A mountain range in South Asia that includes Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain peak. Himalaya Mountains

A landmass that is like a continent, only smaller, such as the one found in South Asia. Subcontinent

Land that is rich farmland, composed of clay, silt, sand,, or gravel deposited by running water. Alluvial Plain

A set of closely grouped islands. Archipelago

A ringlike coral island or string of small islands surrounding a lagoon. Atoll

A seasonal wind, especially in South Asia. Monsoon

A violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain; the most extreme weather pattern of South Asia. Cyclone

The dominant religion of India. Hinduism

River in South Asia; an important water resource flowing more than 1,500 miles from its source in a Himalayan glacier to the Bay of Bengal. Ganges River

High water level brought by a cyclone that swamps low-lying areas. Strom Surge

A broadened seaward end of a river, where the river’s currents meet the ocean’s tides. Estuary

The Muslim empire established by the early 1500s over much of India, which brought with it new customs that sometimes conflicted with those of native Hindus. Mughal Empire

The period of British rule in India, which lasted for nearly 200 years, from 1857 to Raj

A movement that uses all means of protest except violence. Nonviolent Resistance

The process of breaking up large landholdings to attain a more balanced land distribution among farmers. Land Reform

An agricultural program launched by scientists in the 1960s to develop higher-yielding grain varieties and improve food production by incorporating new farming techniques. Green Revolution

The Aryan system of social classes in India and one of the cornerstones of Hinduism in which each person is born into a class and can only move into a different caste through reincarnation. Caste System

The largest of the world’s first civilizations in what is now Pakistan; this was a highly developed urban civilization, lasting from 2500 B.C. to about 1500 B.C. Indus Valley Civilization

Separation; division into two or more territorial units having separate political status. Partition

A region of northern India and Pakistan over which several destructive wars have been fought. Kashmir

A small loan available to poor entrepreneurs, to help small businesses grow and raise living standards. Microcredit

A person who starts and builds a business. Entrepreneur

An Islamic practice of month-long fasting from sunup to sundown. Ramadan

A government in which the ruler’s powers are limited by a constitution and the laws of a nation. Constitutional Monarchy

A person of Tibetan ancestry in Nepal, who serves as the traditional mountain guide of the Mount Everest region. Sherpa

The founder of Buddhism and known as the Buddha, born in southern Nepal in the sixth century B.C. Siddhartha Gautama

In Tibetan Buddhism, a geometric design that symbolizes the universe and aids in meditation. Mandala

An Indo-Aryan people who crossed the strait separating India and Sri Lanka in the sixth century B.C. and who created an advanced civilization there, adopting Buddhism. Sinhalese

A Dravidian Hindu, who arrived in Sri Lanka in the fourth century, settling in the north while the Sinhalese moved further south. Tamils

A ruler of a Muslim country. Sultan

Food, clothing, and shelter. Basic Necessities

The inability to read or write. Illiteracy

The season when winds blow from the southwest across the Indian Ocean toward South Asia, from June through September, with winds stirring up powerful storms and causing severe flooding. Summer Monsoon

The season when dry winds blow from the northeast across the Himalaya Mountains toward the sea from October through February,sometimes causing drought. Winter Monsoon