Asia's Physical Environment

The United States of America

• The country is composed of 50 states and divided into nine regions, with distinct characteristics and diverse populations.
• European stocks and Native American Indians, such as the Maya, are among the earliest settlers in the region.

Ancient Civilizations

• The Maya civilization flourished in Central America, specifically in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and neighboring areas.
• They developed their own number system, calendar, and advanced mathematical knowledge, which they used to build pyramids and temples.

Religion in the United States

• In 2019, Christians formed 65% of the adult population, with 43% identifying as Protestants, 20% as Catholics, and 2% as Mormons.
• People with no formal religious identity made up 26% of the population.

Hinduism and Dietary Restrictions

• Orthodox Hindus avoid animal and fish products, except milk and honey, due to the doctrines of non-violence, karma, and rebirth.
• Most Hindus are vegetarian, and consuming beef is taboo because the cow is sacred.

Indian Epics and Their Influence

• The Mahabharata and Ramayana are Indian epics that were significant in Southeast Asia, used for "propaganda" purposes.
• These epics romanticized the portrayal of heroism and the godliness of devarajas, conveying the idea of divine beings on earth.

Southeast Asia

• The region is divided into many ethnic groups, with each country having a nationally dominant group.
• The Ramayana is an Indian epic that has been adapted and modified in Southeast Asia to suit local contexts.

Asia's Physical Environment

• The continent covers 44,579,000 sq.km, which is 30% of the Earth's land.
• Mt. Everest is the highest point, at 29,028 ft. above sea level, while the Dead Sea is the lowest point, at 1,412 ft. below sea level.

Rivers of Asia

• The Yangtze River is the longest, at 3,964 mi. (6,378 km), and the Huang Ho is the largest.
• Other notable river systems include the Tigris and Euphrates, Ob and Lena, Ganges and Indus, and Mekong, Chao Phraya, Salween, and Irrawaddy.

People and Regions of Asia

• The continent is home to over 1.5 billion people, approximately 38% of the world's population.
• The Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group, making up 91.59% of the population (around 1.2 billion).

Culture in Africa

• The continent has a diverse range of cultures, both traditional and influenced by colonization.
• North Africa is home to various dialects of Berber and Arabic, with significant cultural influences from Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Islam is the dominant religion in North Africa, practiced by over 90% of the population in some areas.