ESSAY:

1. What do you think is the most significant achievement of the prehistoric

men in Asia? Explain your answer.

The most significant achievement of prehistoric man in Asia, in my

opinion, is their contributions to art, history, religion, and the lives of succeeding
generations. They pioneered the development of the entire human race.
Through their cave paintings which led to the development of many philosophies
and religions that we have now. Those cave paintings were also utilized as a
foundation for all historical breakthroughs, as they left a lot of records for
the following generations to follow. The people who came after them used and
refined their methods of survival as well. They may not have experienced
everything we are experiencing right now, but their contributions have made
things possible and easier for us today, which I believe is important. They are
one of the reasons behind most of society's developments, and for that, they are
still honored and valued.

2. Discuss the tenets of the following philosophies:

a) Confucianism c) Buddhism
b) Taoism d) Shintoism
Illustrate how these philosophies are manifested in the Asian way of life,
thinking or relating with others
a. Confucianism
The Sacred Past, The Social Code, and Self-improvement are the
three main tenets of Confucianism. Confucius, the founder of
Confucianism, believed that people should study the past in order to
understand and know how to conduct themselves and stay true to their
virtues. In the Social Code, he regarded political relationships as larger
version of familial relationships. Leaders should treat their subjects as if
they were their own children. People should aim towards goodness as a
means of self-improvement. He thought that if everyone does their best,
the society will be harmonious.
b. Taoism
The belief in balancing forces, or yin and yang, is one of Taoism's
tenets.  These ideas symbolize complementary pairings that work together
to create a universal whole, such as light and dark, mobility and
immobility. The yin and yang symbolism demonstrates that everything in
the cosmos is interconnected and that nothing makes sense on its own.
 c. Buddhism
The four main tenets of Buddhism are the truth of suffering, the
truth of the source of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the
truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.  To put it another way,
pain exists, has a cause, an end, and a cause that will bring about its end.
d. Shintoism
In Shintoism, the family is seen as the key means of preserving
tradition. Birth and marriage are the two most significant events in their
life. They see nature as sacred, and they worship objects that they believe
hold sacred spirits.
All of these philosophies are evident in the lives of Asians, particularly
those who adhere to them. Most Asians are very motherly warm hearted, and
they put a greater value on goodness and family. People in Asia value nature as
well, particularly in countries like Japan and Singapore, which take good care of
their environment. We, Asians, likewise hold marriage in high regard and rejoice
at the birth of a child. These philosophies are all innate in Asians and are
practiced, even if they are not labeled as Shintoism, Taoism, Buddhism, or
Confucianism.
3. How did the environment of North Asia contribute to the creation /
establishment of a militaristic civilization?
The environment in North Asia was a huge contribution in the militaristic
civilization. Nomadic and sedentary people frequently exchanged goods liked the
basic necessities. Nomads and sedentary people have contrasting
lifestyles.  Nomads were used to hardship and shortage. They are often envious
of what the sedentary people have making them steal what they have. They
always establish attacks, these works for them because they have nothing to lose,
they have no permanent infrastructure to destroy — no houses, no storehouses,
no treasuries, no bridges, no mills, no workshops, no city walls, no cities, nothing.
Nomadic people have invaded border towns and villages on numerous occasions,
since their force was strong. When a state or empire is powerful and well-
organized, it can defend its borders. A strong nomadic group was occasionally
able to seize a whole empire and govern it. These nomadic groups led to the
establishment of militaristic civilizations in North Asia.
4. Explain the essence of studying Asian civilization.
Asia is the world's largest continent, with significant historical and cultural
contributions. We must study Asian civilization since it is really important to us
because we are Asians ourselves. Studying Asian civilization will teach us about
 the continent we live on, the people who settled in it first, how they get there, how
they built civilization, and their contributions to the world we live in.

5. Discuss the contributions of Western powers to Asian colonies. Do they

have the right to claim those contributions?

The improvement in education was one of the attributes that Westerners

contributed to Asian colonies. They also contributed to Asia's health and
infrastructure systems. There were several contributions, but I do not believe
they have the rights to claim them because the entire purpose of these
contributions was to expand and strengthen their power. They manipulated
people into believing that they were helping them, while in fact, they were acting
in their own interests. They didn't help Asia for Asia's sake; they helped Asia to
propagate their dominance.

6. Explain why Asia is considered as the home of the earliest man.

 The fertile crescent or cradle of civilization is Asia, specifically
Mesopotamia. Asia's environment and geographic feature made it possible for the
first man to survive.  Irrigation and agriculture developed due to the rich terrain
around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Animals and crops that were
domesticated were also established. The region's favorable temperature and
topography also aided the emergence of each civilization in Asia. These
characteristics allowed each civilization to grow and contribute to the society we
have now.