GOOGLESCHOLAR: Assignment 6
whieso
module_6_overview.docxModule 6 Overview
South, East, and Southeast Asia Realms and Regions
This module focuses on the overall geography (topography, historical, economic, political, and cultural/human) of South, East, and Southeast Asia. You will begin by describing the topography of Sub-Saharan Africa along with South, East, and Southeast Asia. The historical geography of South, East, and Southeast Asia will be explained. The political and economical geography of South, East, and Southeast Asian will be compared and contrasted with the rest of the world’s political and economical systems. In addition, you will analyze the diverse religions of South, East, and Southeast Asia. Lastly, the cultural geography of South, East, and Southeast Asia will be analyzed in relation to the rest of the world.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:
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2K |
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identify the seven countries that define the realm of South Asia and describe the general environmental features of South Asia including its landform regions and climate. |
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2L |
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identify East Asia’s major landform regions, most important river basins, and climate zones as a basis for understanding the realm’s population distribution. |
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2M |
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describe the Southeast Asian realm’s landform structure, population distribution, impact from imperialism, classification of states, and basic environmental and human geography. |
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3F |
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discuss the historical evolution of the Chinese Empire along with the general cultural background and ethnolinguistic patterns of modern East Asia’s countries. |
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3G |
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explain the region’s historical geography since 1840, the evolution of communist China since 1949, the reforms of the post-Mao period, and the major geographic issues facing contemporary China, especially those of demographic change and economic development. |
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4E |
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discuss the role of outside influences in shaping the South Asian realm and identify the politico-geographical problems and issues of this realm. |
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4F |
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explain India’s complex regional components, challenges to federal governance, changing urban and economic geographies, tumultuous cultural geography, assertive minorities, traditional social stratification, enormous development potential, and precarious physical geography. |
Module 6 Reading Assignment
de Blij, H. J., & Muller, P. O. (2012). Geography: Realms, regions, and concepts (15th ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Chapters 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B.
South Asia
Topography of South Asia
The southern region of South Asia is made up of Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. The mainland of South Asia is made up of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and a few other countries to the Southeast in the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea. Please watch the WorldGeo: South Asia "An Introduction to South Asia" video.
As for most areas along the equator, the seasons are very wet and dry. This region is also heavily dominated by monsoons, typhoons, cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes. Typhoons, cyclones, monsoons, hurricanes, and etc. are all the same type of oceanic storms, but are named by the region they occur in. These storms in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans tend to be the strongest due to the warmer ocean temperatures, the larger size of the oceans, and the higher number of islands and land masses to strike. Also, much of the lands in this region are lower in elevation and more susceptible to flooding. In addition, many of these storms create some very high rainfall amounts as you move up toward the Himalayan Mountains, and all of these flood waters make their way back down to the coasts. Recently, most of Pakistan has suffered from this occurrence.
This region has some of the most diverse biological and ecological features, as well as fauna and flora. The topography changes from oceanic island arcs in the south to much higher elevations in mainland India and northward into the Himalayan Mountains. The Himalayan Mountains continue to grow from the movement of South Asia into North Asia. Most of Southeastern Asia is made up of various oceanic plates crashing into each other, which create island arcs with underwater volcanoes and earthquakes. Often, this very high geologic activity causes Tsunamis to form from the very strong earthquakes. Please visit the Asia: Physical Geography website for more information on the physical geography of South Asia.
Historical Geography of South Asia
Most of the beginning history of South Asia was in the form of clear trade routes from China, the Middle East, and even Europe. European colonialism played a major role in these regions’ overall histories. Please visit the South Asia: India and Beyond website to read about the early history of South Asia.
Political Geography of South Asia
Being so diverse with so many different cultures, languages, and beliefs, this region has had its political conflicts. More specifically, there have been tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as the Vietnam conflict in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Politics have strongly influenced this region, though it has become more stable as of late, mostly due to the creation of the ASEAN (Association of Southeastern Asian Nations). The future of this region is unknown. Please visit the South Asia website for more information on the political geography of this region.
Economical Geography of South Asia
Some of the world’s fastest growing economies are located in this region, but the working conditions are still very poor and unequal. Currently, most of the economies in this region have moved from light industrial to more technological. Very high competition from China has caused much competition as of late. The production of opium and methamphetamines are very high in this region. Please visit the South Asia - Sri Lanka: Reshaping Economic Geography website for more information on the economic geography of Sri Lanka.
Religions of South Asia
This region is very diverse religiously with the most southern region being more Islamic and the northern regions being more Buddhist. The Philippines are mostly Christian with smaller amounts of Animism and Hinduism in Papua New Guinea and elsewhere. Please visit the Center for South Asia Outreach website to find out more information about the religions in South Asia.
Cultural Geography of South Asia
The commercial sex industry and the trafficking of women and children largely plague this region. HIV continues to be a major issue in this region as a result. This region is also made up of hundreds of different languages with Malayo-Polynesian being the most dominant in the southern regions. Please read the supplemental information provided in the Cultural Geography of South Asia file.
East Asia
Topography of East Asia
East Asia is mainly made up of China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. This region’s physical geography is very diverse. The eastern region is dominated by the western rim of the Pacific Ring of Fire. This leads to many earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes. The southern region is dominated by the Himalayan Mountains, which continue to rise due to India moving northward into Asia. The largest mountain, Mount Everest, is located in the Himalayan Chain. The Gobi Desert dominates most of north China and Mongolia, which is caused by the subtropical high pressure system and continentality. Large projects have significantly altered the flow of the rivers and water in this region, which often leads to high flooding.
Historical Geography of East Asia
Most of this region’s history can be linked to China with the very first trade routes as well as some of the very first civilizations and empires/dynasties.
Political Geography of East Asia
This region is very diverse politically with China and North Korea having very closed systems with very little overall democracy. Japan and South Korea have more open systems of democracy. The biggest conflict in this region still continues to be between North and South Korea. Also, some conflict still occurs among China, Taiwan, and Tibet. Please visit the Political Map of Japan website.
Economical Geography of East Asia
This region has some of the strongest and most developing economies in the world. This area also has the most people per square mile, and it is ever-growing. The manufacturing sector seems to be growing at astronomical levels, which has caused great global competition and many jobs to be outsourced into this region.
Religions of East Asia
This region is very religiously diverse, with Confucianism being very dominant. Other religions include Daoism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Islam. Shinto is very dominant in Japan. The people of this region practice religion differently than the western world in that it is more ingrained into their culture and everyday life. Please visit the Religion in Japan website for more information.
Cultural Geography of East Asia
China and North Korea still suffer from many human and civil rights issues - mostly gender and inequality. The language and food in this region are very diverse. Most of the food consists of rice and fish.
Required Presentations:
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