Ch. 14 East Asia Test Review

Climates in the North and Northwest

Across north-central and northwestern China and Mongolia, the climate ranges from semi-arid (somewhat dry) to arid (very dry). Winters are bitterly cold. This sparsely populated area includes the vast, rocky Gobi Desert and the sandy Taklimakan Desert. It also has great expanses of treeless grasslands (steppes)

Modern China

After 1949, China became "two Chinas" (one was mainland China ruled by the Communists while the other was the Nationalist government in Taiwan). In the 1950's, the Communist mainland government took control of businesses and industry. It also took land and created state-owned farms. In the late 1950's, Mao introduced the Great Leap Forward. This program's goal was to increase China's industrial output. Many peasants left the fields and began working in cities, which grew rapidly. The Great Leap Forward turned out to be a massive failure due to poor planning, natural disasters, and a drop in food production which lead to sever famine. Most estimates put the death toll in the tens of millions

A Divided Korea

After World War II ended, Korea was divided into two countries: South Korea and North Korea. South Korea was supported by the U.S., and Communist North Korea had strong ties to China and the Soviet Union. Both Koreas claimed the entire peninsula. In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War ( this would become known as a 'proxy war'). The Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty or victory for either side. A buffer zone called the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) was established to separate the 2 countries

Modern-day Japan

After being defeated by the U.S. and its allies in World War II, Japan was stripped of its overseas empire and military might. The country adopted a democratic constitution and women and workers gained more rights. The Japanese government worked closely with businesses to plan the country's economic growth. A highly skilled workforce and the latest technology helped Japan develop its industries. Within a few decades, the Japanese were leading producers of ships, cars, cameras, and computers. Demand for these goods turned them into an economic power. Today their economy ranks 3rd in the world behind the U.S. and China.

Later Dynasties

After the Shang, the Zhou dynasty ruled for about 800 years, beginning around 1045 B.C. Under Zhou rule, Chinese culture spread, trade grew, and the Chinese began making iron tools. After the Zhou, powerful dynasties expanded China's territory. In the 200's B.C., the Han united all of China and started building the Great Wall. Under the Han and Tang dynasties, traders and missionaries spread Chinese culture to all of East Asia. In the early 1400's, under the Ming dynasty, the naval explorer Zheng He reached as far as the coast of East Africa. The last dynasty of China, the Qing, ruled from the mid-1600's to the early 1900's

Cultural Revolution

After the failure of the Great Leap Forward, Mao needed to save face and attempted to do so through the Cultural Revolution to increase support for Communism. Mao rallied allies and stomped out opponents. Intellectuals such as doctors and teachers were ordered to work on farms. Students were also taken from school and sent to the countryside to work. In this way, Mao hoped to get rid of any cultural elements that did not support his idea of communism

Archipelago of japan

Along the eastern edge of the Sea of Japan, an arc of island stretches for roughly 1,500 miles. The islands - four large ones and thousands of smaller ones - form the archipelago of Japan. The islands of Japan are part of the Ring of Fire, which nearly encircles the Pacific Ocean. In this area, huge sections of Earth's crust grind against each other and cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The islands of Japan were formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago

K-pop

Along with art and literature, East Asians have developed new forms of expression. South Korean "K-Pop" is a popular type of music that young people in Japan and other East Asian countries have made popular worldwide. It has its roots in dance and electronic music from the West. Communication technology, the Internet, and travel increase the reach of new art forms.

Rise of Japan

Around 1542, a Portuguese ship heading to China was blown off its course and landed in Japan. The traders on the ship became the first Europeans to visit Japan. Soon, more Europeans arrived to trade, along with Christian missionaries to convert the locals. By the early 1600's, Japan's rulers had begun to fear that European powers were planning a military conquest of the islands. They decided to isolate Japan by forcing all foreigners to leave, banning European books, and blocking nearly all relations with the outside world. This period was called 'Sakoku' (closed country) and lasted for 214 years

Great Wall of China

As their civilization developed, the Chinese tried to keep out foreign invaders who threatened from then north. To defend this area, the Chinese began building the Great Wall of China about 2,200 years ago (during the Han dynasty). Over the centuries, the wall was continually rebuilt and lengthened. In time, it snaked more than 4,000 miles from the Yellow Sea in the east to the deserts of the west. Much of it remains in place today.

Modern-day china

By comparison, China's Communist government was stagnant for many years. After Mao's death in 1976, however, Chinese leaders started to open China to the West. Economic reforms helped China become a rising global power. Chinese leaders gradually allowed a market economy to develop alongside the communist economy by letting people own businesses and sell products and services freely (the government still maintains strong control over the country)

Sphere of influence

By the early 1800s, internal problems had weakened China. Meanwhile, European countries were growing more powerful and making stronger claims in East Asia. By the 1890s, European governments and Japan had claimed large areas of China as 'spheres of influence' (an area of a country where a single foreign power has been granted exclusive trading rights)

Calligraphy

Calligraphy, the art of turning the written word into beautiful, expressive images, is considered one of the highest forms of art in China and Japan. Chinese characters are visually interesting and complex, so they lend themselves well to calligraphy. It is common for East Asians to display works of calligraphers in their homes

Countries and Capitals to know

China (Beijing) Japan (Tokyo) Mongolia (Ulaanbataar) North Korea (Pyongyang) South Korea (Seoul) Taiwan (Taipei)

Regional Overview

China is the largest country in the region. It has more than four- fifth's of the region's total land area. It is slightly smaller than the United States, China is the world's fourth largest country by land area. While, Taiwan is the region's smallest country. It is the size of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. China and Mongolia sit on the Asian mainland, while the other four countries occupy islands or a peninsula.

Natural resources- energy (NOT ON TEST)

China is the worlds largest producer of coal, and its deposits are larger than any country except Russia and the US. China also has substantial oil and natural gas reserves under the South China Sea and in the Taklimakan Desert in the far west. China still, however, does not have enough energy to meet its needs. It has turned to energy-rich countries in Central and Southwest Asia for oil and natural gas. Several East Asian countries use hydroelectric power to help meet their needs. China produces electricity from the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, the largest dam in the world. Japan also harnesses its swift-flowing rivers for hydroelectric power.

Natural resources- Minerals

China, which covers a large portion of East Asia, holds by far the greatest share of the region's resources. China is a world leader in the mining of tin, lead, zinc, iron ore, tungsten, and other minerals. Tungsten is used to make steel, lightbulbs, rockets, and electrical equipment. Japan is one of the world's leading industrial countries, but has few mineral resources, so it must import a variety of raw materials. Taiwan is also a major industrial country, but must also import various minerals to meet increasing demand

Japanese Pearls

Cultured pearls are harvested in the seas surrounding the Japanese islands. They range in color from white to silver and pink, and are known for their beautiful, smooth, shiny appearance

Tang Dynasty Technology

During the Tang dynasty, around 800 A.D., a new type of printing emerged. The Chinese developed a way to use blocks of wood and clay to print characters on paper. This invention, known as woodblock printing, made it possible to print large numbers of books quickly, allowing ideas to spread more rapidly. Another important invention was gunpowder, which was used in explosives and fireworks. The Chinese also invented the magnetic compass, which helped sailors find their direction at sea

Zhou Dynasty Achievements and Thinkers

During the Zhou dynasty (1045 - 221 B.C.), laws were recorded for the first time, the first coins were created, and farmers began to use plows pulled by oxen. It was also an age of great thinkers. One of these thinkers was a man named Confucius. He though people should be morally good and loyal to their families. He also believed that a ruler should lead his people as though he were head of a family. Another of these thinkers was Laozi, who founded an important belief system called Daoism. Laozi thought that people should live in harmony with nature. Later, another important belief system called Buddhism was introduced to China from India. Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism have been major influences on China and the rest of East Asia for many centuried.

Climate Variation

East Asia spans a tremendous distance north to south. The region's southernmost lands lie within Earth's hot tropical zone, while the northernmost lands sit closer to the frigid North Pole than to the Equator. Much of the climate variation results from these differences in latitude. Another important factor is elevation. Two areas at the same latitude can have very different climates if one area is much higher than the other. Finally, air masses also play a major role in shaping East Asia's climate zones. A cold, dry, polar air mass spreads southward from northern Asia during the colder months of the year. A warm, moist, tropical air mass spread northward and eastward from the Pacific Ocean during the warmer months

Literary Art

East Asians also have a strong literary and theatrical tradition. Japanese poets often write 'haiku', brief poems that follow a specific structure. Japan is also famous for its traditional forms of theater. Today, Japan has become well known for anime, a type of animation. Comic books, graphic novels, and cartoons using this style have become popular worldwide

Early China

For many centuries until the early 1900s, rulers known as emperors or empresses governed China. A 'dynasty', or line of rulers from a single family, would hold power until it was overthrown. Then, a new leader would start a new dynasty. Under the dynasties, China built a highly developed culture and conquered neighboring lands

Population

For many centuries, China's population growth was slowed by epidemics, famine, warfare, and other factors. After the 1300's, however, growth began to increase steadily and in the middle of the 1900's, it became explosive. Because this uncontrolled growth was causing many problems, the government enacted a policy in 1979 that required families to have no more than one child. This "One-Child Policy" helped to slow China's growth. China's 2010 census showed a population of 1.37 billion people

Mt. Fuji

Forested mountains cover nearly three-fourths of Japan. Plains are generally small and isolated. On Honshu, Japan's largest island, a beautiful cone-shaped volcano called Mount Fujiyama or Mt. Fuji rise about 12,400 feet above the Kanto plain near Tokyo. Snow-covered Mt. Fuji is a well-known symbol of Japan. Although it has not erupted in nearly 300 years, scientists believe it could

Natural Resources- Forests

Forestland once covered the eastern part of China, but over the centuries forests became smaller as people cut down trees for heating, building, and farming. Today forested areas cover less than one-sixth of the country. More than half of Taiwan's landscape is forested. The country used to be a major exporter of timber, but now much of the forest is protected so Taiwan relies on imported timber. On the Korean Peninsula, many trees have been cleared for farmland, but forests still cover mountainous areas. About three-fourths of North Korea's rugged landscape is forested

Seas

Four large seas sit along East Asia's eastern edge. The largest is the South China Sea. Because it lies between important ports in the Pacific and Indian oceans, it has some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The East China Sea lies between China and Japan's Ryukyu Islands. In the north, this sea meets the Yellow Sea, which is shaped by the Korean Peninsula and the northeastern coast of China. Farther north, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and the Asian mainland together are shaped like a corral that almost entirely encircles the Sea of Japan (East Sea)

3 Regions of the Mainland

Geographers often divide mainland East Asia, which consists of China and Mongolia, into 3 broad geographic subregions. Since the differences in elevation, the subregions are like steps in a staircase

Taiwan

Hundreds of miles southwest of Japan's main islands lies another large island, Taiwan. Like Japan, Taiwan was formed as a result of volcanic activity. Mountains form a rugged spine that stretches the length of the island

Open-door policy

In 1854 U.S. naval officer Matthew C. Perry sailed to Japan with 4 warships. He pressured the Japanese to end their isolation and open their country to foreign trade (This became known as the Open-Door Policy). Recognizing that European countries were far more advanced and powerful, Japan set out to transform itself by learning everything it could about the West. The country soon became an industrial and military power. Like other European countries, Japan also wanted an empire. By 1940, Japanese forces had gained control of Taiwan, Korea, parts of mainland Asia, and many Pacific islands. This expansion would be part of the cause of Japanese entry into World War II

Current issues- Environment

In China, factories, coal-burning power plants, and the growing number of cars and trucks have led to dramatic increases in air pollution. Rapidly growing urban areas have eaten up valuable farmland. Many cities face clean water shortages. Japan has similar issues such as acid rain from polluted air. But as a more developed nation, Japan has engaged in a stronger environmental program

Ethnic and Language Groups

In each East Asian country, people tend to be ethnically similar (homogenous). In Japan, about 99% of the population is ethnic Japanese and speaks the Japanese language. Nearly all people in South Korea and North Korea are ethnic Koreans, who speak the Korean language. About 95% of Mongolia's population are ethnic Mongolian, and almost all of them speak the Khalkha Mongolian language. In China, the Han ethnic group makes up about 92% of the population. The other 8% belong to over 50 ethnic groups. The official language in China is Mandarin Chinese, but many dialects are spoken. In Taiwan, Mandarin Chinese is the official language, but most people are ethnically Taiwanese and many speak Taiwanese. The official languages of Hong Kong are English and Cantonese

Urbanization in Other East Asian Countries

In other East Asian countries, urbanization began earlier and is farther advanced than in China (meaning a higher % of people live in cities). In Japan, 2/3 of the population live in cities. The cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Yokohama form a 'megalopolis'. Greater Tokyo, Japan's capital, is home to about 32 million people. As South Korea industrialized, more people moved to cities. Now, 83% of South Koreans live in urban areas. The country's capital, Seoul, has more than 10 million people. Across East Asia, the standard of living is higher for people in cities generally than that of people in rural areas

Tsunamis

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. More than 1000 small earthquakes shake the country every year. Mayor quakes occur less often, built they can cause tremendous damage and loss of life. When an earthquake occurs below or close to the ocean, it can trigger a tsunami, a huge wave that gets higher as it approaches the coast. These tsunamis can wipe out coastal cities and towns. In 2011, the most powerful earthquake in Japan's history produced massive tsunamis that devastated areas along the northern coast.

Feudal Japan

Japan was originally ruled by emperors, but over time they lost power. Eventually landowning families set up a feudal system. Under the feudal system, nobles gave land to lesser nobles in return for their loyalty and military service. At the bottom of the social ladder, peasants farmed nobles' estates in exchange for protection. By the 1100's, armies of local nobles had begun fighting for control of Japan. Minamoto Yoritomo became Japan's first 'Shogun', or military leader. Landowning warriors, called 'samurai', supported the Shogun. Although the emperor kept his title, the shogun held the real power

Early Korea

Korea was first populated thousands of years ago by people who migrated from northern Asia. By the first century A.D., the peninsula was divided into 3 kingdoms. Six centuries later, one of these kingdoms - the Silla - conquered the other two and unified the peninsula. They ruled for 3 centuries until 935 A.D. when they were replaced by the Koryo (Korea). In the 1200's, the Mongols, a people from the steppes of Central Asia, conquered North China, parts of Asia, and the northern half of the Korean peninsula. The peninsula became part of the Yuan dynasty. Finally, at the end of the 1300's, the Mongols were driven out of Korea and a new Korean dynasty called the Choson came to power. They would stay in power until modern times.

The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang River)

Like the Yellow River, the Yangtze begins on the Plateau of Tibet. From its headwaters it flows about 3,450 miles to its mouth at the port city of Shanghai on the East China Sea. It is the longest river in Asia, and the 3rd longest in the world. The Yangtze is China's principal waterway. It also provides water for a fertile farming region where more than two-thirds of the country's rice is grown. Nearly one-third of China's people live in the Yangtze River Basin

Trade

Many of the goods manufactured in East Asia are shipped to the United States and Europe. These exports include electronic goods, toys and games, clothing, and shoes. From the US, China imports soybeans, cotton, automobiles, and many other retail goods. Trade between the 2 countries, however, is not balanced. In 2010, the US had a 273$ billion trade deficit with China, meaning that it imported far more goods from China than it imported

Activites and Sport

Millions of people young and old practice martial arts such as tai chi and tae kwan do, both of which originated centuries ago. Baseball, introduced from North America, is widely popular in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. Basketball, also imported from America, has become one of the top sports in China

Desert and Forest

North and east of the Tibetan Plateau, land elevation drops sharply to the second step of the staircase. Mountains and plateaus dominate this subregion too, but they are generally much lower than those of Tibet. Much of the land in the northern part of this subregion is desert or near desert, like the Gobi. Land along the southern part of this subregion is forested. Some of the deepest and steepest canyons in the world lie where the land descends from the Tibetan Plateau

Political and social problems

Political differences in East Asia are another challenge. Japan is in a dispute with Russia over a long chain of islands known as the Kuril Islands. North Korea's efforts to develop nuclear weapons have drawn harsh criticism from several countries. Both China and North Korea face questions about human rights, particularly Chinese views towards Tibet, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Recently, there has been much dispute over Chinese treatment and discrimination against Uighur Muslims, including allegation that they have detained many in concentration camps and refused to allow them to practice their religion.

Japan's aging population

Population growth in some other parts of East Asia slowed at the end of the 1900's. Japan's low birthrate means that the average age of its population is increasing. Nearly 1/4 of the population is age 65 or older. Since the mid-1990's, Japan has encouraged births by providing programs such a child care to its citizens

Climate in the East

Southeastern China stays hot and rainy through much of the year. Conditions here are ideal for growing rice. Further north in eastern China, more seasonal variation occurs. Summers are hot and rainy, but winters are cold and fairly dry. (For example in Beijing, China's capital, summer temps can reach 90 while winter temps can drop below 0). Being surrounded by water affects the climates of the peninsular and island countries: Japan, Taiwan, and North/South Korea. These countries are generally wetter and experience milder temperatures than mainland areas with the same latitude

Two Koreas

Stark differences developed between the two Koreas after the war. Over several decades, South Korea followed the path of capitalism and the country's economy began to grow rapidly. In contrast, North Korea's economy, which is strictly controlled by its Communist government, has struggled. North Koreans face many hardships such as famine and poverty because most resources go to the military or government leaders.

Taiwan

Taiwan, on the other hand, pursued a goal of "one China" - two parts of one nation moving toward reunification. Taiwan wanted the mainland Communist government to negotiate with Taiwan as equal, but Communist leaders refused. By 1970, Taiwan's leaders had instituted democratic reform and developed an economy based on capitalism. Prosperity transformed the island into an economic powerhouse (The Chinese Communist Party, however, still maintains that Taiwan is simply another part of China)

Han Dynasty advances

The Han dynasty (202 B.C. - 220 A.D.) had such an impact that many of China's people today call themselves the People of Han. With Han rule came unity and stability. The arts and sciences flourished. Paper-making was invented, and government officials began using paper for keeping records. Han rulers encouraged trade along the Silk Road, a caravan route that stretched 4,000 miles between China and Southwest Asia. The Chinese sent goods such as silk, tea, spices, paper, and fine porcelain as far west as ports along the Mediterranean Sea in exchange for wool, gold, and silver

Korean Peninsula

The Korean Peninsula juts southward from the mainland between the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan (East Sea). It is home to two countries: North Korea and South Korea. The peninsula is mountainous, especially in the Northeast. In the south and west, broad plains stretch between the mountains and the coast

Climate in the Southwest

The Plateau of Tibet in southwestern China also has a dry climate. This is mainly because the towering Himalaya Mountains block moist air flowing northward from the Indian Ocean. Because the plateau sits at such a high elevation, the weather is cold and windy throughout the year

Shang Dynasty

The Shang Dynasty was the first to leave written records, from which we learned that they took power about 1600 B.C. in the North China Plain. Like all succeeding dynasties, the Shang faced rebellions by local lords, attacks by Central Asian nomads, and natural disasters such as floods. When the government was stable, it could defend its people against some of these problems. Eventually, however, the dynasty weakened and fell

Chinese reaction and Revolution

The foreign intrusion in their country made many Chinese angry. Their anger fueled a revolution in 1911, and the new government could not control the country. By 1927, a military leader named Chiang Kai-shek had formed the Nationalist government. Meanwhile, Chiang's rival, Mao Zedong, gained support from Chinese farmers. Mao believed in communism. After years of civil war, the communists won power in 1949. They set up the People's Republic of China on the mainland. meanwhile, the Nationalists fled to Taiwan where they set up a government called the Republic of China

The Tibetan Plateau

The highest subregion, or step in the staircase, is called the Plateau of Tibet (Tibetan Plateau), a vast area of mountains and uplands in southwestern China. The plateau is sometimes called "the roof of the world" because of its extremely high elevation. The Lofty mountains circle the Tibetan Plateau. The Kunlun Shan runs along the northern edge and the Himalayas(the tallest mountain range in the world) - rises along the southern edge.

Early Japan

The history of Japan is intertwined with that of its neighbors to the west. The Japanese islands were settled by people from Korea and China. By 500 A.D., the clans and tribal kingdoms of Japan had close ties to Korea and China, beginning a flow of ideas and culture that transformed Japan. Japanese people began using the Chinese calendar and system of writing. In addition, Japanese adopted Chinese technology and Buddhism spread to the islands and mixed with Shinto, a Japanese religion. Shinto, or "Sacred Way", stressed that all parts of nature - humans, plants, animals, rivers, and trees - have spirits

Religion

The people of East Asia have many religions and belief systems. Many Chinese practice a mix of Buddhism, Daoism, and Hinduism. The Communist government that took over in 1949 believed that religion had no place in a communist country, so it began limiting religious practice. In recent decades this policy has been relaxed. Buddhism has a large following in Korea and Japan, although North Korea's Communist government also limits religious practice (it is illegal to own a Bible, for example). In Japan, many people combine Buddhism with Shinto, the country's traditional religion. In South Korea, Christianity has a strong presence

Low Hills and Plains

The third and lowest step in the staircase covers most of the eastern third of China. The main landforms in this subregion are low hills and plains. Most Chinese live on these plains

The Yellow River (Huang He River)

This river begins on the Plateau of Tibet in southwestern China and flows down the eastern slopes of the plateau towards the Yellow Sea. Along the way, it picks up a tremendous amount of yellow-brown silt called 'loess'. This silt gives the river and sea their names and color. In eastern China, silt deposited by floods over a million years created a broad, fertile plain called the North China Plain. This is one of China's most productive farming areas. Throughout history, however, these floods have regularly destroyed crops and homes and drowned many people. For this reason, the Yellow River is sometimes called "China's Sorrow"

where people live

Throughout China's history, most of its people lived off the land as farmers. Economic reforms in the late 1970's, however, caused a surge of urbanization. Millions of peasants left their farms and moved to the booming cities of eastern China. Nearly half of the country's people now live in cities. Shanghai has about 11 million people, making it the largest city in China. Just over 7 million people live in Beijing, the capital. Hong Kong, which China regained from Great Britain in 1997, has more than 5 million people

Modern East Asian History

Throughout much of its history, East Asia was mostly isolated from the rest of the world. The flow of ideas and goods between the region and other parts of the world was limited. From the 1500's onward, however, increasing trade brought East Asian countries into greater contact with other cultures, especially Europe

Daily Life

Traditionally, the family is the center of social life in East Asia. Particularly in rural areas, different generations of one family often share the same home. East Asian countries also place a high value on education. At a young age, children begin taking important exams that can determine whether they will get into top colleges