Overview of Asian Cultures and Religions
Cultural and Religious Landscape of Asia
East Asia
Tibet
Tibet was historically a theocracy governed by Lamaists.
Mongolia
Mongolia is predominantly Lamaist Buddhist, with the Cyrillic script being used for writing.
Irrawaddy Valley (Myanmar)
The Irrawaddy Valley is home to Burmese people who practice Theravada Buddhism. The region is currently under a military regime.
Chao Phraya River (Thailand)
The Chao Phraya River region is inhabited by Thai people who primarily follow Buddhism. Their language incorporates Pali vocabulary and the Brahmi script.
South Asia
Indo-Asia
The Indo-Asia region is characterized by the use of the Brahmi script, Sanskrit and Pali vocabulary, and the prevalence of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Cambodia (Kampuchea)
Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea, is predominantly populated by Khmer people who speak the Khmer language.
Laos
Laos is a communist state with a one-party system.
India
India is home to Naxalites, communist groups associated with the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Nepal
Nepal is a constitutional monarchy that has been significantly influenced by the Maoist Rebellion.
Bhutan
Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy led by Tibetans.
Southeast Asia
Insular Southeast Asia
The languages spoken in Insular Southeast Asia are predominantly based on B’asa or Bahasa, which has Sanskrit roots. This is particularly true in Indonesia.
Javanese
Javanese is the most widely spoken language in the region.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a Westminster system of government. The Prime Minister holds significant power. The population is diverse, consisting of Chinese, Malays (50%), and Indians (who originally came as laborers).
Indonesia
Indonesia is a democratic nation where the president is chosen by the parliament. Suharto was the last dictator of the country.
Philippines
The Philippines is a democratic country with a directly elected president. The Tagalog dialect, now known as Filipino, is widely spoken.
North Africa
Algeria
Algeria operates under a pseudo-military state.
Other Groups
Semitic People
Semitic people are descendants of various groups, including those who spoke Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic.
Copts
Copts are the descendants of Egyptians and primarily speak Arabic. They are Christians.