Transcript East Asian
East Asian Geography and Economy Landscape and Climate • Landscape – Region set off from Eurasia by mountains, plateaus, and deserts • People developed own societies • Mountain areas thinly populated – Most Chinese live in river valleys and fertile plains Landscape and Climate-cont. • Typhoons (Cyclones) – Wind and rain storms with the force of a hurricane – Affects coastal areas • Destroys property and takes lives – People live along coast because of fertile soil for farming and offshore fishing Landscape and Climate-cont. • China’s climate – Varies because of huge size of country – Hot and tropical in south to colder humid continental in the north • Climate Regions – Arid China • Lies north and west • Dry • Humid China – – – – Also called Monsoon China Lies south and east Moisture comes from summer monsoon Area is densely populated China’s Rivers • Rivers used for irrigating land • Huang He River – Carries tons soil (silt) • Supports farming • Yangzi River • Provides transportation of people and goods – 35,000 miles navigable waterways – 1,700 miles internal transportation • Aided with China’s development and stability as an empire • Provides hydroelectric power Balancing Communism and the Economy • Deng – Leader who launched reform to modernize China • Reform # 1 – Expanding Agricultural Output • Land government owned, but farm families leased land • Allowed to make decisions about what to grow and how much to sale • Part crop used to pay taxes, rest free to do as they wished – Incentive to work hard and increase crop output Balancing Communism and the Economy-cont. • Reform # 2 – Developing Modern Industry • Government forced factories to become more efficient – Managers responsible for producing quality goods and for making a profit • Government allowed small, private business to open • Foreign investors permitted to open businesses Balancing Communism and the Economy-cont. • Reform # 3 – Improving Science and Technology • Special Economic Zones (SEZ) – Foreign investors can run factories with little government regulation – Provided jobs and introduced Chinese to advanced science and technology – Sent thousands of students abroad to study Balancing Communism and the Economy-cont. • Economic Growth vs Party Leadership – Deng did not want political freedom • Government relies on Communist ideology – Ideology: body of thought or theories about a culture – Both Communist and Confucian governments carefully control people • Ideal of both governments has been to provide for the people’s needs and to ensure peace and order China’s Products and the Economy • China has abundant coal and iron ore in north and northeast – Help China become major steel producer • South China has lead, mercury, tungsten, gold, uranium, copper, and silver – Help China become major industrial power • China has huge oil reserves – Help power machines China’s Products and the Economy-cont. • Water – Used as an energy resource – Hydroelectric power plants built along great rivers and small waterways • Provide power for factories and villages