Welcome to Asia!

(5:33)

Russia & the

Eurasian

Republics

Russia & Eurasia’s Geography

Russia is the largest country in the world

Oceans on the north (Arctic) and

mountains on the south

Deserts and mountains keep Eurasia’s

republics isolated

Caucasus Mountains – Armenia, Azerbaijan,

Georgia

Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan,

Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Russia & Eurasian Climate

Russia has cold, dark winters – half the land is permafrost

Tundra, flat land found in arctic and subarctic regions, covers the far north

Taiga, or forest, covers land south of that

Central Asia includes deserts, mountains, forests, and steppes

Efforts to grow cotton have been shrinking the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Once the fourth largest lake in the world!

In 2005, Kazakhstan built a dam to save the Aral Sea, but the south half is almost gone

Visit the Aral Sea! (2:32)

Russia & Eurasian History

In the early 1200s, Genghis Khan established the Mongol Empire in Central Asia

In the late 900s, Russia embraced the Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity

Over the centuries, czars, or emperors, like Catherine the Great built Russia into an empire

Most Russian workers were serfs, or poor farmers, ruled by wealthy landlords

In 1917, V.I. Lenin led a revolt of people who wanted to overthrow the czar, or emperor

Russia became a communist state known as the U.S.S.R., or the Soviet Union

Eventually, many other countries were added to the U.S.S.R, including the Eurasian Republics

The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991

The Trans-Siberian Railroad

World’s longest railroad, spanning 6,000

miles

Designed to connect Moscow with

Vladivostok, a busy port on the Pacific

Shipping by land is much cheaper than by

sea in Russia

After Chernobyl

On April 26, 1986, a nuclear reactor at a power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine, exploded and caught fire

The worst nuclear disaster in history!

A radioactive cloud 3,280 feet high spread out over parts of Ukraine, Blarus, and Russia

Winds carried fallout into Europe

Effects today:

Health problems from exposure

Plants and animals contaminated (cattle, fish)

Visit Chernobyl (3:42)

Southwest Asia/

The Middle East

Deserts & Waterways

The Middle East is predominately an arid, or

very dry, desert region.

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

These rivers have supported life for thousands

of years.

It provides the dry Middle East with a water

source

Oil: The Middle East Currency

More than half the earth’s oil reserves, or

future supply, are located here

Oil wealth has changed the way these

countries do business

It has also given them power to negotiate

with other countries

Supply and demand: What happens if a

country chooses not to sell us oil?

Dubai

Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is one of

the world’s most modern cities

Created the Palm Jumeirah and other

manmade islands in the Persian Gulf

Home to the Burj Khalifa, which stands

2,716.5 feet high

Tallest building in the world!

Base Jumping

from the Burj

Khalifa (1:48)

Birthplace of Three Religions

Southwest Asia is the birthplace of three monotheistic religions, or religions that worship one god

Judaism

Founder: Abraham

Holy Book: Hebrew Bible,

including the Torah

Christianity

Founder: Jesus of Nazareth

Holy Book: Christian Bible

Islam

Founder: Muhammad

Holy Book: Qur’an (Koran)

Middle Eastern Governments

Monarchies (Rule by One):

Saudi Arabia

Ruled by a king

Position is hereditary, or inherited

Kings govern by Islamic law, and

there is no formal constitution

Only males over 21 have suffrage, or

the right to vote

Jordan

Constitutional monarchy

Half of representatives appointed by

king and half elected by citizens

All citizens 18 and older can vote

Middle Eastern Governments

Democracies (Rule by the People)

Israel

Parliamentary democracy

Citizens vote for parties instead of

individuals, and seats in the legislature

are assigned by voting percentage

No formal constitution

Turkey

Became a republic in 1923

In the 1950s, Turkey became a multi-party system

In 2007, voters approved a constitutional

amendment to establish direct

presidential elections

Middle Eastern Governments

Theocratic Islamic Republic: Iran

The Supreme Leader is appointed for life

Interprets the Qu’ran in relation to Islamic law

Has final say over all government decisions

The president and the general assembly are

elected by the people

Powers are weak

All decisions must be approved by the Supreme

Leader or his General Council

Elusive Peace: Israel and Palestine

After WWII, the nation of Israel was created by the

United Nations

The land of Palestine was divided into Arab and

Jewish sections to create a homeland for the Jews

A series of wars between Arabs and Israelis

followed over disputed land

Palestinians have launched several intifadas, or

mass uprisings, to protest their loss of land

Suicide bombings became common during the

second intifada in the early 2000s

Israel responded by building a wall and increasing

security around the territories

Israel/Palestine Conflict (2:00)

Iraq’s Problems & Promise

Iraq is divided between three groups: Arabic Shi’ite

(60%) and Sunni Muslims, and the Kurds (20%).

Tensions between these groups have existed for

centuries. Kurds often face discrimination.

In the 1980s, Iraq and Iran went to war. It ended

with no clear winner.

In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. The U.S. and other

countries formed a coalition, or alliance, and came

to Kuwait’s defense.

In 2003, another coalition invaded Iraq in search of weapons of mass destruction

Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Hussein, was overthrown

In 2005, free elections were held in Iraq for the first

time. Iraq continues to struggle to remain free.

Afghanistan: Moving Forward

Afghanistan has been hard to unite:

Landlocked; lots of mountains and deserts

Widely scattered ethnic groups and villages

In 1996, a group called the Taliban took

control of the government

They imposed extreme Islamic law

Destruction of art and non-Islamic culture

Women could not work, go to school or leave the

house without a male relative

The Taliban encouraged other extremist

groups, including al-Qaeda

In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S.

invaded Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban

South Asia

A Land of Monsoons

Monsoons are seasonal winds that bring

intense rainfall during part of the year

Summer = Wet monsoons

May to early October

Winds blow north and bring heavy rain

Can cause flooding with 100+ inches per year

Winter = Dry monsoons

November to April

Winds blow south and usually bring dry air

Can cause drought and threaten crops

The Himalayas were formed when the

subcontinent of India slammed into the side

of Asia.

Spread across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan,

and China

Mount Everest elevation: 29,035 feet – the tallest mountain in the world

Mountain Ranges in South Asia

Rivers in South Asia

Two major rivers are the Ganges and the Indus Rivers

The Ganges is sacred to Hindus

Bodies are often burned and dumped there

Laundry, festival celebrations in the river

Raw sewage and industry also contribute

Some parts of the river are officially “dead”

India's Polluted Rivers

(4:53)

Religion in South Asia

Religions has shaped both borders and cultures in South Asia

Four religions were founded in India:

Hinduism

Buddhism

Sikhism

Jainism

In spite of being founded in Saudi Arabia, Islam is the second-largest religion in the region today (30%)

Hinduism

Worships many deities

Believe in reincarnation

Life is determined by karma, or actions during a previous life

Most important text: The Vedas

Followers in South Asia: 63% of population

Hindus make pilgrimages, or religious journeys, to the sacred Ganges River

Hindu society is divided into castes, or different social groups – it is almost impossible to move from one caste to another

The lowest caste is called the “Untouchables”

Buddhism

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha

Believe in The Four Noble Truths

Suffering is a part of life

Selfishness is a cause of suffering

It is possible to move beyond suffering

There is a path that leads to this point

Main religion in Bhutan and Sri Lanka

Followers in South Asia: 2% of population

Jainism Developed in the 7th century B.C.

Believe in ahimsa, or nonviolence towards all

living things

Most Jains live in northwestern India

Followers in South Asia: 1% of population

Sikhism Began in India in the 1400s

Combines aspects of Hinduism and Islam

Believes in one god, truthful living, and equality of humankind

Most Sikhs live in the Indian state of Punjab

Followers in South Asia: 1% of population

South Asian Government

Many Asian countries were colonies of the British Empire. The largest was India

In the 1930s, lawyer Mohandas Gandhi led nonviolent protests against British rule

He used civil disobedience, or nonviolent disobeying of laws, to attract attention to the cause of independence

In 1947, the British passed a law to partition, or separate land into India and Pakistan

In 1948, Gandhi was assassinated

India and Pakistan continue to fight over the region of Kashmir to this day

Ghandi: Father of a Nation (2:56)

The Largest Democracy

Today, India is the largest democracy, or government in which citizens make decisions directly

In 2009, Meira Kumar became the first woman to be the first Speaker of the lower house of India’s Parliament

She promised to work towards a “casteless” society

By 2030, India is expected to pass China as the world’s most populousnation

Pakistan’s Changing Government

Pakistan is an Islamic country created in 1947, but West and East Pakistan were separated

In 1971, East Pakistan declared itself independent as the country of Bangladesh

A major challenge has been lack of strong leadership

In 1988, Benazir Bhutto was elected prime minister, but she was forced to flee in 1999

In 2007, she was assassinated, and her husband was elected in 2008

Today, Pakistan still struggles with violence and unrest

East Asia

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, or a gradual transition from fertile to less productive land

China’s Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges is the largest dam in the world.

Located on the Yangtze River

Positives:

Hydroelectric power

Improved shipping

Prevented flooding

Negatives:

Cost $25 billion

Displaced 1.5 million people

Buried 1,000+ historical and cultural sites

May cause landslides and destroy endangered habitats

Visit the Three Gorges Dam! (2:45)

Japan’s Island Arc

Japan is a closely related group of islands, or

archipelago

Mountains cover almost ¾ 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

Footage

2011 (6:50)

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

family

Shang and Zhou Dynasties: 1766 B.C.–221 B.C.

Largely agricultural

Qin Dynasty: 221B.C.—210 B.C.

Built the Great Wall of China

Left behind 8000+ terra cotta warriors

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

See the Terra Cotta Army! (4:10)

Visit the Great Wall of

China! (Cut at 2:21)

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

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

Life in North Korea

Life in South Korea

Southeast Asia

Governing Fragmented Countries

Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines face challenges forming unified countries

Indonesia

17,000 islands spread across 3,200 miles

300+ ethnic groups; 700+ languages

Malaysia

Two parts of a country separated by hundreds of miles of ocean

Malay majority; Chinese and Indian minorities

The Phillippines

Thousands of islands, less than a square mile in size

Widespread use of Filipino language helps identity

A third of all people are poor – millions leave to find work elsewhere and send work home

Southeast Asian Geography

Southeast Asia is made up of mainland and

island countries

Mainland: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia,

Vietnam, and Laos (landlocked)

Often face typhoons, or fierce tropical storms

Island: Indonesia and the Philippines

Have many active volcanoes

Can face tsunamis, or giant ocean waves

Covered in mountainous rainforest terrain

Some rainforests are now being destroyed

Religious Traditions

Many religions have influenced

Southeast Asia

Many nations first practiced

animism

Buddhism is most popular in

Thailand and Myanmar

In Thailand, 95% are Buddhists

Islam is the main religion of

Indonesia, the most populous

Muslim nation in the world

In the Philippines and East Timor,

many people practice Roman

Catholicism

Thailand Today

Thai has very distinctive architecture: wats,

or Buddhist temples

Almost every village has a wat with a

community of monks, or men who devote

themselves to religious work

Most young men become monks for at

least three months during a rainy season

Four out of five young people now live and

work in cities, especially in Bangkok

Bangkok, ThailandVisit Bangkok! (4:00)

Fragmented Countries

In Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and

the Philippines face challenges as

fragmented countries

Indonesia’s 17,000 islands stretch across 3,200

miles and are very different

Malaysia has both island and mainland areas

The Philippines have thousands of islands,

most of which are less than a square mile in

size

Each nation tries to promote unity so its

citizens will feel united

Any Questions?