| A | B |
|---|
| subcontinent | A large land area isolated from the rest of a continent |
| irrigation canals | A human made waterway to move water to dry areas |
| atoll | an island formed by a coral reef |
| monsoon | A strong seasonal wind in the Indian Ocean |
| caste system | People's position in society is determined by birth |
| stupa | A curved mound of brick that holds statues of Buddha |
| puppet rulers | A ruler without authority |
| reincarnation | A belief that a soul lives beyond death and returns to life in a new body |
| Nirvana | In Buddhism, the escape from the cycle of rebirth |
| Vedas | The ancient books of sacred Hindu writings |
| tandoor | A clay or brick oven |
| purdah | An Islamic custom in which some women cover their faces with veils |
| diplomat | A person skilled in negotiations between nations |
| green revolution | A program in India that encouraged farmers to modernize their methods and so produce more food. |
| urban centers | A city |
| Deccan Plateau | A triangular shaped plateau in central India |
| Ganges River | A holy river in India; flows from the Himalayas |
| Himalayas | Mountain system on the northern edge of South Asia |
| Benazir Bhutto | Pakistan's first woman Prime Minister |
| Gandhi | Nonviolent leader of India who worked for India's independence |
