Asia

Page Updated December 2024

Afghanistan Wikipedia.

Ancient Indus 90 Slides Tour  The Indus Valley Civilization was the world's first great urban civilization, which was located in what are now Pakistan and western India. Take a tour of this ancient culture with Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, one of its foremost scholars.

Armenia Wikipedia. 

Asia Historical background from historyworld.net.

Asia Wikipedia.

Asian and Pacific Country Profiles  Full country profiles that provide a guide to history, politics and economic background of the country including a picture of the current leader. From the BBC archives.

Azerbaijan Wikipedia.

Bahrain Wikipedia.

Bangladesh Wikipedia.

Bhutan  Wikipedia.

Bhutan: The Last Shangri-La  Companion site to the television program, The Living Edens. Journey to the “Land of the Thunder Dragon” and learn about its culture, history, and people.

Brunei Wikipedia.

Buddhism  A history of Buddhism from historyworld.net.

Cambodia Wikipedia.

China  Complete to 1800 from historyworld.net.

China In Revolution Chinese history to 1927. From Macrohistory.

China Civil War & Japan's Intrusion to 1936 From Macrohistory.

Communists Win China's Civil War From Macrohistory.

China & The Korean War From Macrohistory.

China Wikipedia.

China WikiVoyage.

Collapse of the USSR  In-depth report from BBC News.

End of the Soviet Union and the Cold War  Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Gorbachev and Reagan. Freedom in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and East Germany. Breakup of the Soviet Union. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."

Georgia  Wikipedia.

Hinduism  A history of Hinduism (from 1500 BC) From Historyworld.net

In the Footsteps of Marco Polo  Journey through the lands of the great Khan in this story From Historyworld.net

India Wikipedia.

India WikiVoyage.

India Atlas Of India.

India and Pakistan to 1966 The end of British rule. Pakistan and partition. Democratic India. Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Economic and cultural developments. Border disputes. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."

Indonesia Wikipedia.

Indonesia WikiVoyage.

Indonesia Atlas Of Indonesia.

Iran Wikipedia.

Iraq Wikipedia.

Israel Wikipedia.

Israel WikiVoyage.

Japan Wikipedia. 

Japan WikiVoyage.

Japan Atlas Of Japan.

Japan against China, to 1940  Japan recovers economically and tries to dominate China. Hirohito prefers peace. War between the Chinese and Japanese. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."

Japan, Divinity and the Bomb, 1942- 45  Japanese patriotism and pursuit of virtue. The Allies advance. Japanese attitude on their home front. The war's end. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."

Japan's Economic Recovery  Forced modernization of equipment. Agriculture. Industrial tradition, free enterprise, management experience and educated work force. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."

Jordan Wikipedia.

Jordan From World History Encyclopedia.

Kazakhstan  If you're not a fan of endless semi-arid steppe and decaying industrial cities, Kazakhstan may not be for you. But, this country used by Russia as a nuclear testing ground, with deserts used by the ancient Mongols is struggling into the modern world! From Wikipedia.

Korea, North Generally recognized as a “cold-war” dictatorship, Americans are not welcome there. Considered a dangerous state gaining a nuclear capability, North Korea strikes fear in its neighborhood. A future powder-keg! Wikipedia.

Korea, South It's a miracle that South Korea still exists. With China looming to its west and Japan nudging it from the east, and North Korea threatening to wipe it out it has become an economic powerhouse. Wikipedia.

Korea, South WikiVoyage.

Korean War 1950-1953 A war between North Korea (with Chinese and Russian support) against South Korea (US Support). The war began in 1950 when North Korea invaded the South. Wikipedia.

Kuwait Wikipedia.

Kyrgyzstan  In 1991, the collapse of the Soviet Union left this tiny, under-equipped republic out on a limb, seemingly without resources to survive. One of the most remote places in the world where primitive tribal peoples rule. Wikipedia.

Lake Baikal Home Page  Information on the deepest lake in the world, which contains one fifth of the world's reserves of fresh surface water and which feels the effect of air and water pollution. This site has maps, statistics, information about land and water animals and more.

Laos  After decades of isolation and war, Laos is enjoying peace. A beautiful land, it still, however, is not a safe destination as some terrorism and drug running exists there. The future may prove brighter than the present. Wikipedia.

Lebanon Wikipedia.

Malaysia  Visit the isles of Malaysia. Read about the culture, history and the people. Wikipedia.

Malaysia WikiVoyage.

Malaysia Atlas Of Malaysia.

Maldives An island chain in the Indian Ocean. Wikipedia.

Manas: India and its Neighbors  India is not merely a country, but a continent. Its population, which will be nearing one billion as we enter the year 2000, presents the most extraordinary contrasts. This site covers many aspects of life in India.

Mongolia  Mongolia has always stirred up visions of the warlord Genghis Khan, camels wandering in the Gobi Desert and wild horses galloping across the steppes. It remains one of the last great adventure destinations in Asia. Wikipedia.

Mongols  A detailed history of the Mongols. From Historyworld.

Myanmar (Burma) Though haunted by a dictatorship, Myanmar's isolation has left its myriad of historical sites in pristine condition. These sites include the fantastic, gold-encrusted Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and the temple complex of Bagan. Wikipedia.

Nepal  Here the Himalayas reach their highest, rising to Mt. Everest. Wikipedia.

Oman Wikipedia.

Pakistan  Long seen as the last hurdle before reaching India, Pakistan has an uncertain future. With robbery, smuggling and gun-running, and a border-war with India at its northern frontier, travel there is NOT recommended. Wikipedia.

PBS Living Edens: Thailand, Jewel of the Orient  Thailand, a kingdom from the 13th century provides a focal point for this glimpse into the culture and habitat of Southeast Asia.

Philippines  Usually a pleasant and beautiful land, the Philippines currently suffers from government instability, grinding poverty, social unrest and terrorism. Not a recommended destination. Wikipedia.

Philippines WikiVoyage.

Philippines Atlas Of Philippines.

Qatar Wikipedia.

Russia  Once a world superpower, now fragmented by poor government, corruption and crime, Russia is still a “riddle wrapped in an enigma.” A culture and place where people still struggle to survive, even into the 21st century! A major world power with an uncertain future. Wikipedia.

Russia WikiVoyage.

Russia Atlas Of Russia.

Saudi Arabia Wikipedia.

Singapore  Lying almost on the equator, Singapore is a thriving city-state that has overcome its dearth of natural resources to become one of the juggernaut economies of Asia. Wikipedia.

Singapore WikiVoyage.

South Asian Country Profiles   Full country profiles that provide a guide to history, politics and economic background of the country including a picture of the current leader. From the BBC archives.

Sri Lanka A land of deep spirituality and serenity once known in Western imagination as a Tahiti of the East. Today torn by civil unrest between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil (ethnic Hindu) minority, a resolution of which will determine the country’s future! Wikipedia.

Syria A land with a long history which today is plagued with dictatorship and war, Syria does not have a very bright future! Wikipedia.

Tajikistan Wikipedia.

Taiwan  Taiwan's history with China has caused the most friction and heartache for the Taiwanese. An economic “success story”, someday may be reunited with mainland China – its “parent” country. China regards Taiwan as a “rebel” province. Wikipedia.

Taiwan WikiVoyage.

Thailand  There is more visible historical evidence of past eras in Thailand than in any other Southeast Asian country, so if you're interested in ruins, temples and deserted cities, this is the place to go. Thailand is the geographical heart of South-East Asia. Thailand is one of the only Asian countries to avoid falling under total control of imperialist Europe, a phenomenon that places it in a unique cultural position. Wikipedia.

The History of China  A comprehensive history from ancient to modern times.  

The People's Republic of China  The People's Republic begins. Mao and dispute with the Soviet Union. The great leap and fall. Cultural revolution. Deng Xiaoping and reforms. Tiananmen Square in 1989. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."

The Silk Road  The story of one of the world's oldest and most historically important trade routes and its influences on the culture of China, Central Asia and the West. Wikipedia.

Tibet The highest elevation in Tibet is Mount Everest, Earth's highest mountain, rising 8,848 m (29,029 ft) above sea level. Wikipedia.

Turkey Wikipedia.

Turkey WikiVoyage.

Turkmenistan Wikipedia.

United Arab Emirates Wikipedia.

United Arab Emirates WikiVoyage.

Uzbekistan  Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include insurgency by Islamic militants in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Wikipedia.

Vietnam  A country recovering from decades of war, Vietnam offers a rare opportunity to see a country of traditional charm and beauty taking the first hesitant steps into the modern world. Although many westerners still imagine Vietnam through the lens of war, it is in reality a country filled with captivating natural beauty and tranquil village life. Wikipedia.

Vietnam WikiVoyage.

Yemen Wikipedia.