East & Southeast Asia

Review of South Asia

• Name the 7 countries of South Asia.

• Why is the Ganges River important?

• What are the main religions of South Asia?

• What effect do the Himalayas have on South Asia? http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-

october-8-2013/malala-yousafzai

Mountains & Plateaus

• East Asia : China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea & Taiwan

• High mountains limited China’s contact with India Subcontinent nations• Himalayas, Kunlun Mountains

• Mountainous area includes some sparsely populated basins, deserts• Plateau of Tibet (Xizang Plateau)• Gobi Desert - stretches from northwest China into

Mongolia

Topography & Population

Rivers

• Huang He - Yellow River

• Northern China river, empties into Yellow Sea

• named for yellow silt the river carries

• known as “China’s Sorrow” due to destructive flooding

Rivers

• Chang Jiang - Yangtze River - longest river in Asia, name means “long river”• major trade route;

floods often causing great damage

• 3 Gorges Dam – located on the Chang Jiang/ Yangtze River

Rivers

• Mekong River:• Starts in Tibetan Plateau

• Flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

Climate & Vegetation

• East Asia Climate• dry highland climate in the west• humid climate in the east.

• Desert• Most deserts are in west central mainland• Taklimakan Desert—in west China, between Tian Shan,

Kunlun mountains• Gobi Desert—in north China, southeast Mongolia• Tropical Zones• High temperatures, heavy rainfall, high humidity all year

Human Geography

• China acts as a cultural hearth in East Asia.

• China has influenced the culture of most nations in region

• And has controlled most of them at one time or another• Japan was never conquered,

but was influenced

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia:

•Myanmar•Thailand•Laos•Vietnam•Malaysia•Singapore•Indonesia•Philippines

China

• China:• world’s most populous country• dominant culture of East Asia since ancient times.

• Early Civilization and the Dynasties• Oldest continuous civilization; a settled society for 4,000 years ago• Dynasty — series of rulers from same family• Europeans Arrive• China is isolated until Europeans, like Marco Polo, arrive in 1200s• In 1800s, European powers seek access to Chinese markets• Treaties force weak China to give Europeans privileges

• ____spheres of influence____—territory awarded to European nations, Japan• Chinese anger over outside control leads to 1900 Boxer Rebellion

• Chinese militants kill Europeans, Chinese Christians

Government in China

• Revolution and Change• In 1912 Sun Yat-sen helps found

Kuomintang (Nationalist Party)• Chinese Communist Party fights,

defeats Nationalists, in 1949• ___Mao Zedong___________

rules mainland People’s Republic• Chiang Kai-shek, Nationalists

flee to Taiwan• Moderate Deng Xiaoping rules

China from 1976 through 1980s

Economy

The Industrial Economy• World’s second largest economy overall & until recently the

fastest growing.• Industry accounts for over 70% of the GDP and employs slightly

less than 30% of the population. Construction, manufacturing, power production and natural resources of coal, iron ore, oil, are largest industrial sectors.

Agricultural Economy• Previously – A Rural Economy, agriculturally self-sufficient, river

valleys have rich soil but only 13% of land is arable. Many mountains, deserts

Religions

Religions

• Today - Governed by atheist Communist Party, but five religions are recognized

• Buddhism came to China 2,000 years ago –

• gradually widely accepted by most Chinese. Today about 30% identify as Buddhist.

• Other major religions: Taoism, Confucianism, 

Islam  and Christianity.

■ Chinese traditional religions: includes worship of gods and ancestors, Confucianism and Taoism■ Buddhism■ Islam■ Ethnic minorities' indigenous religions■ Mongolian folk religion■ Northeast China folk religion, Tungus and Manchu shamanism

Religions

• Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 B.C.) inspires _____Confucianism________________• orderly, educated society has respect for past, ancestors• children obey parents; parents obey government,

emperor• ____Taoism________—from Tao-te Ching book of Lao-

tzu teachings (500s B.C.)• preserve, restore harmony in individual, universe

• Indian ___Buddhism_____________ grows in China, influenced by Confucianism, Taoism

Population

• One-fifth of world’s people live in China• Population: about 1.37 billion • One- Child Policy- attempt to control the population

• Many of China’s 22 provinces are bigger than most countries• Henan province has 93 million, more than Great

Britain• 70% of people live in 12 eastern provinces; in the west,

6% of nation’s people live on 55% of its land

Mongolia

• Mongols are nomadic herders until _______Genghis Khan___________ conquers Central Asia

• Genghis Khan dies in 1227; successors expand empire• Empire breaks up in 1300s, China gains control of Mongolia in 1600s

Mongols adopt many aspects of Chinese cultureMongolians achieve independence in 1911

• Mongolia becomes Communist in 1924remains Communist until 1989 fall of USSR

Mongolia

• Mongolia Today - moving toward:• democracy & market economy

• Many herd, manage livestock (sheep, goats, camels, horses, cattle) even today• cashmere industry uses soft wool of local goats

• Nomads once guided animals from grassland to grassland• Still some nomads today• long, cold winters, short, hot summers are hard on

livestock• Nomads live in tents called yurts, made of felt, leather

• yurts are even found in capital of Ulaanbaatar

Taiwan

• Prehistoric people migrate from China & southeast Asia• Manchu Dynasty conquers Taiwan in 1683• Japanese take Taiwan (Formosa) in 1895 after victory over China• Chinese Nationalists lose to Communists, flee to island in 1949

• establish People’s Republic of China • not recognized by China

• Population and culture is almost exclusively Chinese• Most speak official language of Northern Chinese

• Mandarin

• People combine religious & ethical beliefs• 90% practice blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, • Taoism

Taiwan

• Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea are Asian Tigers, nations with:• cheap labor, high technology, aggressive exports

North & South Korea

• The Korean peninsula:• divided into two separate countries.

• Ancient Korea and Foreign Influences:

• China conquers northern peninsula around 100 B.C.

• Koreans regain land, • Form Three Kingdoms in late 300s

• Koguryo (northeast), Paekche (southwest), Silla (southeast)

• Japan conquers Korea in 1910• rules until WWII defeat in 1945

North & South Korea

• Korean War: • 1950 - North Korean troops invade South Korea

• 1953 treaty ends war, divides peninsula• North Korea is a Communist state, • South Korea is democracy

• two nations remain hostile • reunification discussions occur at times

• The Chinese Influence• Korea adopts many philosophical, religious ideas from China

• Confucian, Buddhist influences

North & South Korea

• Other Cultural Influences• Communism molds North Korean culture, while South Korea is influenced by

Western culture• North Korean government only allows Communist or folk art• South Korean artists have more freedom of expression• An Armed Society• Both build huge armies after WWII• Danger of war always looms - 2 million troops on both sides of border• Economic Patterns• South Korea is economic tiger with successful, competitive economy• Population Patterns• Most live on coastal plains, river valleys• South Korea: 45% of peninsula’s land, 66% of population• South’s largest city is Seoul (population 10 million)

• North’s is Pyongyang (population 2.5 million)

Japan

• Japan• ancient culture and traditions• economic giant of East Asia – now overtaken by China

• Samurai and Shogun• Until A.D. 300s, Japan has many clans, but Yamato clan rules by 400s

• by 600, Yamato leaders call themselves emperors of Japan• ___Samurai_____-—“one who guards”; hired soldiers serve landowners,

chiefs• The Shoguns• In 1192, after a clan struggle, emperor creates shogun position

• ____Shogun______—general of emperor’s army• military dictator powers

• controls officials, judges, armies; picks governors (daimyo)• During 700-year shogun rule, Japan fights off Mongol invasions• Last shogun resigns in 1868; Emperor becomes head of government

Japan

• Emerging World Power• Early 20th century: Japan is major power• Expanding empire puts Japan’s interests in

conflict with U.S.• Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, naval

base December 7, 1941• attack brings U.S. into WWII; Japan

defeated, surrenders in 1945• U.S. occupies Japan; brings political,

economic reforms• Japan becomes democracy

• constitutional monarchy with emperor and elected parliament

Japan

• Post-war economic boom makes Japan’s economy second only in size to U.S. --until recently

• Japan imports resources to manufacture products for export• exports autos, electronics, computers

• Economic Slowdown• After four decades of rapid growth, economy slows in 1990s• Reasons for slowdown

• regional competition (Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong)• Japanese stock market has big losses• Japanese investments in SE Asian economies lose value• Japanese save rather than spend• declining exports

Japan

• Japanese Culture• A Traditional People• Kyoto: beauty in gardens, palaces, Buddhist temples• Noh - plays in 1600s have colorful scenery, costumes• Education• Highly structured educational system

• students in school six days a week; six weeks of summer vacation

• six years of elementary, three of junior high, three of high school

Japan

• The issues facing East Asian nations include earthquakes, economic recessions, growing populations, and rapidly changing societies.

• The Ring of Fire• Because of its location, Japan has faced disastrous earthquakes,

volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.• Shifting Plates• Many Japanese cities are threatened by earthquakes

• Japan is on the __Ring of Fire____—chain of volcanoes around Pacific Rim

• In East Asia, Pacific oceanic plate meets Eurasian continental plate• stress builds where plates meet; sudden slip creates earthquake

Japan

• ___Volcanoes________ formed Japanese islands• Since first records, at least 60 Japanese volcanoes have been active

• best-known Japanese landform, Mt. Fuji, is a volcano• Earthquakes and Tsunamis• An average of 1,000 earthquakes occur in Japan each year• Underwater earthquakes move ocean floor; can create tsunami

• huge wave of great destructive power that can reach over 100 feet• Solutions• Japan has strict building code

• engineers study how different buildings withstand quakes• studies affect codes governing construction materials, techniques

• Schoolchildren have yearly ___disaster______ with firemen

Japan

• Trade and Prosperity• East Asian economies became global powerhouses in the 1970s

and 1980s.• Decline of Asian economies in the 1990s created a crisis

• spreads around the globe.

• Industrialization and Globalization• After WWII, nations industrialize, East-West trade increases

• “Made in China,” “Made in Japan” labels are common in West• Regional economies merge, global economy develops

• global economy - nations are interdependent for goods, services

Philippines