Asia Unit Flashcards
What are dynasties and how did dynasties affect China?
Dynasties are families that rule for many years. In China, different dynasties helped build the country, but sometimes when rulers became weak, there were problems like fighting
What was Confucianism and how did the Chinese use its ideas in government?
Confucianism is a set of ideas that say people should be respectful, kind, and fair. In China, the government used these ideas to choose leaders and make fair rules.
Describe the characteristics of Buddhism
Buddhism is about finding peace and ending suffering. It teaches that life can be hard, but you can be happy by following the right path.
Describe the characteristics of Daoism.
Daoism teaches that people should live peacefully with nature and go with the flow of life, not force things to happen.
What is China’s “One Child Policy” and why does it exist?
The “One Child Policy” was a rule that said families in China could only have one child. It was made to control the number of people because China had too many.
Who was Mao Zedong?
Mao Zedong was the leader who started communist China in 1949. He made big changes, but some caused problems and suffering for people.
How did communism change Chinese society?
Communism made China’s government control everything, like land and money. It tried to make everyone equal, but it also caused problems like hunger and poverty.
Name the two main religions in Japan and be able to provide characteristics of each.
Daoism: The belief in spirits found in nature. It focuses on respect for nature.
Buddhism: The belief in finding peace by stopping suffering. People meditate and live good lives.
Describe the Japanese feudal system and its ranks.
The feudal system in Japan had the shogun (top leader) in charge, then daimyo (landowners), samurai (soldiers), and peasants (farmers) at the bottom.
How many islands make up Japan?
Japan is made up of 4 main islands and over 6,000 smaller ones.
What does it mean to be a “closed country”?
A “closed country” means Japan kept itself isolated and didn’t allow foreigners to come in or trade with other countries.
Who was allowed into Japan when it was a “closed country”?
Only a few groups, like the Dutch and Chinese, were allowed to come to Japan, and they had strict rules to follow.
What positive effects did isolationism have on Japan?
Japan could protect its culture and traditions without outside influence, and it became self-sufficient.
What were the negative effects of Japan’s isolationism?
Japan fell behind in technology and military power compared to other countries, and it had to catch up when it opened up to the world.
What country took over Korea in 1910?
Japan took over Korea in 1910 and controlled it until the end of World War II.
Why did the U.S. back an authoritarian leader in South Korea after WWII?
The U.S. helped South Korea have a strict leader to stop communism from spreading.
Describe North Korea after the Cold War.
North Korea stayed a strict, controlled country under a dictatorship, focusing on military power and nuclear weapons.
Describe South Korea after the Cold War.
South Korea became a democratic country with a strong economy and a good relationship with the U.S.
Who is Kim Jong Un?
Kim Jong Un is the current leader of North Korea. He controls the country and continues the government’s strict rules.
What is Kashmir?
Kashmir is a region in northern India that both India and Pakistan want to control. It’s been a source of fighting between the two countries.
Why do both India and Pakistan want Kashmir?
Both countries want Kashmir because it has valuable resources, and they both think it should belong to them.
What are both India and Pakistan’s claims to Kashmir?
India says Kashmir is part of India because its ruler chose to join India. Pakistan says Kashmir should be part of Pakistan because most people there are Muslim.
How does religion play a role in the conflict over Kashmir?
Religion matters because Kashmir is mostly Muslim, and Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country, while India is mainly Hindu. Both countries argue over it because of religious differences.
Why doesn’t the U.S. get involved in the conflict over Kashmir?
The U.S. tries to stay neutral because both India and Pakistan are important allies. The U.S. doesn’t want to make the situation worse.
