- Characteristics of the main cultural regions of Asia
- Eastern Asia
- South Asia
- Western asia
- Southeast Asia
- References
The main cultural regions of Asia are East Asia, South Asia, West Asia and Southeast Asia. This continent is the largest in the world, covering approximately 30 percent of the earth's land area. It is also the most populous, with about 60 percent of the total population.
The term "Asia" was originally used by the ancient Greeks to describe the civilizations east of their empire. However, ancient Asian peoples did not see themselves as a collective, but rather as a varied and diverse mix of cultures.
Today, the term "Asia" is used as a cultural concept, which includes several sub-regions.
Characteristics of the main cultural regions of Asia
The main cultural regions of Asia have certain peculiarities that distinguish them, despite being quite heterogeneous.
Eastern Asia
East Asia is a large expanse of territory, the largest country of which is China. Other countries include Mongolia, Taiwan, Macao, North and South Korea, and Japan.
One fifth of the human population lives in this region. Its location in the Pacific Rim provides access for interaction with the global economy.
Industry has fueled the high-tech engines of the economies of this basin, taking advantage of the massive concentration of labor in central China.
For its part, Japan has emerged as one of the economic powerhouses of East Asia. The Japanese have a high standard of living, and the country has been an industrial and financial engine for the Pacific.
Other countries, such as South Korea, have also experienced great economic growth and are strong competitors in the global economy.
In this sense, North Korea lags behind, insulating itself after an authoritarian dictatorship since World War II.
South Asia
The countries that make up South Asia are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives.
The region is roughly the same size as Europe but its population is twice as large. Its geopolitical position is key due to its many land and sea links with the Middle East, Central Asia and East Asia.
As a result, South Asia is very influential with regard to international politics and economic activity.
With regard to diversity, many religions, ethnic groups, cultures and languages converge in this region. For this reason, there are many sources of instability including income disparities, religious conflict, and other problems.
Western asia
This region is made up of Turkey, Cyprus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria.
This grouping is based on the history, geography, politics and culture of these nations.
The countries of this region share a common historical legacy. This legacy includes his various encounters with empires ranging from Russian to Ottoman.
Similarly, the spread of Islam, the impact of European colonialism and the formation of modern nations with complicated territorial borders and multi-ethnic populations must be included.
Southeast Asia
It is made up of eleven countries stretching from eastern India to China. The mainland is comprised of Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and the insular includes Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, and East Timor.
This region is distinguished by its cultural diversity. Also, the different ways in which people have adapted to local environments is remarkable.
With regard to religion, they have marked influence from China and India. Confucian philosophy, Buddhism, and Taoism came to Vietnam through China.
In the rest of Southeast Asia and in the western parts of the Malay-Indonesian archipelago, the Hindu influence is more pronounced.
References
- Gourou, P., Chapman, GP et al. (2017, May 25). Asia. In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on September 11, 2017, from britannica.com
- Asia: Human Geography. (2012, January 04). National Geographic Society. Retrieved on September 11, 2017, from nationalgeographic.org.
- Watson Andaya, B. (s / f). Introduction to Southeast Asia. History, Geography, and Livelihood.
- Retrieved on September 11, 2017, from asiasociety.org.
- World Regional Geography: People, Places and Globalization. (2016, June 17). University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition. Retrieved on September 11, 2017, from saylordotorg.github.io.
- South Asia. (2012). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Retrieved on September 11, 2017, from jica.go.jp.
- Center for International and Regional Studies. (2017). The Great Game in West Asia. Georgetown University in Qatar. Report No. 17. Retrieved September 11, 2017, from repository.library.georgetown.edu.