Mandarin Chinese is the main language.
Taiwan’s major religions are Buddhism
and Daoism. Most people also follow
traditional Chinese religions. Most of
the population lives in cities and towns
in the west.
Economy
Taiwan has a strong economy based on
manufacturing and services such as
banking. Factories make electronics,
8 Taiwan BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
cement, iron and steel, cloth, chemicals,
cars, and other goods.
Farmers in Taiwan grow rice, sugarcane,
citrus fruits, bananas, and other crops.
Fish, pigs, and chickens are other
sources of food.
History
People from other Pacific islands and
Asia first came to Taiwan between
12,000 and 15,000 years ago. Portuguese
sailors arrived in 1590 and gave
the island the name of Formosa. Dutch
traders later took control of the island.
Chinese and Japanese Rule
In 1661 armies for the Ming Dynasty, or
royal family, of China pushed out the
Dutch. The Qing Dynasty of China
took over in 1683. The Qing Dynasty
ruled Taiwan for the next two centuries.
Many Chinese people settled in Taiwan
during this time.
In 1894–95 Japan and China fought
each other in the Sino-JapaneseWar. At
the end of the war, Japan took control of
Taiwan. DuringWorldWar II (1939–
45) the Japanese used Taiwan as a military
base. Taiwan returned to China’s
control in 1945.
Nationalist Government
In the late 1940s two groups, the Communists
and the Nationalists, fought for
control of China. In 1949 the Communists
won. The Nationalists fled to Taiwan
and set up their government there.
Both the Communists and the Nationalists
claimed to be the true government
of all of China.
The United Nations (UN) treated Taiwan’s
government as the government of
China until 1971. That year the UN
accepted the mainland Communist government
as the only Chinese government.
Taiwan Today
Taiwan held its first free elections in the
1990s. The Nationalists lost control of
the government in 2000. A party called
the Democratic Progressives took
power. Meanwhile, some people began
calling for complete independence from
China.
#More to explore
China • Taipei
The full
Portuguese
name of
Taiwan—Ilha
Formosa—
means
“Beautiful
Island.”
A huge statue of the Buddha overlooks
many other Buddha sculptures at a religious
center in Taiwan. Many people in Taiwan
practice Buddhism. Buddhism is a religion
based on the teachings of the Buddha.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Taiwan 9
Tajikistan
The small country of Tajikistan lies in
the heart of central Asia. Tajikistan’s
capital is Dushanbe.
Geography
Tajikistan shares borders with Uzbekistan,
Kyrgyzstan, China, and Afghanistan.
Almost all the land is mountainous.
Tajikistan has a dry climate with
hot summers and cold winters.
Plants and Animals
Grasses, bushes, and shrubs are the most
common plants. Tajikistan’s animals
include great gray lizards, gophers, deer,
tigers, jackals, and brown bears.
People
The Tajik people make up most of the
population. The Uzbeks form the second
largest group. The country’s other
peoples include Russians and Kyrgyz.
Most of the people speak Tajik and practice
Islam. Most Tajiks live in small villages
along canals or rivers.
Economy
Tajikistan is a poor country. Most
people are farmers. The main crops are
cotton, potatoes, wheat, tomatoes, and
grapes. People also raise sheep, goats,
and cattle. Tajikistan’s factories produce
aluminum, cloth, electricity, food products,
machinery, and chemicals.
History
The Tajiks lived in the area by about
2,500 years ago. They set up states along
the Silk Road, a trade route to China.
In the AD 600s and 700s Muslim Arabs
conquered the area. Beginning in 999,
many other groups ruled the land for
hundreds of years.
Russia took control in the 1800s. In the
1920s Tajikistan became part of the
Soviet Union. Tajikistan gained independence
in 1991.
..More to explore
Dushanbe
Many rugged, snow-covered peaks lie in
the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan.
Facts About
TAJIKISTAN
Population
(2008 estimate)
6,839,000
Area
55,300 sq mi
(143,100 sq km)
Capital
Dushanbe
Form of
government
Republic
Major cities
Dushanbe, Khujand,
Kulyab,
Kurgan-Tyube
10 Tajikistan BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is considered one of the
most beautiful buildings in the world. It
is located in the city of Agra in northern
India. A ruler named Shah Jahan had
the Taj Mahal built as a monument and
tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz
Mahal.
Shah Jahan was the Muslim ruler of the
Mughal Empire in India from 1628 to
1658. His wife died in 1631, and the
construction of the Taj Mahal began the
following year.
The monument is located on the bank
of the Yamuna (or Jumna) River. It is
surrounded by formal gardens and
reflecting ponds. The building rests on a
square marble base that rises 23 feet (7
meters) high. The building is roughly
square-shaped. Each of the four faces of
the structure has a large arch that rises
108 feet (33 meters) high. Above the
center of the building is an onionshaped
dome.
Pure white marble covers the outside of
the building. Set into the marble are
gemstones of various colors. These
include lapis lazuli, jade, crystal, turquoise,
and amethyst. The stones form
geometric and floral designs.
