Welcome to Social Studies!

EQ: How have Southern and Eastern Asian actions changed the natural environment?

Unit 9 Geography of S. and E. Asia Notes

• An ethnic group is a group of people who share a language, history, and place of origin.

• People may become a member of a certain religion, which teaches how people should act in their daily lives and to believe in a higher power.

Three Major Religions

IslamA. Founded by MuhammadB. Abraham is regarded as the father of their

people.C. Followers are called Muslims and believe in

the Five Pillars of Islam:– Faith (Shadada) - There is only one God

and Muhammad is his prophet– Prayer (Salat) - Prayers are performed 5

times a day– Charity (Zakat) - Giving charity of 2 ½ % of

one’s income.

Islam Continued…

– Fasting (Sawm) - Fasting during the month of Ramadan from first light to sundown for self-purification.

– Pilgrimage (Hajj) - Making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

D. Their holy book is the Qu’ran

E. Their place of worship is a Mosque.

F. There are two main sects of Islam: Sunnis (majority) and Shi’ites

Hinduisma. Is one of the world’s oldest religions, dating

back to at least 2000 BCE

b. It developed in the Indus Valley from a group of Nomadic people called the Aryans

c. Major religion of South Asia.

d. 80% of Indian population.

e. Teaches there is one Great Spirit appearing in many forms.

f. Their holy book is called the Vedas

Hinduism Continued…

g. Have special respect for cows and do not eat their meat.

h. The Ganges River is holy to all Hindus.

i. Rich & Poor make pilgrimages to it.

j. Hindus try to bathe in it at least once, hoping to be reborn into a better caste.

k. In Varanasi, temples & funeral pyres (for cremation) line the river.

l. Hindus want their ashes scattered over the Ganges.

Shintoisma. Began in Japan’s Rice Paddy fields in 300

BCEb. Shinto means “the way of the gods”c. The Sun is associated with the goddess

who is believed to be the ruler of all the spirits.

d. Shintoism’s god (spiritual powers called Kami) is found in all natural objects such as stones, trees, mountains, and other natural phenomena.

e. Their place of worship is a shrine

East Asia’s Traditional Values

1. Are shaped by family loyalty: Honoring one’s parents.

2. Began at least 2,500 years ago by Kongfuzi “Confucius,” China’s great philosopher and teacher.

3. The teachings of Confucius are called Confucianism

Confucianism

3. Confucianism – a set of rules for behavior:

• 1. Family loyalty towards one another.

• 2. People and government ruler have loyalty towards one another.

• 3. Respect for learning:

• knowledge = near perfection.

Daoism

Daoism – turned into a religion.

• 1.Started by Laozi.

• 2.“Dao” means “the way.”

• 3.Teaches that people should accept their fate calmly; thus, leave things alone and try not to change them.

Buddhism

Buddhism

• 1. Started by Prince

Siddhartha Guatama from India.

• 2. Believed human suffering is caused by selfishness. To end suffering, end selfish desires; thus, concentrate on good thoughts and good behavior.

• 3. Siddhartha became known as the “Buddha,” which means “the enlightened one.”

***The Communist government of East

Asia has tried to discourage the worship

of these 3 religions, but they have not

been successful.***

Family Size

1. Large families are traditional.

2. China has over 1 billion people, a population 4 times larger than the USA.

3. Chinese government passed laws encouraging families to have only 1 child.

4. They have a very strong birth control program.

5. Families living in cities usually have 1 child. The government watches them closely.

Family Size Continued…6. Exceptions to the 1 child rule:

– Families living in rural farming

areas may have more than 1 child if a girl is born before a boy is born. Boys are considered “lucky.”

– Having a child born with a severe disability.

– Having a child to die naturally or unexpectedly.

7. Population has slowed; but it is still a very serious problem.

Geography of Southern Asia

Geography of Southern Asia

1. The Himalayas stretch for 1,500 miles across Northern India and Nepal, and are 200 miles wide in some places. The terrain is rough with few safe roads. Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world at 29,035 ft., is part of the Himalayas.

2. The Northern Plains lie between the Himalayas and Southern India. The Ganges River begins in this area.

3. The Deccan Plateau is in Southern India and contains mineral deposits and forests.

Geography of Southern Asia Continued…

4. Mainland Southeast Asia contains 2 peninsulas: the Indochinese and Malay Peninsulas. It starts in the highlands of the Plateau of Tibet and runs through the South China Sea.

5. The islands of Southeast Asia includes: Borneo, Malaysia, and the archipelagoes of Singapore, and Indonesia.

6. Most of South Asia has 3 seasons- cool, hot, and rainy. From June to October marks monsoon season. Monsoons are seasonal winds that bring heavy rains and flooding to the area.

7. November to February is cool and dry, and March to May is hot and humid.

Geography of Eastern Asia

Geography of Eastern Asia1. The Himalayas run along China’s southwestern

border, dividing China from Nepal.

2. The Plateau of Tibet is the highest plateau on earth and is known as “the roof of the world.”

3. China’s 3 great rivers are the Huang He (China’s sorrow), Chang Jiang (longest), and Xi Jiang.

4. China has 2 deserts: The Taklimakan and Gobi (waterless place).

5. North and South Korea lie on the mountainous Korean Peninsula. The Yalu and Tumen Rivers mark their border with China. The climate is temperate with cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers.

Geography of Japan

Geography of Japan1. Geographic Featuresa. Japan is an island nation located in the North Pacific

Ocean. It has over 6,800 islands. b. Japan was formed by volcanic action and consists of high

mountains and narrow valleys. 68% of the land is mountainous.

c. From coast to coast, Japan is less than 200 miles wide. Total land area is 145,843 sq. miles, slightly smaller than California.

2. Population a. With a population over 123 million, Japan has one of the

highest population densities in the world: about 846 people per sq. mile.

3. Arable Land a. Only 15% of the land is suited for agricultural production.

Geography of Japan cont…4. The Ocean a. The ocean has made fish important to the Japanese diet and

economy. b. The ocean can also be a challenge to live with, such as typhoons

which cause floods and mudslides. Large under water earthquakes cause destructive tidal waves.

5. Climate a. Japan spans 2,360 miles Northeast to Southwest, and the climate

varies from icy to subtropical.b. Japan has 4 seasonal weather changes just like the U.S. The

climate is comparable to the middle states of the eastern U.S.6. Plants a. Japan has 4,000-6,000 native species of plants such as cherry

blossoms.7. Animals a. Japan has unique animal life with some species of: woodpeckers,

pheasants, dragonflies, crabs, sharks, snakes, salamanders, and sea mammals that do not exist anywhere else in the world.

TOTD:

How do you think the geography of Southern and Eastern Asia affect the lives of people who live there (religion, culture, jobs, government, etc.)?