3. East Asia.docx - Weebly



5. Regional Focus: East AsiaPolitical Features- CountriesChina (People’s Republic of China)MongoliaTaiwan (Republic of China)South KoreaNorth KoreaJapanPolitical Features - Cities:BeijingGuangzhouNagoyaOsakaP’yongyangSeoulShanghaiShenzhenTaipeiTokyoUlan BatorPhysical FeaturesAmur RiverHuang He (Yellow) RiverMekong RiverXi RiverYangtze River (Chang Jiang)East China SeaGulf of TonkinSea of Japan (or East Sea)South China SeaYellow SeaAltai Mts.Gobi DesertHimalayasMt. EverestKunlun Mts.Mt. FujiTaklimakan DesertTien ShanFor our quiz, you will need to know all of the political AND physical features listed above. Overview of the RegionThis is a broad sweep of land that stretches from central Asia, along the Himalayas to the south, and out into the Pacific Ocean. Physically, the region is dominated by its mountains and rivers. The Himalayas separate China and Mongolia in the north from India and Pakistan (South Asia). To the north and west of the Himalayas, the Kunlun, Tien Shan, and Altai ranges separate western and eastern Asia. There are few passes in these mountain ranges, so contact between west and east, or north and south, is difficult. The mountains are also dotted with high, hard-to-reach plateaus, where people can live with very little contact with the rest of the world.The rivers bring the people of this region together. Several great rivers wind across the great plains of China, including the Yangtze, the Xi, and the Huang He, or Yellow River, which was the center of one of the world’s earliest civilizations. The rivers bring soil from the highlands to the valleys, making them rich centers of agriculture. Rivers also provide a means of transportation from the center of the region to the coast. Travel this way is often easier than overland.In many ways, China dominates this region. It is by far the largest in size, but it is also important in terms of culture. Chinese civilization began several thousand years ago and was a unified empire for much of its history. China’s culture filtered out to other parts of the region, including the diffusion of its writing system to Japan, Buddhism from India to China to Korea and Japan. At various times in history, China controlled Korea. China also attempted to invade Japan.China had a long history as a powerful empire. But by the early twentieth century, several Western nations had taken control of parts of the country. The emperor ruled the country in name only. Many Chinese resented foreign intervention and a period of political change began. First, a nationalist movement overthrew the emperor. Then the nationalists themselves were overthrown by a communist movement. The nationalists fled to the island of Taiwan. China was declared a communist state.Until 1971, the rest of the world recognized Taiwan as the “official” government of China. Then the United Nations accepted mainland China as a member and expelled Taiwan. Most other countries also recognized China as the “official” nation. This leaves Taiwan in political limbo. Much of the world does not recognize Taiwan as a country, but other countries continue to trade with Taiwan. Thus, Taiwan remains an important part of East Asia’s economy.Key Facts (including SOLs):Physical Geography:Himalayas block moisture, creating deserts and steppes.Facilitates China’s isolation: Pacific Ocean, large deserts (Gobi, Taklimakan), Himalayan Range, thick rainforest and jungle to the southJapanese islands are volcanic in origin and earthquake-prone. Mountainous terrain with little agricultural land and few natural resources.Economic Characteristics:Japan - 2nd largest economyChina - 3rd largest economySouth Korea - 10th largest economySilk Road created economic ties to the west; cities such as Xi’an grew along the route (situation factor)Varied economies in the region, ranging from subsistence / commercial agriculture to high-tech industrial manufacturingParticipation in global markets, including economic alliance between China and the United StatesNewly industrialized countries: South Korea, TaiwanJapan: economic leader; highly industrialized nation despite limited natural resources. Focus is technology and service sector.China in transition from a centrally planned economyIndustrial growth has led to environmental problems (pollution, acid rain)Cultural Characteristics:Areas of extremely dense and of sparse populationContrast between rural and urban areasReligious diversity - Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Shinto, ConfucianismRespect for ancestorsSilks Ideograms, unique alphabetsGreat Wall of ChinaPagodasTemples and shrinesTerraced rice fields (human impact on environment)China, Korea, Japan are nation-states -- countries composed of culturally / ethnically distinct group of people Disputes:Korea -Korean War, North Korea, South KoreaChina (PRC) and Taiwan (ROC) - boundary and territorial disputeBrief Historical Timelines:China:Silk Road established exterior trade and contact with regions as far away as Europe. Otherwise isolated for thousands of years.1839-42 Opium Wars - China vs. British. Results: British victory, forced China to open trade, British got Hong Kong, foreign missionaries gained access to China, China’s society disgraced1985 - Sino-Japanese War - Japanese defeated Chinese and took control of Korean peninsula1899 - Boxer Rebellion - Movement in China to purge foreign influence ; defeated by European powers1912 - Last Emperor removed; Republic of China establishedWWII - mass slaughter of Chinese by Japanese (40 million)1949 - People’s Republic of China established -- result of Communist Party victory in civil war; Nationalists (Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan and set up Republic of China there; recognized by UN until 1971)Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution - more than 80 million Chinese deaths resulted. Mao Zedong in power 1949-1976.1959 - took control of Tibet, resulting in exile of Dalai Lama1989 - Tiananmen Square - hundreds of students massacred in pro-democracy protest1990s - huge economic growth as western companies accessed huge Chinese market1997 - British returned Hong Kong to China2000 - U.S. established “favored nation status” and trade with ChinaMember of UN Permanent Security Council KoreaVassal state to China throughout last 5,000 years; most adaptations, culture came from ChinaMost ethnically pure state on planet; one unified country for most of history.WWII - Russian troops in the north, American troops in the south; established occupation zones.1950 - North Korea (Soviet support) invaded South Korea.JapanDistinct culture emerged about 1500 years ago. Strongly influenced by Chinese culture.Early history: feudal system (emperor, shoguns, samurais) 1600-1800 - unified under Tokugawa Shogunate -- peace, prosperity, isolation1853 - Commodore Perry (U.S.) forcibly opened trade with Japan1868 - Meiji Restoration - Period of learning about outside world; turning point. Restructured society in western image.Imperialist Japan - attacked China, Russia, Korea, more. Continued expansion until WWII.WWII - war atrocities (Nanking Massacre, Bataan Death March, Burma Railway), Hiroshima and Nagasaki, U.S. occupation under MacArthurPost -WWII - new society and government under U.S. guidance. Growth to 2nd largest economy.-1904990Political Features- Countries-761990Political Features- Cities: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE LOCATE AND LABEL THE CITIES ON YOUR OWNPHYSICAL FEATURESPHYSICAL FEATURES ................
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