Social Studies Japan Quiz: Geography and Nora period

How far does Japan extend north to south and how many miles wide is Japan at its widest point?

1,833 miles far, and 1,000 miles wide. These include water because Japan is an island nation.

What percent best expresses the amount of land Japan could use for agriculture. How might the amount of agricultural land in Japan affect how/what is grown or raised there?

15%. They can only grow high efficiency crops. They used the agriculture technique terracing. They grew rice which yields high surplus in limited space in a mild climate. Fish is mostly consumed.

What is a group of islands?

Archipelago

Climate

Climates of Japan are similar to those found on the east coast of the US. There is a lot of precipitation. This is an advantage because Japan gets a long growing season that averages between 200-260 days.

city located on western side of honshu

Hiroshima

What is the biggest island?

Honshu

In what ways might the seas have influenced Japan's history?

It could provide protection, food, give access to maritime trade, and Japan was isolated for so long so Japan became a homogenous society.

Pacific Ring of Fire

It is a region of earthquakes and volcanoes. It is a disadvantage because it causes as many as 1,500 tremors each year. Also Japan has 30 active volcanoes. Also an advantage because the ash that the volcanoes leave behind makes the soil more fertile.

Mineral resources

Japan has few mineral resources, and they are coal, iron, oil, and copper. They are a disadvantage because Japan had to depend on world trade very heavily.

Archiplego

Japan is an archipelago and made up of thousands of islands spreading around 1800 miles.

Distance from other countries

Japan is only 100 miles away from Korea, they traded and fought a lot. South Korea and Japan have similar cultures which include religion-confucianism and Buddhism, writing, art, metalworking etc.

map

Know the map

Highest mountain in Japan

Mt Fuji

Seas by/in Japan

Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, East China Sea, Korea Strait, Inland Sea. They were an advantage because they provide all of the fish. They also raise rain fish in flooded rice paddies and harvest shellfish and vitamin rich seaweed in inlet bays. They are a source of protection- no need for a wall of any sort. They are also a disadvantage because they could create tsunamis and/or typhoons.

Mountains

Rugged terrain that covered 4/5 of Japans terrain. They are a disadvantage because it limits the amount of arable land to coastal plains and narrow river valleys. They divide Japan, limits travel, causes plains/flatlands to be overpopulated.

smallest of the islands

Shikoku

Which of the islands became the center of power in Japan?

The Honshu island because it is the largest island, it is centrally located and has the most land to be used for agriculture- which makes it the most populated.

What island is the Kanto Plain on, and why is it the most populated area in Japan?

The Kanto Plain is located on the island Honshu. Because it is the largest flat area and it is centrally located, agriculture is easier.

What effect did mountains have on Japan's efforts to become a united country?

The mountains made it harder because they separate Japan. Communication and transportation was difficult. It was ruled by regional clans.

Why were Nara and Kyoto good locations for a capital?

They are in the center of Japan, they are inland, they are on plains, or flatlands, they are on the largest island Honshu, and they are protected by mountains.

chain of islands

archipelago

What are the three symbols and what do they represent about the government

bronze mirror: knowledge and honesty iron sword: valor and force jeweled necklace: wealth and charity

sense of own special identity

ethnocentrism

most isolated island

hokkaido

people who share the same language and culture

homogeneous

most populated island

honshu

allows trade between the japan islands

inland sea

fertile area with population density of 20000 pp sp mile

kanto plain

southernmost island

kyushu

dominant physical feature of japan

mountains

borders japan to the east

pacific ocean

Zone of active volcanoes near the pacific ocean

ring of fire

city located on hokkaido

sapporo

separates japan from mainland

sea of japan

separates hokkaido from russia

sea of khotsk

method that increases arable land

terrace farming

Japan: past vs today

there has only been one dynasty- the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy in the world. emperors are ceremonial leaders of traditional Japanese religion called Shinto

capital of japan

tokyo