New Nations Emerge 1945-Present
History
Anwar Sadat

The third President of Egypt 1970 - 1981. Anwar Sadat. Anwar Sadat was an Egyptian leader known for making peace with Israel.
Aung San Suu Kyi

A human rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi. She is a prominent leader who fought for democracy and human rights in Myanmar.
autocratic

A system of government in which an autocrat, possesses supreme and absolute power. Autocratic. An autocratic government is where one person has complete control over a country, like a king or dictator.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. He was a religious leader who led Iran's transformation into an Islamic state.
Bangladesh

A country in South Asia, independent since 1971 after a civil war with Pakistan. Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a nation that gained independence following a struggle for autonomy from Pakistan, becoming a sovereign state in 1971.
Benigno Aquino

The 15th President of the Philippines 2010 - 2016, Benigno Aquino. Benigno Aquino is known for his efforts to improve the economy and fight corruption in the Philippines.
Biafra

A state in West Africa that existed from 1967 to 1970. Biafra. Biafra was a secessionist state in southeastern Nigeria that declared independence, leading to a devastating civil war.
Corazon Aquino

The 11th President of the Philippines 1986 - 1992. Corazon Aquino. Corazon Aquino was the first female president of the Philippines and a key figure in restoring democracy after the Marcos dictatorship.
coup d etat

The removal of an existing government from power through non-legal means. coup d etat. A coup d'etat is when a group suddenly takes control of a government without following the law.
dalits

A socially, economically and historically marginalized communities in India Dalits. Historically, Dalits have faced severe discrimination and exclusion in the caste-based social structure of India.
East Timor

A country in Southeast Asia which got its independence in 2002. East Timor. East Timor is a nation that gained independence from Indonesia after a long struggle.
Ferdinand Marcos

The tenth President of the Philippines 1965 - 1986. Ferdinand Marcos. Ferdinand Marcos was a leader known for his authoritarian rule and the declaration of martial law.
Gamal Abdel Nasser

The second President of Egypt 1954 - 1970. Gamal Abdel Nasser. He was a leader who promoted Arab nationalism and socialism in the 20th century.
Golden Temple

The preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism, located in the Punjab Golden Temple. The Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, is the holiest shrine in Sikhism, known for its golden architecture and deep historical significance in Indian history.
Hijab

A veil worn by Muslim women which covers the head and chest. Hijab. Historically, the hijab has been used to signify modesty and privacy in various Islamic cultures.
Indira Gandhi

Prime Minister of India and a central figure of the Indian National Congress. Indira Gandhi. She was the first and, so far, only female Prime Minister of India.
Islamism

A group of ideologies that say that Islamic nations should be run by sharia Islamic laws. Islamism. Historically, Islamism is a movement aimed at integrating Islamic principles in the governance of Muslim-majority countries.
Jawaharlal Nehru

An Indian independence activist and the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru was a key leader in India's fight for freedom and played a central role in shaping modern India.
Jomo Kenyatta

The Prime Minister and the first President of Kenya 1964 - 1978, Jomo Kenyatta. Jomo Kenyatta was a key leader in Kenya's struggle for independence and became its first president.
Kashmir

The northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Kashmir. Kashmir is a historically disputed region between India and Pakistan.
Katanga

A breakaway state that proclaimed its independence from Congo in 1960. Katanga. Katanga was a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that declared independence during the Congo Crisis in the 1960s.
kibbutz

A collective community in Israel based on a combination of socialism and Zionism. Kibbutz. A kibbutz is a communal settlement in Israel where people live and work together, historically playing a key role in the nation's agricultural and social development.
Kwame Nkrumah

The first Prime Minister and President of Ghana 1960 - 1966. Kwame Nkrumah. Kwame Nkrumah was a key leader in Ghana's independence from British colonial rule and its first President.
Mobutu Sese Seko

The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1965 - 1997. Mobutu Sese Seko. Mobutu Sese Seko was a dictator who ruled Congo for over three decades, known for his authoritarian regime and corrupt government.
Mohammad Mosaddeq

The Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 until the 1953 Iranian coup d'tat, Mohammad Mosaddeq. He was a leader who nationalized Iran's oil industry and was overthrown in a coup.
nonalignment

A states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. nonalignment. Nonalignment is a policy adopted by some countries during the Cold War to avoid siding with either the United States or the Soviet Union.
partition

A change of political borders cutting through at least one territory. Partition. Partition is when a region is divided into separate political entities.
Punjab

A geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. Punjab. Punjab is a region divided between India and Pakistan that has a rich history influenced by various empires and cultures.
savanna

A mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being widely spaced. Savanna. In history, savannas were important regions for the development of early human civilizations due to their resources and open landscapes.
secular

A state of being separate from religion. secular. In history, secular refers to the separation of government and institutions from religious influence.
Sikhs

A people associated with Sikhism, a monotheistic religion from the Punjab region. Sikhs. Sikhism began in the 15th century in what is now India and embraces equality and service to others.
Suez Canal

An artificial waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea constructed 1869. Suez Canal. The Suez Canal is a crucial shipping route built in 1869 that allows ships to travel directly between Europe and Asia without navigating around Africa.
Suharto

The second president of Indonesia 1967 - 1998. Suharto. Suharto was a military leader who ruled Indonesia for over three decades, bringing economic growth but facing criticism for human rights abuses and corruption.
Sukarno

The first president of Indonesia 1945 - 1967. Sukarno. He led Indonesia to independence from Dutch colonial rule.
theocracy

a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler. theocracy. In history, a theocracy is a system of government where religious leaders control the state, ruling in the name of a divine power.