Eastern Eurasian Geography and Avenues of Cultural Exchange

Inner and Outer Eurasia

Other terms

Inner Eurasia

Central Eurasia (Perdue)

Central Asia

Inner Asia

E. Eurasian Ecological Zones (Perdue, 22)

Geographical overview

E. Eurasian Monsoon Climate

E-W Belts

Tundra

Forest

Steppe

Desert

Forest

Rain forest

Modern China

Geographical overview

4th largest country (9,596,960 sq km)

After Russia, Canada, and US

Population, 1.3 billion

Modern Mongolia

19th largest area

1,564,116 sq km

139th largest pop

3 million

China Proper

Historical Growth of China Proper

North China

Yellow River drainage zone

Yellow River flooding

Relatively arid

4-6 month growing season

One crop of wheat or millet

Staple: Noodles and steamed bread

South China

Pearl River drainage zone

Yangzi (Yangtze) River drainage zone

Well watered (summer monsoons)

6-9 month growing season

2-3 crops of rice

Periphery (Inner Asia)

Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria

Qing (Manchu) dynasty conquests, 18th century

Ecology

Forest, desert and steppe

Traditional economy

Pastoral nomadism

Oasis agriculture