East Asia Region
The Cold War
•At least two countries in East Asia
today are communist countries that have
different degrees of strained relationships
with America and European countries. The
strain resulted from a history of wars,
including World War II, the Korean
War, and a lengthy Cold War: North
Korea, Viet Nam
•
•The North Korean government's belief in
maintaining a strict communist system and
its focus on developing a strong military has
led to low per capita use of personal
technology. Discuss -
Economic Developments and
Innovations
Many Asian countries have a thriving wholesale
industry.
Wholesale – Products are sold in large
quantities to businesses so that they can sell
them to customers.
Can you see examples of this in your everyday
life? Discuss -
Economic Developments and
Innovations (continued)
The development of the computer chip is a major
innovation of the twentieth century. Many of the
East Asian countries have capitalized on this
technology (toys, electronics, etc.).
Because of its population density, the Japanese
have developed small, compact cars which have
also gained worldwide popularity.
Population Density
•Countries where people can “spread out” or
which have large land mass (China), tend
to be less densely populated than those
where people are confined by ocean
borders, i.e. island nations (Japan).
•Does China or Japan have the most dense
population? Discuss •
Geography
Place the below listed nation in order from west
to east:
•South Korea
•Philippines
•Japan
•China
Cultural Diffusion
Diffusion - A scattering of various cultures; not
concentrated.
Because of cultural diffusion, the nations of China,
Japan and South Korea have adopted a variety of
religious beliefs. All of the below listed religious
groups, for example, have contributed to the diversity
of China:
•Confucianism
•Taoism
•Buddhism
Cultural Diffusion (continued)
All of the below are examples of cultural
diffusion:
•American fast food companies opening fast food
restaurants in China
•Chinese teenagers listening to American rock music
•Americans using Chinese medicines and methods
Economics
In recent years, China's economy has been
moving from a command economy towards
capitalism.
•Command Economy – An economic system in which
the government controls the economy. Private
ownership is limited.
•Capitalism – An economic system in which the
government has little control and the market (buyers
and sellers) control the economy.
Economics (continued)
Capitalism - Japan has a capitalist system. In
this type of economy, consumers influence how
money is spent by buying certain goods and
services. Supply and Demand, competition
among businesses, determines which business
succeed. Businesses that are efficient, offer the
best quality at the lowest prices, are successful.
Discuss -
WWI and WWII
Japan was a world power and played a
major role in these two wars. It was
the age of imperialism. Countries
gained a lot of territory by military
might. The more territory they had,
the mightier they were. Japanese war
tactics are studied today. Japanese
Admiral Heihachiro Tojo was viewed
by other nations as a brilliant military
leader. Discuss -
Silk Roads
The Silk Roads was an important
trade route for China centuries
ago. Although masses of traders
used the route, mountains formed
a physical barrier to transportation
which likely slowed their
movement.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was built in
the northern part of China to provide
protection against Mongolian invaders
from the north.
Most of the wall was built between
220 – 206 BC. It measures 8,850
kilometers or 5,500 miles.
Three Gorges Dam
This dam in China is a huge source of
energy for the country. It took 40 years
to begin construction. It generates as
much energy as 15 coal-burning power
plants. But, it has had a significant
impact on the environment and in
particular the agriculture industry. This
is an example of human modification of
the environment.
Evolving Governments
China has changed over time from a nation ruled by
emperors, to one ruled by dynasties to a
communist state currently.
Japan has changed from a nation ruled by emperors,
to one ruled by a Constitutional Monarchy, to a
Democracy currently.
Chinese & North Korea Human
Rights
China and Human Rights
China is often criticized for human rights
violations. However, it often dismisses those
claims because they say that their guiding
principles outweigh certain rights.
Demonstrations or marches against the Chinese
form of communist government, for example, are
strongly discouraged or prohibited.
China and Human Rights
(continued)
China has a policy that limits each family to one
child. Many human rights supporters view this
policy as a violation of Article 12 of the United
Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
Article 12 states that “No one shall be subjected
to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family,
home or correspondence.”
North Korea and Human Rights
North Korea is another East Asia
country that has a communist
government and is often accused of
human rights violations. North Korea
and China are also very similar in
economic development levels.
Discuss -
Democratic Nations of East
Asia
South Korea, Taiwan and Japan
are the important democratic
nations in the East Asia region.
Do you know what a democratic
nation is? Discuss -
The
End!!!!!!!!!!!!!