Glossary of Terms

yellow peril   Western term for perceived threat of Japanese imperialism around 1900; met by increased Western imperialism in region. (p. 826)

Yellow River basin   Also known as Huanghe River basin; site of the development of sedentary agriculture in China. (p. 61)

Yellow Turbans   Chinese Daoists who launched a revolt in 184 c.e. in China promising a golden age to be brought about by divine magic. (p. 253)

Yeltsin, Boris   Began to move up the ladder of the Communist party in Soviet Union in 1968, becoming First Secretary of the Moscow City Party Committee in 1985; initially a loyal backer of Gorbachev but increasingly criticized him for unduly slow pace of reform; stood up to a coup attempt in 1991 but then managed to displace Gorbachev; in his position as president of the Russian Republic, sponsored several subsequent constitutional provisions and weathered battles with opponents in Parliament. (p. 909)

Yi   Korean dynasty that succeeded Koryo dynasty following period of Mongol invasions; established in 1392; ruled Korea to 1910; restored aristocratic dominance and Chinese influence. (p.465)

Yoruba   City-states developed in northern Nigeria c. 1200 c.e.; Ile-Ife featured artistic style possibly related to earlier Nok culture; agricultural societies supported by peasantry and dominated by ruling family and aristocracy. (pp. 203, 346)

Yu   A possible mythical Chinese ruler revered for the construction of an effective system of flood control along the Huanghe River valley; founder of the Xia kingdom. (p. 465)

Yuan Shikai   [yU än shEE kI, yYän] Warlord in northern China after fall of Qing dynasty; hoped to seize imperial throne; president of China after 1912; resigned in the face of Japanese invasion in 1916. (p. 1021)

Yueh-chih   [yU zhih] Nomadic invaders of Indian subcontinent; invasions gave rise to Kushana dynasty. (p. 187)

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