Central Asia peoples of the vast region. Central Asia is sometimes referred to as Turkestan. There are several places that claim to be the geographic center of Asia, for example Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva in the Russian Federation, and a village north of Ürümqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region of China. Central Asia is an extremely large region of varied geography, including high passes and mountains (Tian Shan), vast deserts (Kyzyl Kum, Taklamakan), and especially treeless, grassy steppes. The vast steppe areas of Central Asia are considered together with the steppes of Eastern Europe as a homogeneous geographical zone known
Culture of Asia closely related, shared artistic traditions, written language and moral values suggest that most East Asian peoples are descendants of the Yellow River civilization, that emerged in the flood plains of northern China around 10.000 years B.P. China has occupied the prominent, central role in East Asia for most of recorded history, as it "deeply influenced the culture of the peripheral countries and also drew them into a China-centered [...] international order", that virtually remained in effect until the early 20th century. Highly ritualized, the Imperial Chinese Tributary System, based on the religious and philosophical idea of submission to celestial harmony