Palestine

Currency: Shekel
History:

 Palestine is an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, comprising parts of modern

Israel and the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip (along the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea) and the West Bank (the area west of the Jordan River).
 The term Palestine has been associated variously and sometimes controversially with
this small region, which some have asserted also includes Jordan.
 Since the 20th century it has been the object of conflicting claims of Jewish and Arab
national movements, and the conflict has led to prolonged violence and, in several
instances, open warfare.

Geography:

 Palestine is located on the Mediterranean Sea's eastern coast. Palestine is located west
of Jordan and south of Lebanon. There are four geographical regions in Palestine. Jordan
Valley and Ghawr, Coastal and Inner Plains, Mountain and Hills, and Southern Desert are
the four geographical regions of Palestine. The Saruunah Plain, Mount Carmel Plain, and
Acre Plain divide Palestine's coastal plains.
Culture:

 Palestine has been influenced by various cultures which left their mark on the region
since prehistoric times. Its cultural heritage goes back to the 4th century CE, when in the
Eastern Roman Empire ancient churches such as Burqin and Abud arose in the West
Bank.

Georgia
Currency: Lari
History: The human history of Georgia begins well before the founding of the colony, with
Native American cultures that date back to the Paleoindian Period at the end of the Ice Age,
nearly 13,000 years ago. The Clovis culture, identified by its unique projectile points, is the
earliest documented group to have lived in present-day Georgia. The more permanent
settlements of the Late Archaic Period, including the notable population center at Stallings
Island in the Savannah River, date back to 3000 B.C.
Geography: Georgia encompasses parts of five distinct physiographic provinces: the
Appalachian Plateau, the Valley and Ridge, the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont, and the Coastal Plain.
The form of the landscape and the climate of the area influenced the development of
vegetation and animal life in each of these provinces.
Culture: Georgian culture is an exotic, mysterious and ancient culture stretching back for
millennia. Elements of Anatolian, European, Persian, Arabian, Ottoman and Far Eastern cultures
have influenced Georgia’s own ethnic identity resulting in one of the most unique and
hospitable cultures in the world. Georgian culture is world renowned for being accommodating
and tolerant. Traditionally, Georgian people consider guests to be a gift from God and their
welcoming amiability is immediately apparent upon a traveler’s arrival.

Mongolia

Currency: Tugrik
History: A united Mongolian state of nomadic tribes was formed in the early 13th century ce by
Genghis Khan, and his successors controlled a vast empire that included much of China, Russia,
Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Geography: Mongolia is located in Asia between Russia to the north and China to the south.
Situated on mountains and plateaus, it is one of the world's highest countries with elevation
averaging 5,180 feet (1,580 meters). Mongolia is 435 miles (700 kilometers) from the Yellow
Sea.
Mongolia’s temperature can fluctuate as much as 35 degrees in one day. The country is very dry
and receives only about four inches of rainfall per year. Southern Mongolia is dominated by the
Gobi, which is one of the Earth’s coldest deserts and covers about 500,000 square miles
(1,295,000 square kilometers).
Culture: Mongolian culture is a rich melting pot of shamanism and Buddhist beliefs with an
infusion of nomadic values and traditions. The Marxist beliefs forced onto the countries during
the socialist period have started to disappear within the country.

Armenia

Currency: Dram
History: For a brief period from 1918 to 1920 Armenia became an independent republic. In late
1920, local communists came to power following an invasion of Armenia by the Soviet Red
Army, and in 1922, Armenia became part of the Trans-Caucasian Soviet Socialist Republic. In
1936, it became the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in
1991 created the opportunity for bilateral relations between Armenia and the United States.
Geography: Armenia is located in the south of Transcaucasia and covers the northeast part of
Armenian uplands (located in Alps-Himalaya range). Armenia is landlocked and on the north
shares borders with Georgia, on the east with Azerbaijan, on the west with Turkey, on the
south with Iran. The greatest extent from the northwest to the southeast is 360 km, from the
west on the east - 200 km. The area of Armenia is 29.8 thousand sq km.
Culture: Armenian culture celebrates families and family life. Weddings no longer last for
several days, but they are still lively affairs filled with joyous rituals. Extended families of both
bride and groom play important roles; a godparent couple serves as witnesses and role models.
At church wedding services, a priest crowns the couple to symbolize the creation of their “little
kingdom” as a family. Dancing, music, and food follow, and large numbers of friends and family
bestow generous gifts.

Bhutan
Currency: Ngultrum
History: Bhutan's historical period begins at about 747 A.D., when the revered religious leader
Guru Padma Sambhava came from Tibet and introduced Buddhism to the country. Known also
as Guru Rimpoche, this remarkable man -- almost as highly esteemed as Buddha himself in
Bhutan -- is credited with various events. It is said that he flew to Bhutan on the back of a tiger,
and that at Taktsang he conquered the demon spirits that were standing in the way of the
spread of Buddhism.
Geography: Bhutan is a small, landlocked country located in southern Asia between Tibet and
India. The topography of the country can be divided into different regions from north to south
based on altitude: the Great Himalayas, the Inner Himalayans and the Southern Foothills.
Culture: Bhutan is a land of rich mosaic of cultures, lifestyles, languages and belief systems.
Although the population is small at about 700,000, Bhutan has as many as 19 different dialects
and several spoken languages. This is attributed to the fact that in the past, Bhutanese
communities settled in its different valleys with limited communication. It is for the same
reason that a strong sense of communal bond and feeling of independence has emerged as a
strong characteristic of the people.

Maldives

Currency: Rufiyaa
History: The Maldives (formerly called the Maldive Islands) were first settled in the 5th century
B.C. by Buddhist seafarers from India and Sri Lanka. According to tradition, Islam was adopted
in 1153. Originally, the islands were under the suzerainty of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Geography: The Maldives is an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.
The islands that make up the country extend more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south
and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west. The northernmost atoll is about 370 miles (600 km)
south-southwest of the Indian mainland.
Culture: The culture of Maldives is influenced by the cultures of the Indians, Africans, Arabs and
the Sri Lankans. Maldivians have assimilated parts of all these and built a culture that is unique.
One can still find Dravidian influences on many aspects of the lifestyle of Maldives even today.

Brunei

Currency: Brunei dollar

History: Brunei was trading with China during the 6th century, and, through allegiance to the
Javanese Majapahit kingdom (13th to 15th century), it came under Hindu influence. In the early
15th century, with the decline of the Majapahit kingdom and widespread conversion to Islam,
Brunei became an independent sultanate. It was a powerful state from the 16th to the 19th
century, ruling over the northern part of Borneo and adjacent island chains. But Brunei fell into
decay and lost Sarawak in 1841, becoming a British protectorate in 1888 and a British
dependency in 1905. Japan occupied Brunei during World War II; it was liberated by Australia in
1945.
Geography: Brunei, with a population of 415,717 people, is located in Southeastern Asia and
has a land area of 5,765 square kilometres. The country borders the South China Sea and shares
a border with Sarawak, an eastern Malaysian state which divides Brunei into two, an eastern
part and a western part. The Temburong District makes up the eastern half while the Brunei-
Maura, Tutong and Belait Districts comprise the western half.
Culture: Brunei's culture mainly derived from the Old Malay World, a territory which covered
the Malay Archipelago. Brunei’s culture is therefore deeply rooted in its Malay origins, which
are reflected in the nation’s language, architecture, ceremonies, and customs governing daily
life. Though various foreign civilisations have played a role in forming Brunei’s rich history, the
traditions of the Old Malay World have left an indelible mark on the culture of modern Brunei.