Region #4: East Asia

Section Objectives *Identify the major physical features of Asia*Compare and contrast the history of Asia’s regions*Compare and contrast the governments of Asia’s major countries*Analyze the current culture of Asian nations Expanding Deserts The Gobi Desert is located in Mongolia and northern China*Average yearly rainfall: 2-8 inches*Temperature ranges: 113˚ F- -40˚ F*Expanding due to desertification China’s Three Gorges Dam *Three Gorges is the largest dam in the world.*Located on the Yangtze River*Positives:1. Hydroelectric power2. Improved shipping3. Prevented flooding*Negatives:1. Cost $25 billion2. Displaced 1.5 million people3. Buried 1,000+ historical and cultural sites4. May cause landslides and destroy endangered habitats Three Gorges Dam Japan’s Island Arc *Japan is a closely related group of islands, or archipelago*Mountains cover almost 3 of the nation*Japan is located on the ring of fire*About 1,500 earthquakes per year and thousands of volcanic eruptions*March 11, 2011 – a 9.0 earthquake rocked Japan and triggered a massive tsunami*12,000+ killed*Nuclear power plants melted down Tsunami 2011 Religion: Confucianism *Confucianism is an ethical system founded by Confucius, a Chinese teacher*An ethical system teaches moral, or right, behavior*Confucius’ teaching are based on five relationships*After his death, Confucius’ students wrote down his teachings*In time, Chinese rulers adopted the teachings*In 1949, the Communist Party banned, or outlawed Confucianism.*The ban was lifted in 1977 Blending Beliefs *Before Buddhism spread to East Asia, many people practiced Confucianism and Daoism, another ethical system*In Mongolia, Buddhism has mixed with animism, a belief that everything has a soul*In Japan, Shinto is a belief similar to animism where followers worship ancestor spirits*Many people practice more than one religion:-Belief in more than one god = polytheism-Belief in one god = monotheism*Missionaries came to East Asia in the 1600s, and today, 30% of South Koreans are Christians Early Chinese Dynasties For thousands of years, China was governed by dynasties, or a series of rulers from the same family1. Shang and Zhou Dynasties: 1766 B.C.–221 B.C.-Largely agricultural2. Qin Dynasty: 221B.C.—210 B.C.-Built the Great Wall of China-Left behind 8000+ terra cotta warriors3. Han Dynasty: 206 B.C.—A.D. 220-Expanded the empire, or a group of states ruled by a single strong ruler, through the Silk Roads-Silk Roads – ancient trade routes that connected Southwest and Central Asia with China The Terra Cotta Warriors Communist Revolution *In the mid-1930s, Mao Zedong led 100,000 Communists against China’s government*In 1949, the Communists took over China*They seized all businesses and land, then forced peasants to work on collective farms*Their farming plan led to 20 million people starving from crop failure and malnutrition*In the 1970s, the Cultural Revolution was Mao’s plan to eliminate anti-Communist elements from China*Attacking the elites, especially teachers and intellectuals*Mao died in 1976, but China remains Communist The Korean War *After WWII, the Korean Peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel.*In 1947, the Soviet Union established a Communist government in the north*In the south, the U.S. helped create a democracy*In 1950, North Korea attacked South Korea, and the U.S. helped the South fight*Four million soldiers and civilians were killed*In 1953, UN forces and North Korea signed an armistice, or an agreement to stop fighting, but a treaty was never signed*A demilitarized zone (DMZ), still divides the country*Technically, North and South Korea are still at war The DMZ North Korea vs. South Korea North Korea has an isolation policy.-Has restricted trade Trades with China-Produces military equipment ›South Korea trades with Japan and U.S. ›-Growing economy-Depends heavily on manufacturing*In 2010, North Korea North Korea began developing nuclear weapons, ending hopes of reunification*In 2019, President Donald Trump became the first U.S. President to cross the border into North Korea. Throughout his presidency, the two leaders met three times. President Trump Visits North Korea What is one interesting thing you have learned about East Asia OR one question you still have?