Rivers and Landforms of East Asia

1. China Taiwan North Korea South Korea Japan Mongolia East Asia Locate the places on the on map

3. Chang Jiang • Yangtze River – also called the Chang Jiang. • Asia’s longest River. World’s third longest river. • Starts in the Plateau of Tibet and ends at Shanghai. • Half of the rice grown in China is grown along this river. • paddy – flooded field where rice is grown. • This river is a major transportation route. • known as the Dragon because it is hard to control

4. Huang He • Also known as the Yellow River • Northern China’s most important River. • loess – fine, yellowish-brown topsoil blown by winds from the western deserts into the air and water. When deposited, the rich soil – along with the water from the river – makes the area fertile. • also called “China’s Sorrow” because hundreds of thousands of people have died in floods.

5. Xi • Also known as the West River and the Pearl River • Southern China’s most important river. • soil deposits form a huge, fertile delta.

6. Japan and Korea • Japan and Korea’s rivers are short and swift. • fantastic waterfalls are on many rivers limit river transport & trade. • Yalu or Amnok River forms border between China and North Korea. • Han River runs through Seoul Korea.

7. World’s tallest mountain range. • home to Mt. Everest – world’s tallest mountain (29,035). • Separates China from South Asia. Himalaya

8. Label these on your map. Karakoram Tien Shan Kunlun Shan

9. Sometimes spelled Altai • Natural border between China and Mongolia • Bitterly cold during the winter. • dry summer. Altai Mts.

10. Japan and Koreas • The Korean Peninsula is mountainous – coastal plains surround the high mountain interiors. • In Japan, The Japanese Alps cover most of the Japanese Islands. Mt. Fuji is a dramatic cone-shaped dormant volcano that is an important spiritual symbol to the Japanese. • Taiwan is also mountains surrounded by a coastal plain.

11. Also known as the Plateau of Xizang • Nicknamed the “Rooftop of the World” • Most of Asia’s major rivers start in this region. • Home to Tibetan people. • Average elevation is about 15,000 feet. Plateau of Tibet

12. Gobi Desert • desert in southern Mongolia and northern China. • frequent dust storms make life difficult. • dry and cold.

13. dry, sandy desert • blocked by the Himalaya and Kunlun Shan Mountains Taklimakan Desert

14. Tarim Basin • deserts and salt marshes.

15. huge, fertile basin. • mild climate • long growing season. • important agricultural area. • Means red (spicy) Sichuan Basin Red

16. Manchurian Plain • Major wheat-farming areas. North China Plain • Major lowland area. • agricultural region.

17. China • Asian culture began in the Yellow River Valley in China around 2100 BC • China was ruled by dynasties for centuries (2100-1100BC). Dynasty – ruling families that formed China’s early government.

18. 700-600 BC - The Great Wall of China – Wall built to protect China from outside invasion. Took over 100 years to build. • Three Gorges Dam. Completed in 2009 - the world’s largest dam. Located on the Yangtze River. Benefits: It produces 18 million kw of power (equal to 18 nuclear power plants) Produces 20% of China’s power and controls floods. Disadvantage: However, over 2 million people had to be relocated and thousands of ancient sites were submerged.

19. The People’s Republic of China was created when Mao Zedong declared the country to be communist in 1949. The non-communist army led by Chiang Kai-Shek retreated to Taiwan and declared it the Republic of China. US follows a “One China Policy” that allows US to have relations with both nations. It tells China (PRC) there is only one China and tells Taiwan they support independence, but hope there could be only one China – a democratic China. • Mao started the Great Leap Forward – 1950 program in China that replaced small-scale family farms with huge government owned farms. Not enough food was produced and over 20 million people died of starvation. • Mao started the Cultural Revolution – period of upheaval in the 1960’s when many schools and factories were closed. Anyone against Mao was imprisoned or killed. He tried to wipe out the traditional Chinese arts and sciences and replace them with communist influenced art and science.

20. Languages • Han is the most spoken language in China. There are two dialects – Mandarin and Cantonese. There is NO language called Chinese. • Unlike western languages that use letters for sounds – Han uses ideograms – pictures or symbols that stand for ideas. • Calligraphy – the art of beautiful writing was started in East Asia. Cantonese Mandarin

21. Western Challenge Chinese Relationship With Other Countries • Interest in porcelain, silk, and tea very big in Europe • Need new markets for their goods. • China wants only silver not European goods. • Self sufficient – had what they needed • Europeans = Barbarians • Only would trade in silver (no foreign currency) • Restrictions on trade to set prices (quotas on foreign goods)

22. Opium Wars 1839-1842 • To avoid spending gold or silver on Chinese products, Britain sold opium from India to the Chinese (and got them hooked) – did not lose gold or silver. • Chinese government wants rid of drug dealers. • Chinese blow up British ship in Hong Kong harbor. • Brits send troops – Britain wins • Treaty of Nanking (1842) • Britain gets Hong Kong until 2000 (return in 1997) • Missionaries permitted to teach Christianity • Extraterritoriality – Brits not subject to Chinese laws • Sphere of Influence – British interests before interests of Chinese.

23. Open Door Policy • Europeans & US make unequal treaties with China. • Adopt “Open Door” policy after the Opium Wars – can sell whatever they want • China can not levy Chinese preferential taxes anymore. • Some Chinese rebel • Taiping Rebellion (1850s) & Boxer Rebellion (1900) • Want rid of Western countries and the Manchu Dynasty • Stopped by Western countries.

24. Tiananmen Square • Tiananmen Square – Large plaza / square in Beijing. Site of student protests in 1989. The government under Deng Xiaoping sent in troops to disperse the protestors. Approximately 1,000 were killed.

25. Taiwan • island nation once called Formosa. • The Republic of China created in 1912 on the mainland of China. Chiang Kai-Shek army lost to the communists in China’s civil war and retreated to Taiwan in 1949. • Democratic nation supported by the US, but not officially recognized.

26. After WWII, Korea was divided between communist North Korea and non-communist South Korea. The US backed South Korea. China backed North Korea. The Korean War (1950-1953) ended in a stalemate and the peninsula was split at the 38th parallel. This area is the DMZ – Demilitarized Zone. South Korea • Democratic nation on the Korean Peninsula • Seoul is the capital – World’s 2nd most populous city.

27. North Korea • Communist country on the Korean Peninsula • Separated at the 38th parallel (DMZ) • claims to have nuclear weapons. • Kim Jong Un is totalitarian dictator (took over in 2011) • Average North Korean lives on 60 cents a day.

28. Japan Japan is a MDC – more developed country. Its main economic activities are tertiary & quaternary • Japan practiced feudalism run by a shogun (military leader - king). The “knights” were samurai (professional soldiers) feudal period 1185-1868 • Meiji Restoration – 1868 -1914 Japan realized it was behind the rest of the world from centuries of isolation. Changed to a free-market economy. Needed resources. Led to imperialism – wars with China, Russia, and Koreas. • The US cut off Japan’s oil supply. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 12/7/1941 to bring the US into WWII. • US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan – Hiroshima (6 Aug 1945) and Nagasaki (9 Aug 1945) Not sure of exact deaths (approximately 200,000) • Allies (mainly US) occupied and rebuilt Japan from 1945 - 1952 • Tokyo – world’s largest city • March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami (waves 133 ft) killed approximately 16,000 and started nuclear meltdown. Earthquake moved the earth on its axis 4 inches.

29. Mongolia • The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206 • Captured by the Qing Dynasty at the end of 1600s and controlled by China until 1911 • Mongolia gained independence in 1921. • Mongolia was communist from 1925-1991 • When Soviet money stopped, Mongolia moved toward a free market economy

30. Colonialism & Imperialism Imperialism: A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it. Colony: Land that another country physically takes over and controls all aspects of life. Sphere of Influence: Does not physically or politically control another, but controls their trade and has established a presence there.

31. 2010 Population: Population • China has 1.347 billion people. (19.25% of world population) • India has 1.210 billion people. (17.29% of world population) • The US has 313 million people. (4.47% of world population) • Because of the large population & limited resources - China began the “One Child Policy” in 1979. It limits each family to one child. Families are fined for extra children. It is enforced more in the urban areas. The western regions are not subject to this policy because the Chinese encourage Chinese to move to these regions to weaken the minority populations.

32. Hong Kong was leased by the UK until 1997. • Macau was leased by Portugal until 1999. • Both areas are westernized economic cities that have now been returned to China. Hong Kong & Macau

33. Tibet: Tibet was an ancient country the size of Western Europe when it was invaded by the People’s Republic of China in 1950. Tibet has a unique culture, history, and identity. Not only have many Tibetans lost their lives, but Tibetans in Tibet do not enjoy basic human rights. The Chinese government has introduced policies by which Tibetan culture, language, and natural resources are being systematically eroded. The spiritual and cultural leader of the Tibetan people is the Dalai Lama. He escaped Tibet, and has traveled the world to raise support for an independent Tibet. The Dalai Lama is pursuing peaceful solutions to this situation, but the Chinese government refuses to discuss Tibet.

34. Sports • Short on space… • Japan – Sumo Wrestling • China – table tennis • Martial Arts • Tai Chi • Tae Kwon Do • Kung Fu • Tang Soo Do • Karate

35. Music based on 5 tone scale with a melody, but no harmony • Kabuki theater – Japanese dance-drama (all male) • Calligraphy – art of beautiful writing • Architecture - Pagoda ARTS

36. Religion China practices communism which stifles religion. Most Shinto are in Japan Many Confucians & Taoist (way of life) also practice Buddhism (religion) .7% 14% 6% 1.3% 47% 8% 23%

37. During the 6-14th century, there were thousands of large and small trade routes that crossed the Asian Continent leading to the West. Caravans followed these routes and each was filled with clothes (silk), eastern goods and spices. Along the Silk Road - towns, cities and caravanserai were created. Traders and travelers brought new religions, customs, products (glass, silk, porcelain, soap and gunpowder) and most important a different culture. The Silk Road linked many countries and its people by means of peaceful activities such as trade, culture and spiritual exchanges.

38. Ibn Batuta Arab scholar and judge who traveled throughout most of the known world in the early 1300s, from Spain to China, from Samarkand to Timbuktu –120,000 km (74,565 mi). He traveled to Africa South of the Sahara, India, China, and Europe. He saw the Black Plague and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. He saw the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and crossed the Sahara. He traveled from 1325 to 1354. He wrote it all down in a book of a thousand pages called the “Rihla” Marco Polo Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy. Between 1271 - 1288, he traveled in Central and East Asia. On this journey, he became a favorite of Kublai Khan, the Mongol Emperor. He traveled along the Silk Road - farther into China than any European had gone before. He visited Persia and then back home. In all, he traveled 24,000 km (14,913 mi). His book “Il Milione” (My Travels), tells of his travels, but some may not be factual. These men helped set up trade routes with China and the Far East, and that led to the explorations of Columbus and many others who were searching for a quicker way to sail to China and India.

39. Zheng He - Between 1405 and 1433, Zheng He led seven major expeditions, commanding the largest armada the world. Zheng He's fleet included 28,000 sailors on 300 ships. , By comparison, Columbus in 1492 had 90 sailors on three ships. Zheng He’s fleet reached Africa and could easily have continued around the Cape of Good Hope and established direct trade with Europe. But the Chinese regarded Europe as a backward region and had little interest in the wool, beads and wine Europe had to trade. China preferred the goods that Africa traded -- ivory, medicines, spices, and exotic woods. In Zheng He's time, China and India together accounted for more than half of the world's gross national product.

40. Economy • Japan is a MDC (More Developed Country) main economic activities are tertiary and quaternary • China, Taiwan and South Korea are NICs (Newly Industrialized Countries) – manufacturing is the main economic activity. • Mongolia and North Korea are LDCs (Lesser Developed Countries) the main economic activity is agriculture. • APEC – formed in 1989 - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Group: Working toward free trade markets. China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are all members.