Name: ________________________________________________________ Date: ___________
Period: ________
World Geography Unit Study Guide
South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia
1. Be able to label China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines,
Thailand, North Korea, South Korea, the Himalayas, North China Plain, Indian Ocean, Pacific
Ocean, and Gobi Desert.
2. How do the Himalayas impact South Asia?
 Effects the monsoon seasons (leads to dry season/rain shadow effect during dry season)
 Natural boundary to the north of India (natural defense)
 Leads to the Indian subcontinent (India is separated from the rest of Asia)  unique culture
 Runoff (rain and snow melt)  Ganges River
3. Why is the Ganges River so important to the people of South Asia?
 Sacred to Hindu religion
 Fertile land (Indo-Gangetic Plain)

Transportation, trade
4. Where do people choose to live in India and why? (Consider the landforms)
 Coastal areas (proximity to coasts; trade, etc.)
 Near Indus and Ganges Rivers (fertile land)
5. What are monsoons and how do they impact the people of South Asia?
 Seasonal winds that bring wet and dry seasons to South Asia

6. What are the main beliefs of Hinduism and how does Hinduism impact people of India?
 Beliefs: Henotheistic (poly- and mono-theistic); karma; caste system
 Impact: caste system (people accept caste they are born into); dance styles; art; music
7. What are the main beliefs of Islam and how does Islam impact people of South and Southeast
Asia?
 Beliefs: monotheistic (Allah); Five Pillars of Faith (faith, prayer, alms, hajj, fasting)
 Impact: Creation of Bangladesh and Pakistan; Most countries of Southeast Asia are Muslim
(Highest percentage of Muslims outside of the Middle East)
8. What are the main beliefs of Buddhism and how does Buddhism impact the people of East Asia?
 Beliefs: Atheistic (Buddha is not a god); Enlightenment; Four Noble Truths (All people
suffer)
 Impact: rejection of caste system
9. What are the main beliefs of Confucianism and how does Confucianism impact the people of
East Asia?
 Beliefs: Harmonious relationships (i.e. father and son, ruler and subject, etc.); respect for
elders and ancestors (filial piety)
 Impacts: Focus on education; Focus on organization and structure in gov’t (more likely to
support Communism b/c of order and structure)
10. What are the problems countries of Asia have to solve due to overpopulation?
 Not enough resources for everybody; Not enough jobs; close proximity to each other makes
it easier for illnesses and diseases to spread; Lack of housing; poverty; pollution;
vulnerability to natural disasters (more people die in tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, etc)
11. What are solutions countries of Asia have used to solve problems due to overpopulation?
 Birth control and sex education, Fines for too many children, Warning systems for natural
disasters, Build up and not out (Japan), build on top of landfills (Japan), Laws limiting
children, etc.
12. How does the North China Plain impact the development of China?
 Fertile soil (agriculture)
 Flooding
 Resources
 Most of Chinese population lives in North China Plain
13. Briefly describe the variety of climates in China.
 Range from tropical wet to sub-arctic
14. How are Japan and the countries of Southeast Asia impacted by the Ring of Fire?
 Threat of tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes
 Disaster drills
 Warning Systems
 Strict building codes in Japan
 Southeast Asia doesn’t have strict building codes and often suffers from severe damage
from natural disasters.
15. What are the main industries of Japan?
 Fishing
 Electronics
16. Why has Japan attacked or claimed islands in the Pacific throughout its history?
 Lack of resources and space