OiriUzation.—The number of people civilized—in the Asiatic sense of the word—is fur greater than that of wild and nomadic hordes: but culture here, when arrived at a certain point, assumes a stationary character, widely differing from the restless intellectual activity and industrial progress of Europe. The laws of states, families, industry. commerce, art, and science are, iu India and China, so many branches of one fixed and permanent religious system, which has maintained its sway through many centuries, and would long remain unchanged, if left undisturbed by European influence. The Arabs. Persians. and Turks, collectively known as the easterns, are distinct in civilization from the Hindobs and Chinese. The institution of slavery among the former, of caste among the Ilindoos, and the civil and political equality of China, are distinguished marks. The Turk is a monotheist and fatalist; the llindoo is either a mystical pantheist or polytheist, acknowledging a multitude of godS; the Chinese is rather a utilitarian moralist.
Industry.—The industry and commerce of the Asiatic continent hear no adequate pro portion to its capabilities—such as they are, they will be described under the different con ntries, Political Aspect—The political institutions of A. present tons some striking contrasts. While the barbarous hordes in the n. live almost without the idea of government, and scarcely know that the 'Russian czar claims them as his subjects, and the nomadic tribes, under their khans or sheiks, have a sort of patriarchal government, subordinate to higher powers, the most extreme forms of monarchy and despotism have existed among the more cultivated nations. The government of China is an absolute monarchy in form, but, in fact, is strictly limited by the force of tradition. The emperor is appar ently unlimited in authority; but it is an essential duty of an emperor to rule exactly according to the precepts handed down by his ancestors, llererence tor ancestors and their institutions is, therefore, the sole presiding and conservative principle which has so long preserved the great Chinese empire from political changes. A., now so passive, anciently took qn active part in the great movements of the world's history; contended aghinst Egypt and Greece, and afterwards contributed to the greatness and glory of the Macedonian and Roman empires. From the n. of the Caspian sea came the vast hordes
of the Huns, who spread themselves abroad over Europe. The armies of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane overran the Slavonian plains, while the Arab caliphs, with their fanatical troops, established their religion and government in three quarters of the world. Under the Osmanli fell the empire, and still the Turk maintains a political posi tion ill Europe, but one now becoming very feeble and insecure. In proportion as Europe has advanced, A. has declined in political power, so as to countenance the theory of a gradual movement of the spirit of civilization and progress from the eastern to the western world. So soon as the Asiatic nations have reached a certain moderate pitch of culture, the history of civilization ceases so far as they are concerned, and is followed by the mere chronology of states or dynasties. It. would appear that all great future changes in the destinies of the peoples of Asia must proceed from European impulses. When Portuguese ships had rounded the cape and so reached India. a new era of Asian history began. The Portuguese, the Spaniards, Dutch, French, Danes, and English planted their standards on Indian soil. The English speedily extended their dominion here, and soon overshadowed all the other European powers; though the Portuguese and French still maintain their footing in Hindostan, and the French, the Spaniards, and the Dutch own large territories in Further India or the Indian archipelago. Lately England has increased liar influence in the extreme w. of Asia, having secured the right to occupy Cyprus, while guaranteeing the defense of the Asiatic dominions of the pone. Mean while Russia has extended her sway over Siberia. Cancasia, and Turkestan; securing thus the keys of China and the approaches to Persia. Even in some of the nominally independent powers, European influence is very powerful; the throne of Persia, for example, is surrounded by European diplomatists. And while Rus-.ia and Britain are striving to share between them supremacy in Asia, the French and the Americans have a large share of the commerce of the eastern coasts.
The following table gives an approximate estimate of the area and population of A., according to the more important existing political divisions: