Population 2.2 Billion

(2,171,023,500) Uneven distribution,

millions are urbanized China- ethnically mixed Japan- homogeneous

(of the same or a similar kind or nature)

Korea- politically divided; Korean ethnic group

SE Asia-many different ethnic groups

SE Asians have lower, but improving, standard of living

Many are subsistence farmers

Lower life expectancies in rural areas

Education is limited

Cultures of E/SE Asia have been influenced by:

Confucianism Daoism Buddhism Shintoism Communism Colonialism

3 Main religions: 1. Buddhism 2. Christianity 3. Islam

Japan Mostly modern and

industrial Demanding year

round schools Have influenced

American culture Largest city in the

world, Tokyo, 32 million

Korean Peninsula

Korea Peninsula

Influentially divided after World War II

Korean War (1950-1953) – Over 51,000 American soldiers

died– Nicknamed “The Forgotten War”

North Korea – very poor, communist dictatorship

South Korea – high standard of living

China

Communist Leaders are slowly privatizing businesses and farms.– Literacy rate of 82%– Most E Asian

countries(Jap., S Kor, China) have a high life expectancy

– Largest money lending nation in the world

The United States owes China

$2,100,000,000,000

The US debt to China

How is this happening?– The US imports (buys) $4

billion of products from China.– China imports $1 billion of

products from the US.– China uses the excess cash

($3 billion) to buy US Treasury Bonds (promissory notes issued by the US government which must be paid back + interest).