American Acquisition and Gold Rush
In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, a transaction known as “Seward’s Folly” after U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward. This acquisition added a vast and resource-rich territory to the United States. The discovery of gold in the 1890s, particularly during the Klondike Gold Rush, brought an influx of settlers and miners, significantly increasing the population and economic activity in the region.

Territorial Status and World War II
Alaska was organized as a U.S. territory in 1912. During World War II, the Aleutian Islands were invaded by Japanese forces, marking the only occupation of U.S. soil during the war. The construction of military bases during this period contributed to the population growth of Alaskan cities and highlighted Alaska’s strategic importance.

Statehood and Modern Era
Alaska was granted statehood on January 3, 1959, becoming the 49th state of the United States. The discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay in 1968 and the completion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in 1977 led to an economic boom. However, this development also brought environmental challenges, exemplified by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.

Cultural and Social Developments
Alaska’s diverse indigenous cultures have played a significant role in its history. The Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples, among others, have rich traditions and complex social structures. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 was a landmark law that settled land claims and provided for the establishment of Native corporations, significantly impacting the social and economic landscape of Alaska.

Natural Disasters and Environmental Issues
Alaska has experienced significant natural disasters, including the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, which was one of the most powerful earthquakes recorded in the United States. The state continues to face environmental challenges, particularly related to oil drilling and climate change.
Alaska remains a unique and vital part of the United States, with a history marked by exploration, cultural diversity, and significant economic and environmental events.

Measured at market exchange rates, China’s GDP was $18.3 trillion in 2022, 73 percent of the GDP of the United States and 10 times more than the 7 percent of US GDP it registered in 1990. China’s per capita income is now roughly $13,000, approximately 17 percent of US per capita income—compared with less than 2 percent in 1990. Over the past decade and a half, China has been the main driver of the world’s economic growth, accounting for 35 percent of global nominal GDP growth, while the United States accounted for 27 percent.

China’s economic performance has relied largely on investment growth financed by an inefficient banking system. This pattern intensified after the global financial crisis that began in 2008. Increased investment accounted for about two-thirds of GDP growth during 2009–10. Because China is a labor-rich economy and has a capital-to-labor ratio much lower than that of advanced economies, more rather than less investment is probably desirable. However, much of the investment has been driven by the public (state) sector rather than the nongovernmental sector. This is not inherently a problem. Investment in private sector firms, especially smaller ones, can be much riskier than in large, state-owned enterprises. But in China, state-owned enterprises, which collectively receive a disproportionate share of bank credit, typically have not generated strong returns on those investments.

The current population of Europe is 744,762,763 as of Thursday, December 19, 2024, based on the latest United Nations estimates.
Europe population is equivalent to 9.21% of the total world population.
Europe ranks number 3 among regions of the world (roughly equivalent to “continents”), ordered by population.
The population density in Europe is 34 per Km2 (87 people per mi2).
The total land area is 22,134,900 Km2 (8,546,329 sq. miles)
75.6 % of the population is urban (563,417,440 people in 2024)
The median age in Europe is 42.5 years.

The popular American animated series directed by Matt Groening is set in the fictional town of Springfield and it follows the life of the Simpson family.
In 2003, about 500 companies around the world were licensed to use The Simpsons characters in their advertising.
In 2008, $750 million worth of The Simpsons merchandise was purchased worldwide.

The German colonial presence in China began in 1897, when the German Empire leased the Kiautschou Bay concession from the Qing Dynasty government. The concession was used by Germany as a naval base and trading hub, and the Germans invested heavily in infrastructure and development projects in the area.

The German presence in Kiautschou Bay came to an end in 1914, at the outbreak of World War I. The concession was occupied by Japanese forces during the war and was later returned to China in 1922, following the Treaty of Versailles.

During their brief colonial period in China, the Germans built a number of impressive buildings and landmarks in the concession, including a railway, a power station, and a waterworks. Some of these structures still stand today and are popular tourist attractions.