Unit 6: Asia

Chapter 24: Asia: Physical GeographySection 1: Physical FeaturesAsia includes the Indian subcontinent, a large landmass that is part of a continent. Northeast of India are the Himalaya Mountains, which contain the tallest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest.

The most important natural resources in Asia are its rivers: 1. Chang Jiang and Huang He in China2. Ganges and Indus in India3. Tigris and Euphrates in Turkey and Iraq4. Ural in Russia

The areas around the rivers have fertile soil that is good for growing crops.Rivers are also important for transportation.

Some of the world’s largest deserts are found in Southwest and Central Asia: 1. Rub al-Khali in Saudi Arabia2. Kara Kum in Turkmenistan

The population is not spread out evenly over Asia; few people live in deserts or on mountains. Most people live near rivers, on lowlands, and along the seacoasts. In these areas, the population density, the average number of people living in a square mile, is the highest. The landforms of Asia determine where people can live and grow food.

Class Discussion Questions: (DO NOT COPY)1. Why do people choose to live near rivers rather than near deserts?2. Do more people live near the Ganges or the Kara Kum? Near the Himalayas or the Huang He?

Section 2: Humans and the Physical EnvironmentSouthwest Asia has scorching summers and freezing winters. It is one of the largest dry regions on the Earth. Even though arable land, or land that can produce crops, is limited, most people work on farms. It is hard for people to make a living.

Climate also affects life in East Asia. The area around the Huang He River is one of the best farming areas of China. However, summer monsoons, strong winds that cause hot, humid weather and heavy rain, can cause the river to overflow.

Winter monsoons cause dust storms. These monsoon rains provide water for half the world’s population, so people are grateful for them. But they can cause mudslides that destroy entire villages.

Much of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and the Philippines, has a tropical wet climate and is covered with rain forests. They are lush and thick, with many kinds of plants and trees. It is hard for people to make a living in all these regions, but they manage.

Class Discussion Questions: (DO NOT COPY)1. How does rain both help and harm people in Asia?2. In which area of Asia is it hardest to grow crops? In which area is it easiest?

Section 3: Geographic Features and Natural ResourcesIn Southeast Asia, people spend most of their time growing rice. They plant the seeds in boxes, and then transplant the sprouts just before the rainy season. Throughout the growing season, the fields stay flooded. Growing rice is hard work, but in much of Asia, rice is the most important part of all meals.

Most people in Asia make their living from the land. Some countries produce cash crops, crops that are raised to be sold for money, such as tea, cotton, and rubber.

One of the most important resources for food in East Asia is the Pacific Ocean. Fishing is a big business. East Asians also practice aquaculture, or sea farming. They raise fish and shellfish in huge cages in shallow bays.

Petroleum is important to people everywhere, but it is found in only a few places. Southwest Asia is the largest oil-producing region in the world. People in countries with oil have a higher standard of living, or quality of life, than people in countries without oil.

Class Discussion Questions: (DO NOT COPY)1. Do more people in Asia work in farming or in manufacturing?2. Is land or water more important to Asia’s economy? Why?

Chapter 25: Asia: Shaped by HistorySection 1: East AsiaChina is the oldest continuing civilization in the world. China was governed by an emperor, a ruler of large lands and groups of people. A series of rulers from the same family is a dynasty. China’s Great Wall, started before 206 B.C., is a symbol of China’s desire to keep the world away.

There was a migration, a movement of people from one country to another, when some Chinese people moved to Korea and shared Chinese ideas with Koreans. This spreading of ideas is called cultural diffusion.

In Japan for many years, clans, or groups of families with a common ancestor, fought for land and power. The shoguns (emperor’s generals) and samurai (warrior nobles) ruled Japan for 700 years. Like the Chinese, they believed that separation from the outside world would unify the country.

In 1835, U.S. Commander Matthew Perry sailed warships to Japan to force Japan to grant trading rights to the United States. China remained separate longer. Today China, like Japan, is important to world trade.

Class Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. Why did the rulers of Japan want to keep the country closed?

Section 2: Southeast AsiaIn 111 B.C., the Chinese took over Vietnam and ruled the country for more than 1,000 years. During that time, the Vietnamese began using Chinese ways. The Indians also influenced Southeast Asia by introducing Hinduism to the region. Later, Arab traders brought Islam to the region. Buddhism is also an important religion to many Southeast Asians.

Traders from Europe arrived in the 1500s. To gain control of the trade in silk, silver, pearls, and spices, they built trading posts. By the 1800s, Europeans had gained control of most countries of Southeast Asia. The colonial rulers built roads, bridges, and railroads to move people and supplies. They also built schools, to produce better workers. All this helped the colonial powers, but it helped the people too.

After World War II ended, Western nations wanted to regain power in Southeast Asia, but the people wanted to control their own lives and resources. They fought for and won independence. Afterward, they worked to create new governments. Some were democratic, but others were controlled by dictators, leaders who have absolute power.

Class Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. What items were controlled by European traders?

Section 3: South AsiaIn 2000 B.C., Aryans began to invade the area of present-day India. They ruled northern India for more than 1,000 years. They divided people into different classes, called the caste system. A caste is a class of people who have special duties and work.

An important rule was Asoka. At first he was a warrior, but he changed his beliefs and began spreading the peaceful message of Buddhism. He also passed laws requiring people to treat each other with respect.

Another important ruler was Akbar. He was a Muslim, but he allowed all people to worship freely. He also supported the arts and literature. Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan had great buildings constructed, including the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

From the 1700s to the 1900s, Europe established colonies, territories ruled by another nation, throughout Asia. Britain took over India. Indians wanted their freedom, as did their leader, Mohandas Gandhi. He believed in nonviolent means to gain freedom. Gandhi played a major part in forcing Britain to grant India independence in 1947. Then, the Indian subcontinent was partitioned, or divided, into India and Pakistan.

Class Discussion Questions: (DO NOT COPY)1. Who helped force Britain to grant India independence?2. Which leaders were famous for promoting peace?

Section 4: Southwest AsiaPeople have lived between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in present-day Iraq, for 6,000 years. Each year the rivers flood, creating rich farmland. People irrigated the land, so they were able to produce more crops than they needed. Southwest Asia has always been a crossroads for many groups with ethnic and religious differences.

The Kurds are an ethnic group who has their own language and culture. They live throughout Southwest Asia but they do not have a country of their own. Their desire for a homeland has led to conflicts between the Kurds and the governments of Iran, Iraq, and Turkey.

After World War I, conflict broke out between the Arabs and Jews. Judaism began in Southwest Asia, but many Jews had moved away. Later they dreamed of returning to Palestine, but this alarmed the Arabs who lived there. This was their homeland too.

After World War II, the United Nations voted to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Neither group was happy, and the result was war. In 1948, the Jews founded their own state, Israel. Now the Palestinian Arabs live as refugees elsewhere or in Israel under Israeli rule. They are trying to work toward peace, but progress is slow.

Class Discussion Questions: (DO NOT COPY)1. What two groups consider Palestine their homeland?2. In which Southwest Asian countries do Kurds live?

Chapter 26: Asia: Rich in CultureSection 1: East AsiaIn East Asia, the past mingles with the present. There are shops selling herbs next door to modern hospitals. People still speak many different dialects, or forms, or Chinese.

When the Chinese Communist government came to power in 1949, it created communes, communities where the land is held in common and people live and work together.

People resisted, so the government allowed some private ownership. The Communists also tried to slow population growth by encouraging families to have only one child. This change had more success.

Many Japanese wear suits and work in skyscrapers, but at home they wear traditional kimonos and sit on mats and eat at low tables. One way the government keeps their traditions alive is by paying people to continue making the old arts and crafts.

Historians think that the Koreans descended from groups of nomads, people who have no settled home, from Mongolia. Over centuries, these separate groups became one homogenous group with similar members. Today there are few minority groups in Korea. In Japan, too, nearly all the people belong to the same ethnic group, sharing language, religion and culture.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. What idea of the Communist government did the Chinese people agree with? What idea did

they reject?

Section 2: Southeast AsiaIn Vietnam, people still enjoy traditional water puppet shows. The pond is the stage, and the puppets appear to wade through the water. In Cambodia, the Royal Ballet has been performing The Ramayana for 300 years. This is an ancient Hindu epic originally told by Brahma, the god of creation. The Ramayana conveys universal themes of love and loss.

Most Cambodians are Buddhists. Two key ideas of Buddhism are that life includes suffering, and that people live, die, and are reborn.

The tiny kingdom of Brunei, on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo, is one of the richest nations in the world due to its large oil deposits. Brunei has the world’s biggest palace, the home of the Sultan of Brunei. It covers 50 acres, the size of 36 football fields! A huge gold-domed mosque dominates the skyline.

The government provides its people with free health care, free education, and high wages on which they pay no taxes. The government also strictly enforces Islamic customs and traditions.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. What are two ancient forms of entertainment still popular in Southeast Asia?

Section 3: South AsiaHinduism and Buddhism both developed in India. Hinduism does not have a single founder. Hindus worship many gods and goddesses, but they believe in a single spirit. The various gods and goddesses represent different parts of this spirit. Hinduism is the national religion of India; 80 percent of Indians are Hindus.

Buddhism’s founder was a wealthy prince named Siddhartha Gautama. One day he left home to learn about his kingdom. He saw people who were hungry, sick, and poor. He became so unhappy that he gave up his wealth and spent his life looking for the causes of suffering.

Finally, he believed he had found the solution: People can be free of suffering if they give up their selfish desires for wealth and power.

Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism are religions practiced in the area too.

Just as Buddhism and Hinduism have common roots, so do many South Asian languages. The Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European group includes Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Pashtu, Bangla, Nepali, Sinhalese, and other languages. Each country has an official language, the one chosen by the government to do business.

Classroom Discussion Question:1. What important world religions developed in India?

Section 4: Southwest AsiaChristianity, Judaism, and Islam all developed in Southwest Asia. Judaism began more than 3,000 years ago. According to the Torah (pictured below), the writings sacred to the Jews, God told Abraham to take his family to Canaan (present-day Israel) where he would become the father of the nation. In return, Abraham promised that he and all of his descendants would worship only God.

Christianity began around 30 A.D., when a Jew, Jesus of Nazareth, began preaching to his fellow Jews. He encouraged them to believe in God and lead moral lives. His followers stayed with him until he was arrested, tried, and executed in Jerusalem. His followers wrote his life story, which became part of the New Testament in the Christian Bible (pictured below).

Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, was born in Mecca in Saudi Arabia in 570 A.D. In the early 600s, he had a vision in which the angel Gabriel told him that he was to be the messenger of God, known as Allah in Arabic. Muhammad began teaching that only Allah was God and that people would be judged by their actions, not by their wealth or power. These teachings form the basis of the Quran (pictured below), the Islam holy book. Muslims are called to prayer by the muezzin at a mosque.

Classroom Discussion Questions: (DO NOT COPY)1. What three religions began in Southwest Asia? List them from earliest to latest.2. What are the holy books of these religions?

Chapter 27: Asia: Exploring the Region TodaySection 1: China: Political and Economic ChangesIn 1949, when the Communists took power in China, the government faced big problems. China had been at war for almost a century, most people were very poor, and their methods of farming and manufacturing were old-fashioned.

Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, China made great changes. The government took land from large landowners, and took over all factories and businesses. Still, economic growth was slow.

In the 1950s, Mao began a policy of radical or extreme change. His “Great Leap Forward” turned out to be a giant step backward. People didn’t know how to go from being farmers to working in businesses and factories.

In 1966, Mao introduced the Cultural Revolution. He wanted to create a society with no ties to the past. Students formed bands called the Red Guard (pictured below) and rebelled against their families and teachers and even destroyed beautiful ancient buildings. They imprisoned lawyers and doctors.

In 1976, after Mao’s death, moderate Communists gained power. They gradually introduced free enterprise, in which people can choose their own jobs, start businesses, and make a profit. Today, China is a world economic force.

Classroom Discussion Questions: (DO NOT COPY)1. What was the Cultural Revolution?2. How long did it take for China to become an important member of the world’s economy?

Section 2: Japan: A Thriving Market Economy

Japan opened itself to the rest of the world in the 1800s. By the 1920s, Japan had become an important manufacturing country. But after World War II, Japan was in ruins. The United States helped rebuild industries, and the Japanese government helped by subsidizing, or financially supporting, them. Japan became a prosperous industrial nation again.

Since the 1960s, Japan has produced some of the most advanced robots, computer-driven machines that do human tasks, watches, cameras, cars, televisions, and electronics.

The Japanese people work hard and are rewarded. Large companies offer incentives, or benefits, to attract workers and keep them happy. These include free housing, education, and medical care.

Workers are rarely laid off, even when the companies make no profits. In these cases, the government often steps in to help. A problem with this system is that the government can’t afford it, and the economy has suffered.

Japanese women have more choices than ever before. Many work outside the home, earning good salaries. Yet women often face job discrimination, or unequal treatment. Japanese businesses are reluctant to make them managers, so some women are looking for jobs with foreign companies.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. How did Japan rebuild after World War II?

Section 3: The Koreas: Different Ways of GoverningNorth and South Korea are separate—and very different—countries. Between them is a border called the demilitarized zone, where no weapons are allowed. It also prevents people, supplies, and communication from crossing the border.

South Korea is a democracy with an economy based on free enterprise. South Korea is one of the world’s top shipbuilders. It also exports televisions and computers and refines oil for the plastics and rubber industries.

South Korea also faces challenges. It has few natural resources needed for its industry. So it must import iron, steel, and chemicals, all of which are expensive. Still, it is part of the world economy, so its future seems bright.

North Korea is a Communist country that has kept itself closed to most of the rest of the world, including technology and ideas. It is rich in natural resources, but that is not helping the economy.

Its government-owned factories produce poor-quality goods, and little has been done to diversify, or add variety to, the economy. Farming is old fashioned, too, and many North Koreans face famine, or a food shortage, and starvation.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. Why is South Korea more economically successful than North Korea?

Section 4: Vietnam: A Reunited Nation Building Its Economy

In the mid-1800s, France took over Vietnam as a colony. The Vietnamese people wanted their own government, but it was not until 1946 that many of them joined independence leader Ho Chi Minh.

Under Ho, the Vietnamese Communists defeated the French. A treaty then divided the country into two nations. North Vietnam was controlled by Communists, who wanted to control South Vietnam. In 1959, Ho’s forces, the Viet Cong, started a war. The United States took an active role, supporting the South Vietnamese.

By 1973, the United States finally pulled out. North Vietnam conquered the south, and in 1976, the country was reunited under a Communist government. After 30 years of war, Vietnam had been devastated. Millions of people had been killed. Homes, factories, and farms had been destroyed. The people were exhausted.

In the years since the end of the war, the Communist government has been in control, but it allows some free enterprise. Cities have been rebuilt, and there are apartment buildings, stores, offices, schools, and restaurants. Thousands of refugees, people who fled because of war, have returned. Trade has resumed with the rest of the world, and life in Vietnam is improving.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)

1. Who was Ho Chi Minh and what were his goals?Chapter 28: Asia: Exploring the Region TodaySection 1: Pakistan: Making Economic Progress

Drought, or a long time without water, is a major problem for Pakistan. It is one cause of Pakistan and India’s 40-year conflict over the region of Kashmir, which is the source of the Indus River. Whoever controls Kashmir controls the water flow of the river.

Pakistani farmers have built thousands of canals and ditches to irrigate their fields so they can grow crops even during droughts. They grow rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, lentils (pictured below), fruits, and vegetables.

Pakistan has another water problem. During the monsoon season, floods occur. The government built dams, which catch monsoon rains. Later, the water is released into irrigation canals. The rushing water from dams can also be used to create hydroelectric energy that runs mills and factories.

Pakistan is one of the more prosperous countries in Asia. Factories have been built to turn crops such as cotton into manufactured goods such as socks. Many people work in small workshops, producing furniture, carpets, and other goods. The nation also produces chemicals and steel.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. Why do both India and Pakistan want to control Kashmir?

Section 2: India: A Democracy Rooted in Tradition

India is a Hindu country, and traditional Hindu society divides people into castes, or social groups. Below the lowest group are the Untouchables, or a casteless group. For Untouchables, life was hard. They could do only the dirtiest work and were not allowed to mix with people of higher castes.

Today, things have changed. When Gandhi fought for India’s independence, he also fought for the rights of Untouchables. After independence in 1947, India passed laws to help Untouchables. The government set quotas, certain portions of something, to guarantee them jobs and allow them entrance to universities. They also can worship at village temples and go to public schools.

Indian women also have more rights today. They can vote and have careers outside the home. As a surprise to many, India has a higher percentage of women doctors than the United States. A woman, Indira Gandhi, even became prime minister, and many women hold government positions, including as members of Parliament, India’s lawmaking body.

In addition to legal rights, women have improved social rights. Many no longer follow the custom of purdah, or covering their heads and faces with veils. They come and go as they please, dressed any way they want.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. Who were the Untouchables?2. What sorts of rights do women have now?

Section 3: Saudi Arabia: Islam and the Oil Industry

Once every year, millions of Muslims from all over the world make a pilgrimage, called the hajj, to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. Muslims must make the hajj at least once in their lifetime if they are able.

In 1900, Saudi Arabia was one of the poorest countries in the world. People made their living herding livestock in the desert. But in the 1930s, oil was discovered on the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia has about one-fourth of the world’s supply of oil, and as a result, is now one of the richest countries.

Thousands of students turn out doctors, scientists, and teachers. Roads link all parts of the country. Most people have electricity and telephones.

Religion still regulates most people’s lives. There are no public movie theaters or nightclubs. Alcohol and pork are illegal. Stores must close five times a day when Muslims pray.

The role of women is changing, but Muslim traditions remain strong. Women are not allowed to drive. Most women cover themselves in public with a full-length black cloak. Even their faces are usually covered. At home, traditional women stay in a separate part of the house when guests visit. Girls go to school, but boys and girls go to different schools and do not socialize.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. What happened in the 1930s and how did it affect Saudi Arabia?2. What is one way that women’s lives have changed? What is one way that women’s lives have

not changed?

Section 4: Israel: Building Its Economy

Israel’s land is below sea level, and two thirds is covered by the Negev Desert. The Israelis have used technology to irrigate much of the desert so that half a million people can live and grow fruits and vegetables there. Most people who live in the countryside live in moshavim (bottom left), small farming villages.

Workers cooperate by combining their money to buy equipment and pool their crops to get better prices. Another cooperative settlement is the kibbutz (bottom right). Here people live, eat, work, and go to school together. They do not earn money, but the kibbutz provides for their needs.

The Jordan River runs along Israel’s borders with Syria and Jordan. It is important to all three countries, and each country’s use of the river affects its neighbors. When Israel began to build a national irrigation system, Syria tried to stop the project.

Later, when Syria wanted to channel some of the river’s waters, Israel objected. Today, Jordan wants to build a dam, but it needs Israel’s approval. All this causes some cooperation and much conflict.

Classroom Discussion Question: (DO NOT COPY)1. What is a kibbutz?2. What are important aspects of Israel’s geography?