Learning Resources

Regions of the World

Educators: Did you know we have Regions of the World teaching resources?

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Economics: East Asia & The Pacific
You’d never guess from the modern skylines of Shanghai, Seoul, and Singapore, but in 1950, these cities were in some of the world’s least developed countries.
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Modern History: South & Central Asia
Many of the countries that make up South and Central Asia are quite young: Pakistan and India became independent countries in 1947, Bangladesh followed in 1971, and Kazakhstan and its neighbors emerged as independent countries after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
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Economics: Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa sustained rapid economic growth and investment in the early 2000s, a period dubbed by some experts as Africa Rising.
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Politics: Sub-Saharan Africa
By the late 1990s, most countries in the region had transitioned from being European colonies to becoming independent countries.
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Modern History: Sub-Saharan Africa
For centuries, sub-Saharan Africa was home to prosperous empires that made groundbreaking advances in architecture, mathematics, and metalworking.
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Geopolitics: Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan African countries hold roughly 25 percent of the seats in the UN General Assembly, making the region’s voice important on global issues such as climate change and drug trafficking. 
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Politics: Middle East and North Africa
In 2011, millions of protesters in places like Egypt, Syria, and Tunisia rose up to demand political, economic, and social reforms from their highly repressive governments, which for decades had ruled with unchecked power.
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U.S. Foreign Policy: Middle East and North Africa
Since World War II, three main interests—ensuring the free flow of oil from the Gulf, guaranteeing the survival and security of Israel, and limiting the influence of the former Soviet Union—have driven U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.
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Geopolitics: Europe
In the aftermath of the Cold War, East-West relations had a chance at a reset.
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U.S. Foreign Policy: Europe
In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned the United States to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
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People and Society: Europe
Europe has a reputation for its high living standards, given its wealth, promotion of human rights, commitment to social spending, and democratic institutions.
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Politics: Europe
Europe’s claims on liberal, democratic traditions date back centuries.
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Economics: Europe
As in other regions, certain European countries belong to an economic or customs union—a “single market”—that makes trade between its members seamless. 
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Geopolitics: The Americas
Throughout the modern history of the Americas, the United States has been the region’s preeminent economic, military, and political power. 
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Economics: The Americas
The economic landscape of the Americas is dominated by the United States, which accounts for nearly a third of the region’s billion-plus population and three-quarters of its economic output. 
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Politics: The Americas
After years of dictatorships that ruled nearly every Latin American country during the 1970s, the region experienced a wave of democratization beginning in 1979. 
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People and Society: The Americas
The Americas are an incredibly diverse region with a population defined by an array of cultural heritages, including millions of indigenous peoples living across North and South America.

Learning Journeys

A learning journey is a curated collection of resources that explore a topic from a specific perspective.

Learning Journey
The Americas: Essentials

Explore this collection of learning resources to better understand the history, people, and politics of the Americas.

Learning Journey
Europe: The Essentials

Explore this collection of learning resources to better understand the history, people, and politics of Europe.