Transcript Where is Asia?

East and Southeast Asia
NOTES
Where is Asia?
Southeast Asia: Physical Geography
• Countries that
border the
Himalayan
Mountains include
India, China, Nepal,
Bhutan, and
Myanmar.
Mt. Everest – The world’s highest mountain
Kathmandu, Nepal high in the Himalayas
East Asia: Physical Geography
• Some of the regions most important rivers
are the Ganges (in India) and the Yellow
(in China).
Traditionally, it is believed that the Chinese civilization
originated in the Yellow River basin, therefore the Chinese
refer to it as “Mother River.
East/SouthEast Asia – N
Physical Geography Challenges
• 70% of the world’s
fatalities from natural
disasters occur in Asia
because of its location
near the Ring of Fire.
• Physical geography
challenges in this region
are drought, significant
air and water pollution,
and rapid urbanization.
Monsoons
• Monsoons have a huge
influence on the weather
and climates in Asia.
• Monsoons are seasonal
winds that bring either moist
or dry air to an area.
• Summer monsoons bring
heavy rains from the south
and fertile growing
conditions to many places
on the Indian Subcontinent.
• In the winter, the monsoons
change direction. The
winter monsoons bring dry
air from the north, and little
rain falls during this time of
year.
New Delhi, India – Average
Precipitation
Tsunami
From the Japanese words for “harbor
wave”
• Tsunamis are very large and
destructive waves, generally
caused by a tremendous
disturbance in the ocean,
such as an undersea
earthquake or volcanic
eruption.
• The December 2004 Indian
Ocean tsunami killed nearly
230,000 people in fourteen
countries.
• An Indian Ocean Tsunami
warning system is being
developed.
East/Southeast Asia: Political
• Asia has a variety of political systems,
ranging from democracy to communism.
India’s parliament building
"For a prosperous, powerful nation and a happy
family, please use birth planning."
Government sign in Ninchin. – Example of
China’s One-Child Policy
East/Southeast Asia: Economics
• Asia has been progressing economically
for decades.
• Many countries are still considered
developing nations though.
Downtown Singapore
Dharavi slums in Mumbai, India
East/Southeast Asia: Religion
• East Asia and Southeast Asia are homes to a
variety of religions—the dominant ones being
Hinduism and various forms of Buddhism.
Costumed Hindu-girls in Nepal. The two small
children represent the god Krishna and his
consort Radha. Sitting behind are the
god Vishnu and his consort Laxmi.
Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia – First a
Hindu then a Buddhist temple
China Political
• China is ruled by the Communist Party of
China under a single-party system.
• The government controls most areas of life: total
political censorship in national media (newspapers,
internet). People who oppose the government risk
punishment.
• Capital: Beijing
• President: Hu Jintao
Premier: Wen Jiabao
“Every communist must grasp the truth, Political power grows out of the
barrel of a gun.” – Mao Zedong first communist leader of China
• There are tensions between China and
Taiwan over it’s independence.
Fun Fact: “Ghost Month” in Taiwan takes place during the
seventh lunar month in Taiwan. A traditional belief is that
ghost are walking the earth during month. Many
Taiwanese stay home and avoid moving, traveling, and
getting married!
China Economics
• China's large economy is
offset by its population,
meaning the real gross
domestic product per capita is
at the level of a developing
country.
• About half of the population is
employed in agriculture.
• The 2008 global economic
crisis led to a sharp decline in
world demand for China's
exports, a factor in pushing the
economy into recession.
• Greater economic freedom
has not led to more political
freedom.
Nanjing Road – one of the busiest shopping centers in the world
Peanut Farmers in China
(http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china#video-lptv_duzer
China Religion
• Government policy allows
Chinese to exercise religious
beliefs within certain guidelines.
• Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims,
and Christians do practice, but
some groups are prohibited.
• As many as 70 million people
have some religious faith.
• Temples, mosques, and
churches are open to the public,
but public worship is frowned
upon or even discouraged.
• Unauthorized or underground
religious activities have led to
imprisonment and other
restrictions.
The Temple of Heaven in Shanghai – a Taoist temple
built for annual ceremonies of prayer for a good
harvest.
Japan Political
• Political: Japan is a
constitutional monarchy.
Emperor Akihito is head
of state but has no
governing power. The
prime minister (currently
Yukio Hatoyama) is
head of government.
• The prime minister and a
cabinet form the
executive branch.
• Japan's legislature,
called the Diet, consists
of two houses.
Top: the Hatoyamas and the Obamas
Side: Emperor Akihito
The Diet – Legislative Body
Japan’s
Economics
• Japan has one of the world's
largest economies even
though it has few natural
resources and imports most
raw materials.
• Also, because only about 12
percent of the land is suitable
for cultivation, Japan imports
nearly half of its food supply.
Japan is a leading supplier of
fish.
• Nearly all exports are
manufactured items, including
automobiles, electronic
equipment, and televisions.
Japanese capsule hotel
Crowded Tokyo
Lexus – a Japanese automobile company
Japan’s
Religion
• Traditionally, most
Japanese practiced
a combination of
Buddhism and
Shinto.
• Shinto has no
recognized founder
or central scripture
but is based on
ancient mythology.
Japanese Buddhist Monk
Buddhist Pagoda
Itsukushima Shrine – Tori Gate-The shrine is dedicated
to the three daughters of the Shinto deity of seas and
storms Susano-o no Mikoto
The Koreas.
North Korea
•
Political: North Korea is a communist state. Although Kim Jong Il has held
power since 1994, he was officially elected in 1998 as the general secretary
of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
•
Economics: North Korea remains one of Asia's poorest nations as a result
of natural disasters, political isolation, and poor management.
•
Religion: The government of North Korea has constitutionally confirmed
freedom of religion. In reality, however, the effectual state religion since the
1950s has been the veneration of Kim Il Sung, the first Great Leader, and
his son, Kim Jong Il (known as Dear Leader).
South Korea
•
Political: South Korea is a democracy.
•
Economics: South Korea experienced rapid economic growth after the 1960s.
In just one generation, South Korea rose from poverty to relative prosperity.
•
Religion: Approx. 45% are atheist, 30% are Christian and 22% are Buddhist.
South Koreans originally practiced Confucianism, but after various missionaries
went to South Korea in the 1960’s, Christianity spread quickly.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea#video-ltv-369E92E845CA0F25