1. The Culture of Asia Francisci WG.4

2. Population Distribution Some areas of Asia are highly populated whereas other areas are very sparsely populated. – Population density is greatly affected by climate and physical geography.

3. Population Distribution There is great contrast between rural and urban areas. – Many people move to urban areas for jobs; urbanization. – Great percentage of these people are unable to find housing or employment and end up living in the outskirts of the city.

4. Ethnicities Japan and Korea are known as homogeneous countries – these regions are predominantly one single ethnicity. Indonesia is an archipelago of thousands of islands. – It is made up of various ethnic groups with different cultures, languages and religions.

5. Major Religions There are numerous religions practiced in Asia. These religions include Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto: Ancient religion of Japan in which spiritual powers exist in the natural world. Taoism, Confucianism Shinto and Buddhism all teach followers to have respect for ancestors.

6. WWII Fought from 1939 to 1945 in Europe and Asia The war started in 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany. Japan entered the war to expand their empire. December 7, 1941: Japanese attacked the American Naval Base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which killed and wounded 3,700 American soldiers. In 1945, Nazi Germany fell. 1945: The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan and ended WWII.

7. Inventions from Asia Block printing Mirrors Paper Paper money Gun Powder Magnetic compass

8. Centers of Trade & Culture Tokyo (Japan) Beijing (China) New Delhi (India)

9. Cultural Heritage Silks: One of the oldest fibers known to man; originated in China – Silks were traded along the Silk Road: A trail 4,000 miles long that connected China to the Mediterranean Sea. Batik: technique of wax- resist dyeing applied to whole cloth Wood and ivory carvings & sculpture Ideograms (Chinese alphabet) Jewels such as jade, amber, gold and pearls

10. Cultural Landscape Taj Mahal (Agra, India): White marble mausoleum that was first constructed in the 1600s to house the remains of an emperor’s favorite wife Angkor Wat (Cambodia): Created in 1000 A.D.; this religious monument is 500 acres long; originally constructed for Hindus but later changed to a Buddhist monument. Great Wall of China (China): Series of walls to keep out invaders; Construction started in 200 B.C. and lasted for centuries. – The wall was not effective.

11. Cultural Landscape Floating markets: market where goods are sold from boats. Mosques and minarets Pagodas and temples: associated with the Buddhist religion Terraced rice fields