In 2011, the population of Saudi Arabia was estimated to be around 28 million people. The economy of the country was largely dependent on oil exports, as well as services such as banking and tourism. In terms of foreign relations, Saudi Arabia had strong ties with other Middle Eastern countries, as well as with Europe…
Category: Asia
Central Asia – Silk Road at the time of Marco Polo (1254-1324)
The Silk Road between China and the eastern shore of the Mediterranean is one of the most famous trade routes in history. Primarily an important trade route, it also served an intensive cultural exchange. Antioch, Palmyra and Beijing were the starting and ending points of a system of routes that stretched over thousands of kilometers. They led from China through the Takla Makan desert, over the high mountains of the Pamir, through Persia and then to Syria. Silk was the namesake of these trade routes, but numerous other valuable goods were also transported.
The history of the Silk Road goes back to the 3rd century, when rulers of the Chinese Han dynasty tried to connect to the existing trade routes of Central, West and South Asia, which gradually resulted in regular trade contacts between China and the Middle East developed. Camel caravans with silk and perfume, spices, precious stones and glassware overcame the snow-covered slopes of the Pamir and the dry heat of the desert areas of the Tarim Basin. It probably took the traders two years to get there and back, and according to some sources even longer. Trade, which peaked in the 7th century, brought economic prosperity to many cities along the Silk Road.
At the end of the High Middle Ages, contacts arose between the Christian West and the Mongol empires because the Pope viewed the Mongols as useful allies in the fight against Islam. Clergymen have been sent to Asia on diplomatic missions several times. For more information about the continent of Asia, please check naturegnosis.com.
Russia 2011
In 2011, the population of Russia was estimated to be around 142 million people. The economy of the country was largely dependent on exports such as oil and gas, as well as services such as banking and tourism. In terms of foreign relations, Russia had strong ties with other post-Soviet countries, as well as with…
Qatar 2011
In 2011, the population of Qatar was estimated to be around 1.7 million people. The economy of the country was largely dependent on exports such as petroleum and liquified natural gas, as well as services such as banking and tourism. In terms of foreign relations, Qatar had strong ties with other Middle Eastern countries, as…
Philippines 2011
In 2011, the population of the Philippines was estimated to be around 94.9 million people. The economy of the country was largely dependent on exports such as electronics, textiles and coconut products, as well as services such as banking and tourism. In terms of foreign relations, the Philippines had strong ties with other Southeast Asian…
Pakistan 2011
In 2011, the population of Pakistan was estimated to be around 180 million people. The economy of the country was largely dependent on agriculture, manufacturing and services such as telecommunications and banking. In terms of foreign relations, Pakistan had strong ties with other Muslim countries in the region, as well as with China and the…
Oman 2011
In 2011, the population of Oman was estimated to be around 3 million people. The economy of the country was largely dependent on oil and gas production, as well as services such as banking and tourism. In terms of foreign relations, Oman had strong ties with other Arab countries in the region, as well as…
North Korea 2011
In 2011, the population of North Korea was estimated to be around 24 million people. The economy of the country was largely dependent on agriculture and manufacturing, with a focus on military production. In terms of foreign relations, North Korea had strong ties with China and Russia, as well as with other countries in the…
Nepal 2011
In 2011, the population of Nepal was estimated to be around 30 million people. The economy of the country was largely dependent on agriculture, and there were also some industries such as textiles and tourism. In terms of foreign relations, Nepal had strong ties with India and other South Asian countries, as well as with…
Myanmar 2011
In 2011, the population of Myanmar was estimated to be around 60 million. The economy of the country was heavily reliant on the production of rice. The manufacturing sector was growing, although much of the economic growth in 2011 was attributed to foreign investments in natural resources such as jade and gas. In terms of…
Mongolia 2011
In 2011, Mongolia had a population of 2.7 million people. The economy of Mongolia was mainly based on agriculture, mining, and animal husbandry. Foreign relations with other countries were mainly maintained through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The politics of Mongolia were largely based on a parliamentary system. The President held executive powers as head…
Maldives 2011
In 2011, the Maldives had a population of just over 394,000 people. The main ethnic group was the Dhivehi. The economy was primarily driven by tourism, with other sectors such as fisheries also contributing significantly to GDP. Foreign relations in 2011 were largely positive with neighboring countries such as India and Sri Lanka. The government…
Malaysia 2011
In 2011, Malaysia had a population of just over 28 million people. The main ethnic groups were the Malays, Chinese and Indians. The economy was largely driven by the service sector, with exports of electronics and palm oil being particularly important. Tourism was also an important source of revenue for the country. Foreign relations in…
Lebanon 2011
In 2011, Lebanon had a population estimated at around 4.5 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on its export of agricultural products such as olives and citrus fruits, petroleum products and banking services. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to the United States, France, and other countries throughout the Middle East….
Laos 2011
In 2011, Laos had a population estimated at around 6.5 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on its export of coffee and other agricultural products as well as remittances from Laotian citizens living abroad. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to the United States, China, Vietnam and other countries throughout Southeast…
Kyrgyzstan 2011
In 2011, Kyrgyzstan had a population estimated at around 5.5 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on its export of gold and other minerals as well as remittances from Kyrgyz citizens living abroad. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to the United States, Russia, China and other countries throughout Central Asia….
Kuwait 2011
In 2011, Kuwait had a population estimated at around 3.4 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on its export of oil and gas as well as remittances from Kuwaiti citizens living abroad. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and other countries throughout the…
Kazakhstan 2011
In 2011, Kazakhstan had a population estimated at around 17 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on exports of oil and gas as well as other natural resources such as uranium and gold. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to the United States, European Union, Russia and other countries throughout Central…
Jordan 2011
In 2011, Jordan had a population estimated at around 6.5 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on exports of phosphates, potash and other minerals as well as tourism and remittances from Jordanian citizens living abroad. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to the United States, European Union, Saudi Arabia and other…
Japan 2011
In 2011, Japan had a population estimated at around 127 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on exports of motor vehicles, semiconductors and other electronic products as well as industrial machinery. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to the United States, European Union and other countries throughout the world. Politically, the…
Istanbul Attractions and Tourist
Attractions and sights in Istanbul Aya Sofia The most magnificent building in Istanbul is the Byzantine Cathedral Aya Sofia, which was built around the year 535 as a tribute to the whole Byzantine culture. It was considered one of the largest churches of Christianity until the Ottoman Muslims occupied the city and turned it into…
Israel 2011
In 2011, Israel had a population estimated at around 7.7 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on exports of goods and services, as well as technology and innovation. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to the United States, Europe and other countries throughout the world, with significant economic and military cooperation…
Iraq 2011
In 2011, Iraq had a population estimated at around 33 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on oil and gas exports, as well as agriculture and services. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to other Middle Eastern countries, as well as to the United States, Canada and Europe. Politically, the country…
Iran 2011
In 2011, Iran had a population estimated at around 79 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on oil and gas exports, as well as agriculture, industry and services. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to other Middle Eastern countries, as well as to the United States, Canada and Europe. Politically, the…
Indonesia 2011
In 2011, Indonesia had a population estimated at around 237 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on services, agriculture and manufacturing, with some of its main exports including oil and gas, palm oil, textiles and rubber. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to other Southeast Asian countries as well as to…
India 2011
In 2011, India had a population estimated at around 1.2 billion people. Its economy was largely reliant on services, industry and agriculture, with some of its main exports including textiles, chemicals and vehicles. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to other Asian countries as well as to the United States, Canada and…
Georgia 2011
In 2011, Georgia had a population estimated at around 4.5 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on agriculture and manufacturing, with some of its main exports including wine, mineral water, hazelnuts and ferroalloys. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to other European countries, particularly those in the European Union (EU). Politically,…
East Timor 2011
In 2011, East Timor had a population estimated at over 1 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on services, exports of coffee, marble, sandalwood and palm oil. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to Southeast Asian countries, particularly those in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Politically, the country was…
Cyprus 2011
In 2011, Cyprus had a population estimated at over 855 thousand people. Its economy was largely reliant on tourism, services and exports of pharmaceuticals, citrus fruits and potatoes. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to European countries, particularly those in the European Union. Politically, the country was a unitary semi-presidential republic ruled…
China 2011
In 2011, China had a population estimated at over 1.3 billion people. Its economy was largely reliant on manufacturing and exports, with other exports including textiles and electronics. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to other Asian countries, particularly those in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Politically, the country was…
Cambodia 2011
In 2011, Cambodia had a population estimated at over 14 million people. Its economy was largely reliant on agriculture, with rice being the main export. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to other Asian countries, particularly those in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Politically, the country was a unitary semi-presidential…
Brunei 2011
In 2011, Brunei had a population estimated at over 400,000 people. Its economy was largely reliant on oil and gas exports as well as tourism. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to other Southeast Asian countries, particularly those in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Politically, the country was an absolute…
Bhutan 2011
In 2011, Bhutan had a population estimated at 747,000 people. It has a largely agrarian economy with agriculture and forestry accounting for more than half of its gross domestic product. Foreign relations in 2011 were marked by strong ties to India, with whom Bhutan has signed several agreements regarding trade, transit and military training. Politically,…
Bangladesh 2011
In 2011, the population of Bangladesh was estimated to be around 156 million people, with a majority of the population being Muslim. The economy of Bangladesh was largely supported by its garment industry as well as its agricultural sector. In terms of foreign relations, Bangladesh maintained diplomatic relations with over 100 countries and had embassies…
Bahrain 2011
In 2011, the population of Bahrain was estimated to be around 1.2 million people, with a majority of the population being Muslim. The economy of Bahrain was largely supported by its oil and gas sector as well as its financial services industry. In terms of foreign relations, Bahrain maintained diplomatic relations with over 100 countries…
Azerbaijan 2011
In 2011, the population of Azerbaijan was estimated to be around 9.1 million people, with a majority of the population being Muslim. The economy of Azerbaijan was largely supported by its oil and gas sector as well as its agriculture industry. In terms of foreign relations, Azerbaijan maintained diplomatic relations with over 100 countries and…
Armenia 2011
In 2011, the population of Armenia was estimated to be around 3 million people, with a majority of the population being Armenian Apostolic Christians. The economy of Armenia was largely supported by its agricultural sector as well as its information technology industry. In terms of foreign relations, Armenia maintained diplomatic relations with over 90 countries…
Afghanistan 2011
In 2011, Afghanistan had a population of around 31.1 million people, with nearly half of the population living in rural areas. The economy was largely dependent on foreign aid and the country faced high levels of poverty and unemployment. Foreign relations with neighboring countries were often strained due to the instability in the region. Politically,…
Asia Prehistory
While in Africa one can follow the very first traces of man, it is in Asia that one finds the earliest highly developed societies. From this we know the first testimonies of farming and cattle breeding in the world, the first use of metal and the oldest writing. The development of culture went different ways…