IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : History Of China and Japan (1840-1949) - Land and People (East Asia)

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History Of China and Japan (1840-1949)

Land and People (East Asia)

Structure

1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 East Asia : In the Context of Space and Time
1.2.1 Situating East Asia in the Broader Regional Context
1.2.2 Specificity of the Region
1.2.3 Land and Environment
1.3 People and Ecology
1.4 Habits, Society and Culture
1.5 East Asia and its Neighbourhood
1.6 Let Us Sum Up
1.7 Key Words
1.8 Answers to check Your Progress Exercises

1. 0 OBJECTIVES

This is an introductory Unit to the courR on the history of China and Japan.
However, it also attempts to familiarize you with certain aspects of the East Asian
region as a whole. In this Unit you will:

know about the geographical location of South-east Asia,
learn about the specific characteristics of the region related to the land, people and ecology, etc., and
know about the patterns of inter-regional relationships.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

There has been a considerable amount of debate among scholars on the
characteristics of the region, its people and the social environment. Different
opinions have been eeessed in this regard. However, in spite of divergent opinions,
certain common factors can be discerned. These factors help us in understanding the
existence of a separate regional entity with structural differences. They also serve to
explain the relationship between the countries of the region. This Unit deals with
certain aspects like situating East Asia in the broader regional context; various
features of the region like habits, population, ecology and the interaction between
different countries of the region.