| A | B |
|---|
| SUBCONTINENT | large landmass that is part of a continent but still distinct from it, such as India |
| ALLUVIAL PLAIN | floodplain, such as the Gangetic Plain in South Asia, on which flooding rivers have deposited rich soil |
| MONSOON | in Asia, seasonal wind that brings warm, moist air from the oceans in summer and cold, dry air from inland in winter |
| CYCLONE | storm with heavy rains and high winds that blow in a circular patter around an area of low atmospheric pressure |
| TSUNAMI | Japanese term used for a huge sea wave caused by an undersea earthquake |
| MEGALOPOLIS | a “great city” that is made up of several large and small cities such as the area between Boston and Washington D.C. |
| DHARMA | in Hinduism, a person’s moral duty, based on class distinctions, which guides his or her life |
| REINCARNATION | rebirth in new bodies or forms of life |
| KARMA | in Hindu belief, the sum of good and bad actions in one’s present and past lives |
| MERCANTILISM | the theory or practice of merchant and trading pursuits |
| SIKHISM | monotheistic religion practiced in India that stresses realization of the truth |
| LAMA | Buddhist religious leader |
| GREEN REVOLUTION | program begun in the 1960’s to produce higher-yielding, more productive strains of wheat, rice, and other food crops |
| BIOMASS | plant and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel |
| ECOTOURISM | the practice and business of recreational travel based on concern for the environment |
| ARCHIPELAGO | a group or chain of islands |
| CULTURE HEARTH | a center where cultures developed and from which ideas and traditions spread outward |
| DYNASTY | a ruling house or continuing family of rulers, especially in China |
| SHOGUN | military ruler in medieval Japan |
| SAMURAI | in medieval Japan, a class of professional soldiers who lived by a strict code of personal honor and loyalty to a noble |
| CULTURAL DIVERGENCE | separation of people or societies, with regard to beliefs, values and customs, because of distinctly different political systems |
| DISSIDENT | a citizen who speaks out against government policies |
| CORDILLERA | parallel chains or ranges of mountains |
