equality and accepting of all faiths
Buddhism – Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), Four Noble Truths, Nirvana, Eightfold Path

44. What is the conflict concerning Kashmir?

Both India and Kashmir claim the region.

45. Why did Pakistan have a civil war in 1971? What was the outcome?
A war between West Pakistan and East Pakistan. East Pakistan gained its independence and is now the
country of Bangladesh.

46. How are Nepal and Bhutan similar?

The Himalayan Mountains are a dominant geographic feature, they are landlocked, and tourism is a
significant part of their economies.

47. What is microcredit (microloans)?

Small loans given to people in countries that can make a significant impact on small businesses.

EAST ASIA
 48. Know the philosophies/ religions studied in this region: Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Legalism,
and Shintoism
Confucianism – Created by Confucius, 5 basic principas such as wisdom and trustworthiness, relationships
are important, every person has a place in society.
Buddhism (see number 43)
Daosim – Founded by Laozi (some say he doesn’t exist), qi, yin and yang, nature, government should not
be involved in people’s lives
Legalism – people are born selfish and need harsh punishments and harsh laws
Shintoism – primarily in Japan, Kami (gods), no sacred text, worship in shrines.

49. What is the Three Gorges Dam? What are positives and negatives associated with it?
A huge reservoir almost 400 miles (644 km) long. The project has been controversial due to the
relocation of over a million people. Countless farms, villages, and historic temples were submerged.
Natural ecosystems have been damaged with some animal and plant species now endangered or
extinct. Changing the flow of the river may interfere with migratory paths of fish species. Pollutants in
the soil and chemicals in abandoned factories may leach into the soil as the water rises in the reservoir.

50. What are results of European colonization in East Asia?

China and Japan were forced to open trade with the rest of the world. Japan became an imperial power.
Many parts of China were under British influence for hundreds of years.

51. Who are the Nationalist? What are their beliefs?

Kuomintang (KMT). Nationalist party in China that pushed for democracy. Was eventually run out of China
(to Taiwan) and replaced with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).

52. What is the Cultural Revolution?

A time period under Mao Zedong. Schools were closed. Intellectuals were sent to work on farms. Books
and cultural artifacts were burned.

53. What is a special economic zone? What is an economic tiger (also known as a roaring tiger)?
SEZs - districts in China that is fully open to global commerce
Economic Tiger – Rapidly growing economies in East Asia such as Taiwan and Hong Kong.
 54. What were the goals of the Korean War? What was the US involved? What are western nation’s
concerns about North Korea?
North Korea invaded South Korea to reunify the peninsula. The United States supported the South and the
Soviet Union and China supported the North. The US was concerned with the North’s communist ideals.

55. What is life like in Japan?

Crowded, lots of pollution, small housing, strong work ethic, very educated.

56. What are the major economic activities of China?

Agriculture and manufacturing

57. Why were European countries able to gain access to China?

In the 1800s European countries forced China to open up their ports.

58. Who is Mao Zedong? What was his impact on China?

A communist leader who took power in China in 1949. Implemented the “Great Leap Forward” which
resulted in millions of people dying of starvation, and the “Cultural Revolution” in which universities
were closed and intellectuals were sent to farms to work.

59. Who is Deng Xiaoping? What is the One Child Policy?

Encouraged modernization and limited capitalism in China.

60. Why was the U.S. involved in the Korean War?

The United States aided South Korea (democratic), while the Soviet Union and China aided North Korea
(communist).

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC WORLD

61. What is Krakatoa? What are effects of it?
A volcano that erupted in 1883, killing some 36,000 people.

62. What is the Khmer Rouge? What are effects of it?

A brutal regime that killed 1.5 million Cambodians.
 63. Who is Pol Pot? What are his beliefs?
Leader of the Khmer Rouge and leader of the Cambodian Communist Party.

64. Who is Aung San Suu Kyi?

Pro-democracy leader in Burma. Won the Noble Peace Prize.

65. What is the reason for the Vietnam War? Why was the U.S. involved?
The United States was trying to contain communist expansion in SE Asia.

66. What is the Domino Theory?

The collapse of order in a neighboring country, starting a chain of events that can affect the stability of
adjoining states in return.

67. What occurred at Bikini Atoll?

The United States used Bikini Atoll for nuclear explosions and tests in the 1950s. Although the United
States had moved out residences before the nuclear tests, people who still lived downwind were exposed to
nuclear radiation, causing deaths, illnesses, and genetic abnormalities.

68. How did rabbits affect Australia? What have Australians done to try to solve the rabbit problem?
European rabbits were introduced to Australia in 1859 for hunting purposes. But rabbits had few
natural predators in Australia, so in 1926 there were about 10 million rabbits in the country. They destroyed
native plants, which caused a loss of natural wildlife.

69. What is the Stolen Generation?

Aboriginal children who were taken from their families.

70. What is the Antarctic Treaty of 1961?

A treaty to preserve Antarctica for peaceful scientific research and put territorial claims on hold.

71. What is ASEAN?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was formed in 1967 to promote regional stability.

72. What happened at Easter Island?

 Overuse of resources led to the demise of the Rapa Nui peoples.

73. What are concerns about the rapid modernization in Southeast Asia?
Pollution and deforestation.

74. How have Europeans changed Oceania?

European colonization has left a lasting impact on infrastructure, culture, and resources in the region.

75. Why did the British first settle Australia?

It was used as a penal colony (a prison).

76. What is farming more successful on the high islands?

Low islands do not have the elevation to support farming.
77. Why have Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam struggled so much economically?
Agriculture has been their primary economic activity. Political unrest and instability.

78. What is the Land Rights Act of 1976?

Entitles Australian Aboriginal inhabitants to claim ownership of land in the Northern Territory

79. What are problems that Myanmar/ Burma face?

Political unrest and instability.

Maps
Know the following locations
Russia Volga River
Ukraine Lake Baikal
Lithuania West Siberian Plan
Poland Siberian Plateau
Russia Siberia
Serbia Danube River
Moldova
Czech Republic Africa
Central African Republic
Belarus
Cote D’Ivoire
Latvia Djibouti
Estonia Ethiopia
Ural Mountains Kenya
Black Sea Liberia
Nigeria India
Rwanda Maldives
Sierra Leone Nepal
Somalia Pakistan
South Africa Sri Lanka
South Sudan
Sudan East Asia
Zimbabwe China
Japan
SW Asia Mongolia
Afghanistan North Korea
Algeria South Korea
Egypt Taiwan
Iran
Iraq SE Asia, Australia, Oceania, Antarctica
Israel Australia
Jordan Brunei
Libya Cambodia
Kazakhstan East Timor
Kuwait Fiji
Lebanon Indonesia
Oman Laos
Saudi Arabia Malaysia
Syria Myanmar
New Zealand
Turkey
Papua New Guinea
United Arab Emirates
Philippines
Yemen Singapore
Thailand
South Asia Vietnam
Bangladesh
Bhutan