How far north do the islands of Japan stretch? How far south do they stretch?
Name other areas of the world that lies at the same latitudes. According to Hildebrandts Travel Map, Japan stretches from latitude 24O north (just north of the tropic of Cancer) to latitude 45O north. This means that Japan lies parallel to Venice in the north and Assuan in the south. • How do you think Japans relative isolation affected the development of language and culture in Japan? Japans position as an island nation in the midst of seas that could turn suddenly treacherous meant that the country was protected from foreign invasion for many centuries. This allowed Japan to go through several waves of allowing foreign influences and ideas into the country (mainly from Korea and China) and then becoming relatively isolated as these influences were absorbed and integrated, and given a distinctly Japanese interpretation. • Identify the major oceans, seas, and bays that surround Japan. Does Japan have any rivers that compare with the Mekong, the Yangtse and the Yellow Rivers? Why do you
