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MODULE I

GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA

Lesson 1 Introduction of Asia

Lesson 2 Geography of Asia

Lesson 3 Natural resources and Environmental

Problems in Asia

Lesson 4 Human Resources in Asia

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MODULE I

INTRODUCTION
GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA

This module will focus on the geography and other physical

characteristics of Asia and the general profile of Asians. This lesson will not
only dwell on the the location and other physical features of Asia but more
importantly on how Asians see themselves and how they used the physical
environment for their cultural, historical, and economic development.

OBJECTIVES/ LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, learners are expected to:

1. Understand the importance of studying Asia’s geography, history, and

culture.
2. Analyze the benefits of studying Asia according to Asian viewpoint
3. Know the diverse features of Asia’s physical geography
4. Suggest ways to maximize the potentials of Asia’s human resources in
moving towards economic growth and sustainable development.

☝ DIRECTIONS/ MODULEORGANIZER

Welcome to the world of knowing what is not known!

Read comprehensively this module in four different lessons. Determine the

extent of your knowledge and understanding you had acquired from these
lessons by performing the learning activities designed for the purpose.

Follow the instructions and promptly accomplish the activities, submit

your outputs to the teacher. Do not proceed to other parts if you did not
thoroughly understand and comply. Any difficulties you had encountered
must be address to your teacher. Establish a good learning communication
with your teacher, Program/specialization adviser and chairman of the
department.
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Lesson 1
🕮 INTRODUCTION OF ASIA
THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING ASIA
Asia is home to half the world's
population. Studying the culturally and
historically diverse areas of Asia provides
opportunities for students to discover new global
perspectives.
In being so populous, Asia is also home to
diverse societies, each with their own creativity
and technological prowess. The challenges of resource scarcity, ecological
degradation, climate change, as well as social challenges of non
communicable and infectious disease, mean that we need to draw upon the
ingenuity of all the world’s peoples. Commercially, Asia is no longer simply a
region where resources and human labour can be sourced more cheaply than
elsewhere. Instead, it is a place where engineers, scientists, programmers,
and entrepreneurs are pushing the boundaries of their professions.
Another reason for the importance of Asia to global well-being, arises
from its reach around the world. Companies from China, India, Indonesia and
Malaysia, are investing in business across the world, in Asia, Africa and Latin
America, as well as the West. For example, bilateral trade between China
and Africa exceeded US$100 billion in 2008 (see Beyond the Western
financial crisis). This trade and investment presents many opportunities for
everyone concerned, but also problems in terms of negative impacts on
certain stakeholders and the environment, as we discuss next.

Enumerate some of the things that will make

you proud of your Asian heritage?

ETYMOLOGY OF ASIA

The term "Asia" is originally a concept exclusively of

Western civilization.The peoples of ancient Asia
(Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Persians, Arabs etc.)
never conceived the idea of Asia, simply because
they did not see themselves collectively. In their
perspective, they were vastly varied civilizations,
contrary to ancient European belief.

The word Asia originated from the Greek word Ἀσία,

first attributed to Herodotus (about 440 BC) in reference to Anatolia or—in
describing the Persian Wars—to the Persian Empire, in contrast to Greece
and Egypt. Herodotus comments that he is puzzled as to why three women's

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names are used to describe one enormous and substantial land mass (Europa,
Asia, and Libya, referring to Africa), stating that most Greeks assumed that
Asia was named after the wife of Prometheus (i.e. Hesione), but that the
Lydians say it was named after Asias, son of Cotys, who passed the name on
to a tribe in Sardis. Even before Herodotus, Homer knew of two figures in
the Trojan War named Asios; and elsewhere he describes a marsh as ασιος
(Iliad 2, 461). In Greek mythology, "Asia" (Ἀσία) or "Asie" (Ἀσίη) was the
name of a Nymph or Titan goddess of Lydia.

Usage of the term soon became common in ancient Greece, and

subsequently by the ancient Romans. Ancient and medieval European maps
depict the Asian continent as a "huge amorphous blob" extending eastward.
It was presumed in antiquity to end with India—the Greek king Alexander the
Great believing he would reach the "end of the world" upon his arrival in the
East.

ASIA FROM DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS

⚫ Western Viewpoint
Eurocentrism refers to a discursive
tendency to interpret the histories and
cultures of non-European societies from a
European (or Western) perspective..

⚫ Asian Viewpoint
Asiacentrism (also Asiacentricity) is
an ethnocentric and economic perspective
that regards Asia to be either superior, central, or unique relative to
other regions. This ideological stance may take the form of ascribing to
Asia significance or supremacy at the cost of the rest of the world.

🗐 LESSON SUMMARY
❖ There are geographical, cultural, and historical features of Asia that are
worthy of our appreciation.
❖ As Asian, we must study our history and culture based from an Asian
centric point of view instead of referring to European models, so we can
appreciate more our heritage and be able to contribute to the benefits
of our fellow Asians.

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✍ LEARNING ACTIVITY

Directions: Read the following statement. Write TRUE if the sentence is

correct and if FALSE , write the word that make false and write the correct
answer.

1. Asia is the largest continent in the world.

2. The word Asia was first used by the Chine and Japanese scholars
to refer to the rising sun.

Early European writers looked at Asia as a perfect model of

cultural refinement, religion,
3.
and technological advancement.

It is better to look at Asia from the Eurocentric point of view in

order to appreciate our
4.
being Asians.

5. The earliest civilizations in the world began in Asia,

6. The terms Near East, Middle East, and Far East denotes an Asian
centric point of view referring tot he regions of Asia.

European historians Herodotus and Thucydides associate

Asia 7. with despotic rulers,
barbaric people, and economic backwardness.

8. It is important to study Asia, so we may become proud our

cultural heritage.

The ancient kingdoms and dynasties of Asia copied the European

9. produce wonders such as Great Wall, Taj
Mahal and others.

The cultural and religious differences

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created disunity among Asians.
.
model to be able to
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🕮 GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA
Lesson 2

Location. Size. And Shape of Asia

Asia is the largest of the world’s continents, covering approximately 30

percent of the Earth’s land area. It is also the world’s most populous continent,
with roughly 60 percent of the total population.
Asia makes up the eastern portion of the Eurasian supercontinent; Europe
occupies the western portion. The border between the two continents is debated.
However, most geographers define Asia’s western border as an indirect line that
follows the Ural Mountains, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Caspian and Black
Seas. Asia is bordered by the Arctic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

What Are The Five Regions Of Asia?

Asia is the largest continent in the world in terms of both land area and
population. It covers around 17 million square miles and is home to over four billion
individuals. Asia is divided into 48 countries, three of them are trans-continental.
Given its large size, Asia has been subdivided on the basis of many factors including
cultural, political, etc. Physiographically, there are five major regions of Asia.
These are Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Western Asia.
Another region can be defined as North Asia to include the bulk of Siberia of Russia
and the northeastern parts of Asia. The five main divisions of Asia have been
mentioned in detail below.

5. Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,

Kyrgyzstan)

Map of Central Asia. Image credit: Cartarium/Shutterstock.com

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Central Asia is west of China, south of Russia, and north of

Afghanistan. The western border of this region runs along the Caspian Sea.
Central Asia is politically divided into five countries: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Given that the name of each of
these countries ends in "-stan," Central Asia is sometimes informally referred
to as "The Stans." The region covers a total area of 1,545,741 square miles
and has a population size of just over 69.78 million individuals. Central Asia
played an important role in the transportation of goods between China and
Europe during the Silk Road trading era.

4. East Asia (China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong
Kong, Taiwan, Macau)

Map of East Asia

East Asia, one of the five regions of Asia, is located east of Central
Asia, with its eastern border running along the East China Sea. East Asia is
politically divided into eight countries and regions: China, Mongolia, North
Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. This region
covers a total area of 4,571,092 square miles and has a population size of
more than 1.641 billion, which represents 22% of the global population and
38% of Asia's total population. Many residents of East Asia are concentrated
in major metropolitan areas such as Beijing and Tokyo.

The geography of East Asia is varied depending on the zone. The inner
continental area experiences a temperate climate, while Mongolia is covered
by the arid Gobi desert. China, the largest country in the region, is home to
both mountains and plateaus, while Japan is characterized by thousands of
islands and coastlines. Today, East Asia is believed to have some of the most
advanced technologies in the world, which fosters economic development.

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3. South Asia (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan,

Nepal, The Maldives, Iran)

Map of South Asia

South Asia has a peninsula-like shape that is bordered by three
bodies of water: the Indian Ocean to the south, the Bay of Bengal to the
east, and the Arabian Sea to the west. The region includes Indian
subcontinent and surrounding countries. South Asia is politically divided into
9 autonomous countries: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Bhutan, Nepal, Iran, and the Maldives. The region covers a total area of
roughly two million square miles and has a population size of more than 1.74
billion, which is nearly a quarter of the global population. Additionally,
South Asia has the distinction of being the most densely populated area in
the world.

2. Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,

Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam)

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Map of Southeast Asia. Image credit: MuchMania/Shutterstock.com

Southeast Asia is located north of Australia, south of East Asia, west
of the Pacific Ocean, and east of the Bay of Bengal. It encompasses several
island and archipelago nations that stretch between the northern and
southern hemispheres, making it the only Asian region located on both sides
of the equator. Southeast Asia is politically divided into 15 countries and
territories: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.

Southeast Asia covers a total area of 1,735,121 square miles and has a
population size of more than 641 million individuals. The geography of
Southeast Asia is characterized by a large number of archipelagos. The
Indonesian Archipelago is the biggest in the world and is home to the largest
number of active volcanoes in the world. The region's importance in global
trade began during the spice trade, which started before European
exploration. Today, the economy of Southeast Asia is rapidly developing.
Indonesia is considered the largest economy in the region and is East Asia's
only member of the G20.

1. Western Asia (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria,

Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia)

Map of Western Asia

West Asia is located in the area between Central Asia and Africa,
south of Eastern Europe. The majority of the region is often
referred to as the Middle East, although it geographically excludes
the mainland of Egypt (which is culturally considered a Middle
Eastern country). West Asia is politically divided into 18 states:

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Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon,

Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. It also includes the Sinai
Peninsula of Egypt. The region covers a total area of around 2.415
million square miles and has a population size of 313.428 million.
Physical Regions of Asia

Asia can be divided into five major physical regions: mountain systems;
plateaus; plains, steppes, and deserts; freshwater environments; and
saltwater environments.

1. Mountain Systems

The Himalaya mountains extend for about 2,500 kilometers (1,550

miles), separating the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia. The Indian
subcontinent, once connected to Africa, collided with the Eurasian continent
about 50 million to 55 million years ago, forming the Himalayas. The Indian
subcontinent is still crashing northward into Asia, and the Himalayas are
growing about 5 centimeters (2 inches) every year.

The Himalayas cover more than 612,000 square kilometers (236,000

square miles), passing through the northern states of India and making up
most of the terrain of Nepal and Bhutan. The Himalayas are so vast that they
are composed of three different mountain belts. The northernmost belt,
known as the Great Himalayas, has the highest average elevation at 6,096
meters (20,000 feet). The belt contains nine of the highest peaks in the
world, which all reach more than 7,925 meters (26,000 feet) tall. This belt
includes the highest mountain summit in the world, Mount Everest, which
stands at 8,850 meters (29,035 feet).

The Tien Shan mountain system stretches for about 2,400 kilometers
(1,500 miles), straddling the border between Kyrgyzstan and China. The
name Tien Shan means “Celestial Mountains” in Chinese. The two highest
peaks in the Tien Shan are Victory Peak, which stands at 7,439 meters
(24,406 feet), and Khan Tängiri Peak, which stands at 6,995 meters (22,949
feet). Tien Shan also has more than 10,100 square kilometers (3,900 square
miles) of glaciers. The largest glacier is Engil'chek Glacier, which is about 60
kilometers (37 miles) long.

The Ural Mountains run for approximately 2,500 kilometers (1,550

miles) in an indirect north-south line from Russia to Kazakhstan. The Ural
Mountains are some of the world’s oldest, at 250 million to 300 million years
old. Millions of years of erosion have lowered the mountains significantly,
and today their average elevation is between 914 and 1,220 meters (3,000

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to 4,000 feet). The highest peak is Mount Narodnaya at 1,895 meters (6,217
feet).

2. Plateaus

Asia is home to many plateaus, areas of relatively level high ground.

The Iranian plateau covers more than 3.6 million square kilometers (1.4
million square miles), encompassing most of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
The plateau is not uniformly flat, but contains some high mountains and low
river basins. The highest mountain peak is Damavand, at 5,610 meters
(18,410 feet). The plateau also has two large deserts, the Dasht-e Kavir and
Dasht-e Lut.

The Deccan Plateau makes up most of the southern part of India. The
plateau’s average elevation is about 600 meters (2,000 feet). It is bordered
by three mountain ranges: the Satpura Range in the north, and the Eastern
and Western Ghats on either side. The plateau and its main waterways—the
Godavari and Krishna rivers—gently slope toward the Eastern Ghats and the
Bay of Bengal.

The Tibetan Plateau is usually considered the largest and highest area
ever to exist in the history of Earth. Known as the “Rooftop of the World,”
the plateau covers an area about half the size of the contiguous United
States and averages more than 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) above sea level.
The Tibetan Plateau is extremely important to the world’s water cycle
because of its tremendous number of glaciers. These glaciers contain the
largest volume of ice outside the poles. The ice and snow from these glaciers
feed Asia’s largest rivers. Approximately 2 billion people depend on the
rivers fed by the plateau’s glaciers.

3. Plains, Steppes, and Deserts

The West Siberian Plain, located in central Russia, is considered one

of the world’s largest areas of continuous flatland. It extends from north to
south about 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) and from west to east about
1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles). With more than 50 percent of its area at less
than 100 meters (330 feet) above sea level, the plain contains some of the
world’s largest swamps and flood plains.

Central Asia is dominated by a steppe landscape, a large area of flat,

unforested grassland. Mongolia can be divided into different steppe zones:
the mountain forest steppe, the arid steppe, and the desert steppe. These
zones transition from the country’s mountainous region in the north to the
Gobi Desert on the southern border with China.

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The Rub’ al Khali desert, considered the world’s largest sand sea,
covers an area larger than France across Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United
Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It holds roughly half as much sand as Africa’s
Sahara desert, even though it is 15 times smaller in size. The desert is known
as the Empty Quarter because it is virtually inhospitable to humans except
for Bedouin tribes that live on its edges.

4. Freshwater

Lake Baikal, located in southern Russia, is the deepest lake in the

world, reaching a depth of 1,620 meters (5,315 feet). The lake contains 20
percent of the world’s unfrozen freshwater, making it the largest reservoir
on Earth. It is also the world’s oldest lake, at 25 million years old.

The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the
world (behind the Amazon of South America and the Nile of Africa).
Reaching 6,300 kilometers (3,915 miles) in length, the Yangtze moves east
from the glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau to the river’s mouth on the East
China Sea. The Yangtze is considered the lifeblood of China. It drains one
fifth of the country’s land area, is home to one-third of its population, and
contributes greatly to China’s economy.

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers begin in the highlands of eastern

Turkey and flow through Syria and Iraq, joining in the city of Qurna, Iraq,
before emptying into the Persian Gulf. The land between the two rivers,
known as Mesopotamia, was the center of the earliest civilizations, including
Sumer and the Akkadian Empire. Today, the Tigris-Euphrates river system is
under threat from increased agricultural and industrial use. These pressures
have caused desertification and increased salts in the soil, severely
damaging local watershed habitats.

5. Saltwater

The Persian Gulf has an area of more than 234,000 square kilometers
(90,000 square miles). It borders Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq. The gulf is subject to high rates of
evaporation, making it shallow and extremely salty. The seabed beneath the
Persian Gulf contains an estimated 50 percent of the world’s oil reserves.
The countries that border the gulf have engaged in a number of disputes
over this rich resource.

The Sea of Okhotsk covers 1.5 million square kilometers (611,000

square miles) between the Russian mainland and the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The sea is largely frozen between October and March. Large ice floes make
winter navigation almost impossible.

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The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world, covering almost 2.2
million square kilometers (839,000 square miles) and bordering Bangladesh,
India, Sri Lanka, and Burma. Many large rivers, including the Ganges and
Brahmaputra, empty into the bay. The briny wetlands formed by the
Ganges-Brahmaputra on the Bay of Bengal is the largest delta in the world.

Climates in Asia
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 🗐 LESSON SUMMARY

❖ Asia is the largest continent in the world and cover 1/3 of the worlds
total land area.

❖ Asia is diverse in it’s physical characteristics and climate.

❖ Asia is divided into five geographical regions.

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✍ LEARNING ACTIVITY

Directions: Choose two Asian counties (from the same or different region)
and compare their physical characteristics and climate. Write your entries
on the comparative chart below.
Characteristics Country A Country B

1. Physical Characteristics

(type of landforms and

bodies of water found
in that country)

2. Climate

3. Population

4. Natural Resources

5. Major industries

CONCLUSION

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SESS 102 – Asian Studies Module I