Shaped by History: East Asia
Chapter 25, Section 1
1. What are some of East Asia’s major achievements?
Great Wall of China; Chinese also invented paper, gunpowder, silk weaving, magnetic
compass, and water wheel.
2. How did culture traits spread within East Asia and from East Asia to
the West?
Chinese migrated to Korea around 1200 BC. Migration led to a transfer of Chinese
knowledge and customs to the Koreans. Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese had many
exchanges of culture and knowledge. In the 1800s Europeans and American began to
produce great amounts of manufactured goods. Western trading ships sailed to Asian
ports to begin trading.
3. How did Western trade pressure contribute to the rise of communist
nations in East Asia after World War II?
The Chinese people blamed the emperor for the growing foreign influence, so a 1911
revolution replaced the emperor with a republic. A civil war broke out in China after
WWII. Nationalists wanted to strengthen China so it could manage without foreigners;
Communists wanted to break the power of the landlords and other wealthy people as
well as drive out all foreign influence. Both wanted the same thing – foreign influence
out of China, but the Communists also wanted to be free of powerful leaders within the
country as well. The communists won the civil war.
civilization
a society that has cities, a central government, workers who do specialized jobs, and social
classes
emperor
ruler of widespread lands and groups of people
dynasty
a series of rulers from the same family
migration
movement of people from one country/region to another to make a new home
clan
group of families who claim a common ancestor
cultural
diffusion
spreading of ideas/culture through the movement of people
CAUSE
 Chinese wanted to keep rest of
the world out
 Chinese migrated to Korean
peninsula about 1200 B.C.
 Chinese adopted Buddhism
 Europeans and Americans produced
many goods
EFFECTS
 Built Great Wall of China
 Transfer of knowledge and customs
to Koreans.
 Buddhism spread to Korean and
Japan as cultural diffusion
 Began trading with East Asia
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SUMMARY: Discoveries and advances in science, technology, and the arts spread within East Asia
and to Western nations before conflicts within and beyond East Asia erupted during World War II.
Shaped by History: Southeast Asia
Chapter 25, Section 2
1. How did culture traits spread from China, India, Southwest Asia,
and Europe to Southeast Asia?
Early migration and missionaries primarily; later by trade and colonization.
2. How did colonial rule influence Southeast Asia?
Positive: colonial rulers built roads, bridges, railroads, schools, universities,
hospitals, etc. Negative: colonial rulers demanded the farmers grow cash crops,
which did not feed the people if the price of the crop dropped or the cash crop
failed.
Angkor Wat
Built by the Khmer in the rain forests of Cambodia about 1100 A.D., this is the
largest Hindu temple in the world (1 mile X 1 mile).
Cultural Diffusion in
Southeast Asia
China
Ideas of
Confucius
Ways of
farming
Foreign Trades and
Missionaries
Hinduism
(@.A.D. 100)
Islam
(800s-900s)
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Christianity
(1500s)
European
Colonial rulers
Cash Crops
(i.e., coffee)
universities
railroads
Chinese invaded Southeast Asia (Vietnam specifically) and ruled there for about
1000 years.
Chinese brought ways of farming and ideas of Confucius to run their
government.
Confucius was a philosopher (ways of looking at life), not a religious leader.
Religion
From where
How it got there
Hindu
India
Trade
Buddhism
China
Chinese colonization
Islam
SW Asia
Trade
Christianity
Europe
Colonization
Before WWII, European colonies in SE Asia; during WWII, occupation by Japan;
SE Asian countries hoped this would end colonization, but Japanese rule was as
harsh as European rule; after WWII, European colonies again.
Many SE Asian countries fought for – and won! – independence after WWII.
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SUMMARY: Culture traits spread from other countries to Southwest Asia through
conquest, trade missions, and colonization.