continent answer questions
Different aspect modern Asia
http://asiasociety.org/
Projects about Asia
http://www.thinkquest.org/pls/html/think.lsearch?s=689237512612685&cx=000315470966420306637%3Amwsjqlz8fvs&cof=FORID%3A11%3BNB%3A1&ie=UTF-8&q=ASIA&r=N#1671
Check information in Asia for Kids
http://continents.pppst.com/asia.html
Asia is the largest and most populated continent on the planet, has 44 million km2 and accounts for 8.65% of total land area and 29.45% of land area., has 4000 million people, 60 % of the human population. It extends over the eastern half of the northern hemisphere from the Arctic Ocean, north to the Indian Ocean to the south. Bounded on the west by the Ural Mountains and the east by the Pacific Ocean. It's divided into South Asia, East Asia, Central Asia, North Asia and Southeast Asia.
(LAURA S)
The coastal periphery was the home to some of the world's earliest known civilizations: The civilizations in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and China; shared many similarities and likely exchanged technologies and ideas such as mathematics and the wheel. Cities, states and then empires developed in these lowlands.
Siberian zones weren't poblated because the weather was bad.
The centre and periphery were kept separate by mountains and deserts. The Caucasus, Himalaya, Karakum Desert, and Gobi Desert formed barriers that the steppe horsemen could only cross with difficulty.
While technologically and culturally the habitants of cities were more advanced, they could do little militarily to defend against the mounted hordes of the steppe. However, the lowlands did not have enough open grasslands to support a large horsebound force. Thus the nomads who conquered states in China, India, and the Middle East were soon forced to adapt to the local societies.
1500–present
The Russian Empire began to expand into Asia from the 17th century, later they were taking control of all of Siberia and most of Central Asia by the end of the 19th century. The Ottoman Empire controlled Turkey and the Middle East from the 16th century onwards. In the 17th century, the Manchu conquered China and established the Qing Dynasty, although this was in decline by the 19th century and had been overthrown in 1912.
Europe had control of other parts of Asia by the 1900s, as British India, French Indochina and Portuguese Macau and Goa. The Great Game between Russia and Britain was the struggle for power in the Central Asian region in the nineteenth century. The Trans-Siberian Railway, crossing Asia by train, was complete by 1916. Parts of Asia remained free from European control, although not influence, as Persia, Thailand and most of China. In the twentieth century, Imperial Japan expanded into China and Southeast Asia during the Second World War. After the war, many Asian countries became independent from Europe.
During the Cold War, the northern parts of Asia were communist controlled with the Soviet Union and People's Republic of China, while western allies formed pacts. Conflicts like the Korean War, Vietnam War and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan were fought between communists and anti-communists. In the decades after the Second World War, a massive restructuring plan drove Japan to become the world's second-largest economy, "the Japanese post-war economic miracle". The Arab-Israeli conflict has dominated much of the recent history of the Middle East. After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, there were many new independent nations in Central Asia.
Today China,India and Japan play an important role in world economics and politics.
(JORDI CORTINA)
The economy of Asia comprises more than 4 billion people (60% of the world population) living in 46 different states. Six further states lie partly in Asia, but are considered to belong to another region economically and politically. China is the largest economy in Asia and the second largest economy in the world.
As in all world regions, the wealth of Asia differs widely between, and within, states. This is due to its vast size, meaning a huge range of differing cultures, environments, historical ties and government systems. The largest economies in Asia in terms of nominal GDP are China, Japan, India, South Korea, Indonesia and Iran. In terms of GDP by purchasing power parity, China followed by Japan, India, South Korea and Indonesia are the largest economies in decreasing order.
Wealth (if measured by GDP per capita) is mostly concentrated in east Asian territories such as Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea,Singapore and Taiwan, as well in oil rich Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates. Asia, with the exception of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, is currently undergoing rapid growth and industrialization spearheaded by China and India - the two fastest growing major economies in the world. While east Asian andsoutheast Asian countries generally rely on manufacturing and trade for growth, countries in the Middle East depend more on the production of commodities, principally oil, for economic growth. Over the years, with rapid economic growth and large trade surpluswith the rest of the world, Asia has accumulated over US$4 trillion of foreign exchange reserves - more than half of the world's total
(Laura Farrés)
The politics of Asia are extremely varied as would be expected of such a large landmass and a diverse population.Constitutional monarchies, absolute monarchies, one-party states, federal states, dependent territories, liberal democracies andmilitary dictatorships are all factors in the region, as well as various forms of independence movements.
Civilization has a long history throughout Asia and it probably involved politics right from the start although some of the earliest discernible political structures arose in Mesopotamia with the advent of writing offering details of these politics. A large and well organized civil service the like of which arose in China is also a necessary adjunct to politics. Much of the political climate in Asia today is affected by colonialism and imperialism of the past with some states retaining close links with their former colonial governors while others involved in bitter independence struggles the consequences of which continue to be felt.
The situation today is still mixed, with hostilities in parts of Asia such as the continuing tensions over Kashmir, primarily between India and Pakistan, as well as economic competetiveness between the People's Republic of China and India. There are also moves towards greater co-operation and communication within the region with Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) a notable example.
(Laura Farrés)
(Laura Farrés)
Among the most important cultures in Asia, we find the culture of Japan, for his great military development, technological and philosophical. It also highlights the martial arts tradition with the samurais and ninjas.
Also, Japan has a rich culture related to art, where we can highlight his paintings and prints, as well as architecture, theater and film. It is also important to mention the Japan cuisine (especially seafood), which produces dishes such as sushi, sashimi and tempura.
Mongolian culture is enhanced by their agricultural techniques and crafts. Formerly it was a culture very respected by his great strength as a warrior tribe.
The Mongols are not all vegetarian, however, feed on animals such as foxes and unappetizing wolfs. Finally I've tell you that they are the largest ethnic group in the world, they are hundreds of millions who belong to this culture.
(CRISTINA GRANADOS)
Also, Japan has a rich culture related to art, where we can highlight his paintings and prints, as well as architecture, theater and film. It is also important to mention the Japan cuisine (especially seafood), which produces dishes such as sushi, sashimi and tempura.
Mongolian culture is enhanced by their agricultural techniques and crafts. Formerly it was a culture very respected by his great strength as a warrior tribe.
The Mongols are not all vegetarian, however, feed on animals such as foxes and unappetizing wolfs. Finally I've tell you that they are the largest ethnic group in the world, they are hundreds of millions who belong to this culture.
(CRISTINA GRANADOS)
Asia is a spiritually rich continent where religions have a lot of importance.
Some of Asian religions are the Baha'is (Iran), Confucianism (China), Jainism (India), Sikhism (India), Shinto (Japan), Taoism (China) and Zoroastrianism (Iran).
Asia's majority religion is Buddhism, practiced mainly in East and Southeast Asia.
Between different Asian peoples also practice animism and shamanism.
Judaism is the majority in Israel (the only country where most of the people are jews), and Christianity is predominant only in the Philippines and has a high rate in South Korea.
(CRISTINA GRANADOS)
Some of Asian religions are the Baha'is (Iran), Confucianism (China), Jainism (India), Sikhism (India), Shinto (Japan), Taoism (China) and Zoroastrianism (Iran).
Asia's majority religion is Buddhism, practiced mainly in East and Southeast Asia.
Between different Asian peoples also practice animism and shamanism.
Judaism is the majority in Israel (the only country where most of the people are jews), and Christianity is predominant only in the Philippines and has a high rate in South Korea.
(CRISTINA GRANADOS)
