ASIAN COUNTRIES TODAY © 2020

by Jennifer Brown

China has captured the imagination of people for centuries—from ancient scholars to Marco Polo and modern academic professionals. One of the largest countries in the world, China has a long and exciting history that spans thousands of years. Learn about China’s history, economics, culture, people groups, amazing cities, and the future of China in this series. China’s complexity can be traced back through history. From hunter-gatherers to the modern nation, the Chinese have had many wars, and several dynasties ruled the land. In 2019, China is a Communist country and an economic superpower. How did they get here? This book explains all you need to know about ancient and current China and provides a unique insight into this amazing country and its people. The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and motivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth.

by Catrina Daniels-Cowart

Indonesia is a beautiful country, officially called the Republic of Indonesia. Located between the Pacific and Indian oceans, it’s the largest island country and has over 17,000 islands to explore. Indonesia is a highly populated country with 140 million people. It is also home to the world’s largest Muslim population. Today, Indonesia values its diversity and has become the world’s 16th largest economy. The nation is a rapidly developing country endowed with many valuable natural resources. These include large petroleum and natural gas deposits, huge expanses of tropical hardwood forests, and a rich variety of minerals. Indonesia’s simple national motto, “Many, yet one,” shows just how important and valued the many cultures are to this country. Read along to learn more about this country with enchanting natural spaces and interesting geology. From volcanic activity to frequent earthquakes, Indonesia is a nation with interesting geological features for tourists and readers to get to know more about. This book explains all you need to know about ancient and current Indonesia and provides a unique insight into this amazing country and its people. The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and motivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth.

by Catrina Daniels-Cowart

Japan is an island nation, located in the Pacific Ocean to the east of the Asian continent. It is a fascinating country made up of thousands of islands. The four largest are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. These are referred to as the “home islands.” Ninety-seven percent of Japan’s total area includes these islands. Since World War II, Japan has undergone a massive economic expansion propelled by the car industry and the electronics industry. Today, Japan is the world’s third largest economy. Discover Japan, a country with a long history from ancient times that has grown to international heights. From the first piece of pottery to robots that can help take over jobs, learn more about this fascinating country and what it has done and will do in the future. The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and motivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth.

by Catrina Daniels-Cowart

Malaysia became an independent country in 1957 and raised its first flag in 1963. Since then, it has made many strides to become a country that people want to belong to. The nation’s rich cultural heritage stems from years as a meeting point for many cultures, thanks to its suitable location as a trading post. Once a British colony, Malaysia today is a melting pot of cultures, including Indian, Chinese, and those with Malaysian heritage.From unique foods to enchanting rainforests, there is little that Malaysia doesn’t have to offer. It has grown from a country reliant on trade to one that has resources enough to support itself, as well as other nations. As the primary exporter of palm oil, Malaysia has an important place in the world’s trade economy. The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and momotivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth.

by Catrina Daniels-Cowart

The Philippines were first settled by the Negritos people who arrived at the islands thousands of years ago. The Polynesians arrived next, followed by the Chinese and Arabs. The first Europeans arrived in 1521, when the country was claimed for Spain. In 1898, the Spanish were defeated by the United States, who officially gained control of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War. In 1935, the U.S. made the Philippines a self-governing territory, but during World War II, the nation was occupied by Japan. With the help of American forces, the Japanese were driven out. In 1946, the country became a fully independent nation. Today, the Philippine economy is largely agricultural, with about one third of the labor force in farm-related employment. However, its main income comes from the manufacturing and service industries. Money sent home by Filipino workers overseas is also an important contributor to the Philippine economy. This book explains all you need to know about the ancient and current Philippines and provides a unique insight into this amazing country and its people. The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and motivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth.

by Catrina Daniels-Cowart

Singapore is an island nation located just south of Malaysia. It was first settled in the second century by the Sumatran Srivijaya Empire. Then from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, it was controlled by the Sultanate of Johor. In the early nineteenth century, the British arrived, turning Singapore into a major trading port in Southeast Asia. During World War II, the island was occupied by the Japanese, who were eventually defeated. In 1965, Singapore became a fully independent country. Today, Singapore has one of the most advanced economies in Southeast Asia. It is a highly industrialized country with a strong financial sector. Singapore performs as a financial intermediary in shipping raw materials all over the world.Singapore is an exciting country to study. This book explains all you need to know about the ancient and current nation and provides a unique insight into this amazing country and its people. The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and motivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth.

by Catrina Daniels-Cowart

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a unique Asian country that has been called a “miracle” of the East. This primarily mountainous country has over 50 million residents, most of whom reside in one major city: Seoul, the capital. When Japan lost World War II, Korea was divided into two zones. This was meant to be a temporary division, but it is still there today and South Korea encompasses the land that is south of the 38th parallel. The country has made a name for itself by becoming a highly developed country in a very short amount of time since its independence in 1948. Since the 1960s, South Korea has transformed itself from a poverty-stricken, agricultural society to one of the world’s most industrialized countries, specializing in high-quality manufactured goods as the 5th largest exporter of automobiles, ships, electronics, robotics, petrochemicals, and machinery. Located between powerhouses such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Japan, South Korea has had a long history of wars and negotiations. This book explains all you need to know about the ancient and current South Korea and provides a unique insight into this amazing country and its people. The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and motivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth

by Catrina Daniels-Cowart

Thailand has a rich history dating back thousands of years. Interestingly, it is the only country in Southeast Asia that escaped European rule. Thailand shares its borders with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Thai people make up most of the population, while other groups include Chinese Malays, Khmer, and some small minority populations. Today, tourism is very important to the country, contributing greatly to the Thai economy. However, manufacturing is equally important. Thailand is a major manufacturer of clothing, electronics, printed matter, sugar, and jewelry. It has an important mining industry, too, producing significant amounts of tungsten and tin. During World War II, Thailand was on the same side as Japan. However, in 1954 it became an ally of the United States, who it fought alongside in the Korean War. In recent years, Thailand has seen some unrest in its government, including a number of military coups. This book explains all you need to know about ancient and current Thailand and provides a unique insight into this amazing country and its people.The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and motivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth.

by Jennifer Brown

Vietnam is a unique country in Asia whose history began with hunter-gatherer populations. Later, it was heavily influenced by the Chinese, and then the French, when those countries occupied the area. In this book, you will follow the history of Vietnam: its culture, people, landscape, and economy, from the early days up to the present day. Learn about how the nation has been shaped over the centuries, as well as its unique customs and culture. From its flora and fauna to its festivals and food, Vietnam is an exciting country to study. This book explains all you need to know about ancient and current Vietnam and provides a unique insight into this amazing country and its people. The Asian Countries Today series provides information on nine of the most important countries in Asia. Every book describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. Furthermore, the series will encourage, inspire, and motivate the young reader to explore this fascinating subject in more depth.