ASIAN STUDIES REVIEWER

Asia- World’s Largest Continent, the largest in land area. Its total area is 44.5 million sq km (17.2
million sq miles).

Asia- came from the word for sunrise refered to as asu (ascend) or asa (east) referring to the direction of
the sunrise.

Sub-regions of Asia
East Asia
 also called Far East, because the Europeans regarded it as farthest from them China Japan, Taiwan,
North Korea, South Korea

South Asia
 Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Himalayan kingdoms of Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, and Maldives
Islands

North Asia
 Afghanistan, Russia, Siberia, and five Muslim Central Asian Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan,
Tajikistan, uzbekistan.

West Asia
 also called Near East, Middle East, because it was close to Europe. Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,
Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Cyprus, and
Georgia.

Southeast Asia
 Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos,
Brunei, and Timor Leste (East Timor)

China, World’s Largest Nation

 China's name came from the Qin (Chin) emperor (221; BC), and Persians and Indians knew the
country as"cin" or "cina". Other names of China in history were sinae,""cathay," or "sino" Filpinos
call it Tsina," and refer to the Chinese as "intsik," or 'singkit" (slant-eyed).
 PROC- People’s Republic of China (in mainland), ROC- Republic of China (in Taiwan)
 Huang Ho is also known as “China's sorrow” due to its destructive annual floods.
 The Zhou was the longest ruling dynasty of China (Chou, 112-256 BC). The dynasty was founded
by Emperor Wu Wang, but he was more of a figurehead. The power really belonged to strong
warlords.

World three outstanding philosopher during Zhou dynasty

1. Confucius (551-479 BC)- Golden rule ( "What you do not want others to do to you," he said, "do not
do to others.")
2. Lao Zi (604-517)- founder of Daoism (Taoism), another ethics-based folk religion. According to Lao
Zi's work, Daodejing (Way of Happiness), anyone can find true happiness by practicing virtues of
humility, patience and self-control.
3. Mencius (373-289 BC)- To him, "People are the most important element in the state." If an emperor
(or ruler) had lost the "mandate from heaven" then he had no more right to rule.
 DYNASTIES IN CHINA
Qin Dynasty
Han dynasty (206 BC-221 AD)
Tang dynasty (618-907 AD)
CONTRIBUTIONS
 Emperor Shi, First emperor
 Great wall
 "Men of Han”
 Silk Road Trade
 Sima Qian Father of Chinese History
 Pan Chao, Female historian
 The greatest dynasty to rule China. It was
founded at Xian by Li Yuan