Asian history is very rich. Although there is little known about the origins of Russia, it is known that the Rus civilizations began develping in the early 8th and 9th centuries. In the 13th century the Mongols invaded Russia, which affects their culture and customs. A series of rules and wars took place, and eventually the USSR was formed. The communist dictatorship eventually dissolved, and one of the resulting countries was Russia. The Indian culture is shaped by a series of invaders. In the 16th century Europe struggled to have power of the country, and so they made India the center of its empire. Eventually the Indian people were upset and wanted indpendence, and over time they were freed from British rule. Mahatma Gandhi was a very influencial person in this. Chinese history consists of many dynasties. The two key invasions were when the Kubai Klan led the Mongols into the country and when the Qing dynasty created by the invasion of the Manchuria. The Qing dynasty was the last dynasty to exist, and the republic of China was established in 1912. Japanese history is known to have started with an imperial family that established the first state with consolidated scattered clans. This emperor ruled for a while, but eventually was overtook by a military government. After the military rule was over a series of invaders came into the country. In the seventeenth century a shogun ruled, but when he gave up his power a constitutional monarchy was eventually established.
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GeographyAsia covers nearly a third of the earth's surface, which makes it the largest continent in the world. The geography varies from many different geographic feautures. Russia, the largest country in the world, is mainly a vast lowland. However, there are some important mountains as well. The climate is generally cool with little precipitation. The geography of India has 3 main points - the Himalayan Mountains, the plains, and the fertile plains in the south. The climate in India is generally tropical with common monsoons from June to September. China, being the 3rd largest country in the world, occupies nearly 1/4 of Asia. The geography ranges from mountains and valleys not suitable for human life to low mountains and rolling hills that are heavily inhabitated. The climate in China is very extremed due to the variations in the vast amount of land it takes up. Instead of a great landmass, Japan is made up of Islands. Most of the land is either mountainous or hilly. There are many picturesque waterfalls and rivers. The large latitude covered causes Japan to have a variety of climates. It varies from subtropical to very cold. A lot of moisture is received in Japan, which brings monsoons and tyhpoons.
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CultureMore than 3/5 of the world's population lives in Asia. The culture found throughout the continent is extremely diverse. Russia's culture can be described as a mixtured of Eastern and Western. Many of the holidays have something to do with the traditional Orthodoz Church. Religion is very important to the Indian people. The development of the caste system, which was a social system that divided people into groups, was very influencial in the religion of the country. Today the caste system is more relaxed, but the religious aspects of the culture are still very prominent. Unlike the other two previously stated countries, most of the Chinese today do not practice religious openly. Most of the holidays ceclebrated are mere traditions and do not revolve around any kind of belief. Japan is one of the most advanced countries as far as technology. Today they have a major effect on world affairs. They are continously growing and evolving in all aspects . The Japanese take part in many festivals.
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History of FoodBecause of the diverse culture the food found in Asia varies greatly. Most of Russian cuisine has Slavic origins. The Slavs got their ingrdients from forests, mountains, and waters. When the Mongols came to Russia they taught the Slavs different cooking techniques and recipes. Indian cuisine is greatly influenced by geography and climate. In Northern India, many of the foreigners and invaders, such as the Mongols, influenced the cuisine as well. However in Southern India, the foreigners had little to no influence. Cuisine in China mainly all traditional. The use of old ingredients and specific cooking techinques are what shapes the Chinese food being eaten today. Like China, Japapense foods consist of a set of ingredients and cooking techniques. Many of them are influenced by the geography because of the limited land resources.
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