GEO 105 Arapahoe Community College South and East Asia Tension Discussion

EACH QUESTION SHOULD BE AT LEAST ONE PARAGRAPH

South Asia Questions

1. What is the Monsoon? Why is it so important to countries like India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh? Are their challenges brought by the monsoon?

2. What was the 1947 Partition of British India? What were the outcomes for the South Asian region?

3. What is communal tension? Why is it relevant to India today?

4. Hinduism is described as the world’s oldest religion. Briefly describe the faith including where, when, and how it originated?

5. What is the Caste System in India? What does it have to do with reincarnation and India today?

6. Although India boasts many eminent women and was once led by a powerful woman prime minister, Indira Gandhi, as well as many goddesses being worshiped in Hindu temples, statistics reveal that girls are, in fact, seriously disadvantaged in India. Can you use some material from the textbook to support such a claim?

7. Label the correct capital city next to each South Asian country.

• Bangladesh –
• India –
• Pakistan –
• Bhutan –
• Nepal –
• Pakistan –
• Sri Lanka –
• Afghanistan –
• The Maldives –

8. Choose one South Asian country that you find interesting (or not interesting) and describe why.

9. Why is India often referred to as a “subcontinent”?

10. One of the world’s great cultural hearths of the ancient world existed in South Asia. Who were they? Where did they live? Why are they considered a cultural hearth?

East Asia Questions

1. Please label the correct capital city next to the relevant East Asian Country.

• People’s Republic of China –
• Republic of China (Taiwan) –
• Mongolia –
• North Korea –
• South Korea –
• Japan –

2. Describe a few geographical factors why living space in Japan is so intense and densely populated.

3. Briefly, what is the geopolitical conflict between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan all about?

4. What is the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and why does it exist?

5. What are some key geographical and societal differences between North and South Korea? Use real world examples to describe such differences.

6. Who are China’s “floating population”?

7. What is China’s Hukou System? What does it aim to accomplish?

8. China, the world’s most populous country is now, despite being only 10% urban in 1950, is now almost than 60% urban! What economic changes in China set off the world’s most incredible rise in urbanization?

9. About 123 million people currently live in Japan. However, Japan’s population could drop below the 100 million mark by 2045! Not only is Japan expected to enter a long period of population decline, but also its inhabitants are aging out of the workforce meaning they are too old to work. How does the decrease and rapid aging of Japan’s population bring challenges for the country? What should they do about it?

10. China is a huge country and has one of the world’s largest income disparities! By looking at the provincial map of China below, which Chinese provinces (many of them larger than most European countries and most with economies equal to that of Switzerland, Ireland, or Austria) showcase the highest average income levels (GDP per person) and which showcase the lowest income levels? Please list five names of provinces in the box below that fit either the highest or lowest categories. (Picture in file upload)