COUNTRIES & REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Name the six countries in East Asia and their capital
China — Beijing
Japan — Tokyo
Mongolia — Ulaanbaatar
North Korea — Pyongyang
South Korea — Seoul
Taiwan — Taipei
Highest mountain range in the world?
Himalayas.
List the three factors that shape the climates of East Asia
Latitude, Elevation, Air Masses.
What is a dynasty?
A line of rulers from one family that holds power for a long time.
What is a megalopolis? Name one megalopolis in Japan.
A huge cluster of cities with a very large population.
Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Yokohama.
Which country is the largest in land area and 3rd/4th largest in the world?
China
Largest and highest plateau in the world?
Plateau of Tibet.
What is the climate in Northwestern China & Mongolia
Dry, cold winters, desert climate
Why was the Great Wall built, and how long is it?
For protection from invaders.
Length: About 21,196 km (13,171 miles).
Which is the most populous country in East Asia, and what is its estimated population?
China
1.4 billion
Which country is considered a de facto country?
Taiwan
Two major deserts in East Asia?
Gobi Desert and Taklamakan Desert.
Which country in East Asia is the Largest coal producer, and where are the oil reserves located?
China. Oil reserves under the South China Sea and in the Taklamakan Desert.
Name two East Asian thinkers and their beliefs
Confucius – Confucianism
Laozi – Daoism
1. Name two traditional martial arts practiced in East Asia
2. Name the popular South Korean music genre
Tai Chi and Taekwondo
K-pop
Identify which countries are Mainland, Island, Peninsula
China and Mongolia – Mainland
Japan and Taiwan – Island
South Korea – Peninsula
Name the two major rivers in China, and why is one called the Cradle of Chinese Civilization?
Yangtze River (the longest river in China and Asia)
Huang He (Yellow River) – Called the Cradle of Chinese Civilization because early Chinese civilizations developed along its banks.
List the mineral resources found in Japan and North Korea
Japan – Coal, copper, some iron ore
North Korea – Coal, zinc, gold, iron ore
1. Which dynasty developed paper, and what trade route did they encourage?
2. Name three goods traded
1. Han Dynasty, Silk Road.
2. Silk, tea, spices, paper, porcelain (any three).
Identify the ethnic majority group and primary language for:
China
Japan
Mongolia
North Korea
South Korea
Taiwan
China – Han; Mandarin Chinese
Japan – Japanese; Japanese
Mongolia – Mongolian; Khalkha Mongolian
North Korea – Korean; Korean
South Korea – Korean; Korean
Taiwan – Taiwanese; Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese
Explain China’s Three Steps and why most people live on the third step.
First Step: Highest land — includes the Plateau of Tibet.
Second Step: Lower mountains and plateaus.
Third Step: Plains and low hills.
Most people live on the third step because the land is flat, fertile, easier for farming, building cities, and transportation.
Name the four seas in East Asia and the two Japanese rivers.
South China Sea
Yellow Sea
East China Sea
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Japanese Rivers:
Shinano River (longest)
Tone River (second-longest)
Differentiate between trade surplus and trade deficit
Trade surplus: Exports are greater than imports.
Trade deficit: Imports are greater than exports.
Example:
If China sells more goods than it buys → surplus.
If a country buys more than it sells → deficit.
List the four Major Chinese inventions and their uses.
Papermaking – Keeping records
Printing – Faster book production
Gunpowder – Explosives/fireworks
Magnetic Compass – Navigation at sea
List five current issues in East Asia
Air pollution
Earthquakes (especially in Japan)
Population growth
Political differences
Growing income gap between urban and rural areas