SOUTH ASIA

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INTRODUCING SOUTH ASIA

Sometimes called the Indian Subcontinent . Home to about 1/4 of the worlds people. Region of great cultural contrasts. Home to 39% of the worlds poor who earn less than $1 a day.

Subcontinent
Landmass like a continent, only smaller Bordered by the (1)Himalayan Mountains, (2) Arabian Sea, (3) Bay of Bengal, and (4) Indian Ocean. Is its own small tectonic plate moving north (creates the Himalayan Mountains)
Picture of south Asia

Arabian Sea

Bay of Bengal

Indian Ocean

GEOGRAPHY
Area was created when the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. Home to Himalayas worlds highest mountain range.

3 major rivers: Indus I. Ganges II.

brings life to the people

III.

Brahmaputra

India
1.1 billion people (2nd largest in world)
80% Hindu; 14% Muslim live in rural villages live along Ganges River

Former British colony

Calcutta and Delhi = capitals Mohandas Gandhi = Hindu leader
Non-violent resistance help end British rule Mother Teresa

Pakistan
Created in 1947 Mountains on north: K2 Large deserts in west and east Indus River Valley: water from mountains

 Government and laws based on Islamic law

Currently under military ruler

Population: 130 million

live in cities 97% Muslim Many languages (including English) Very fast growing population

Kashmir Region Pakistan wanted control after 1947 Populated mainly by Hindus from India Caused lots of fighting between Muslims and Hindus

Fighting over Kashmir region

Nepal
Constitutional monarchy Mainly Hindu and Buddhist
Only official Hindu state in the world

VERY poor: > people below poverty line

 Home to Mt. Everest

Brings in tourism $$ from climbers Problems:
Pollution Harm mountains ecosystem/environment

The Himalayas
More than a 1,000 miles long & 100 miles wide Tallest mountains in the world Called the Roof of the World

Mt. Everest
Worlds highest peak 29,035 feet

Sherpas mountain people, who are used as mountain guides

Bhutan
Constitutional monarchy Tibetan Buddhist Very isolated from outside world Home to the tallest unclimbed mountain in the world Mountain climbing and smoking in public is banned

Bangladesh
Surrounded by India Islam Population: 150 million in space size of Iowa
7th largest country in world Expected to double by 2025

 Covered by the Ganges Delta

Floods all the time Very flat

Also deal with storm surges from cyclones in Bay of Bengal

1991: 20 feet high 130,000 killed

Sri Lanka
Main export: Tea (#1); textiles and garments Used to be a British colony; Ceylon

Problem Settled by two different ethnic groups: Tamils and Sinhalese Fighting over control of island Tamils want independence

Maldives Islands

Atoll Islands: formed by the remains of sunken volcanoes, and coral reefs Are an archipelago chain of islands The Maldives comprise over 1,200 islands

CLIMATE
(1)Humid subtropical, (2)Tropical wet and dry, (3) Tropical wet, (4)Semiarid (5) Desert. Monsoons affect climate of South Asia. Coastal regions are often struck by tropical cyclones. Earthquakes are common in the region.

Monsoons
Seasonal winds Between October and May DRY winds Between June and September WARM moist air
Very heavy rains during this time 450 inches of rain (37 feet!!!) Joyous Celebration = good for crops (rice)

Monsoon diagram

 A hurricane that occurs in South Asia/ Indian Ocean

Cyclone

Human Geography AGRICULTURE

60% of the population are farmers. Slow rate of industrialization. Produce calicoes (fine fabric woven from cotton and printed with colorful patterns). Lack of industrial resources.

Has 1 billion people, and is growing!!!

Literacy = the # of people who can read/write

PROBLEMS
Rapid population growth. Poverty grows with population. Poor communication systems. Lack of education. Low literacy rates. Dependence on farming
2/3s = farmers

 Solutions Land reform redistribute land more fairly The Green Revolution new farming techniques and better varieties of grain to make land more productive

Where in the World?

Use page 166 in your atlas to label the following countries/cities:

Countries India Pakistan Nepal Bhutan Bangladesh Cities Islamabad Delhi Mumbai Kolkata/Calcutta Dhaka Kathmandu

Agra, India
Taj Mahal

What in the World?

Islamic Mausoleum
Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to honor his wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1648 Made out of white marble

South Asia Human Geography: History

Early History
The Indus Valley Civilization rose in what is now Pakistan
Began around 2500 B.C. Major cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-daro Fell around 1500 B.C and Aryans invaded soon after

Mughal Period
700s: Muslim armies from Arabia invade India 1526: Mughal Empire is established
Mughal: Muslim Persians who invaded Asia

1857: Mughal Empire ends Europeans take over

Mughal Legacy: food, fashion, art, language, and architecture

European Colonization
Europeans came to the area looking for spices The British gained control of the area and established direct rule (period called the raj)

 Portuguese = 1st to colonize 1858: Most of the area officially became part of the British Empire.
Considered the Jewel in the Crown of the empire.

Demands for independence around early 20th century were led by Gandhi in India.

Creation of Modern India

Britain left after WWII and split India into two countries India and Pakistan
India became a Hindu state Pakistan a Muslim state
West Pakistan East Pakistan: (now Bangladesh)

Colonial British India

Release of Ceylon and Burma

The Partition of India: India and Pakistan (1947)

Separation of Pakistan and Bangladesh (1971)

Partition and War

Partition- division of British India Partition led to much violence between Hindus and Muslims (about 1 million people died and another 10 million fled across national borders)

Gandhi and Mother Teresa

Persuaded British to leave India through non-violent actions

Catholic Nun from Calcutta; Helped the poor w/various programs

CULTURE
Home to 3 major religions:
Hinduism Buddhism Sikhism

Caste System
A system of social classes can only move between castes through reincarnation.
Four basic castes
The Brahmans (priests and scholars) The Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) The Vaisyas (farmers and merchants) The Sudras (artisans and laborers)

* The untouchables (dirty jobs)

The Brahmans

Highest class or caste Teachers, Priests, Doctors

Kshatriyas
Kings and Nobility Warriors Second most prestigious

Vaishyas
Merchants and Farmers

Sudras
Artists Workers Service Providers

Untouchables
Excluded from society all together Outcasts Also known as dalits Face violence and discrimination

Bollywood
Hindi-language film industry in India Typically musicals Classical Indian dance folk dancing, has a Latino and Arabic influences

Sari
Sari strip of cloth Dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization Numerous types of saris and ways of wearing them Traditionally made of silk or cotton
polyester

 Saris were adopted as an acceptable evening dress in Western Europe/Americas with the interest in Indira Gandhi when she became Prime Minister of India after her father's death in the 1960s.

Buddhism
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha A philosophy of living life that is similar to Hinduism Use mandalas (geometric designs) to symbolize the universe and aid in meditation

* Nirvana
Enlightenment When one meditates and achieves the highest level of spirituality

Sikhism (SEEKism)
A monotheistic religion God=Vahiguru (Sikh God has no
gender is not male or female)

Gurus= religious teachers 6th largest world religion Main goal is to avoid the 5 evils
Ego Anger Greed Attachment Lust

Sikhism
Originated in Northern India around the 16th century Founder: Guru Nanak
9 other gurus (enlightened leaders)

Beliefs:

REJECT CASTE SYSTEM

1 God KARMA Salvation through meditation Samsara (repetitive cycle of birth, life, and death) Elements of Hinduism and Islam Reincarnation Sacred Text: Shri Guru Granth

Sikhism Practices/Celebrations
Nam simra: repetition of divine name Attend Gurdwara: Temple Must wear the 5Ks when baptized.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Kesa (long hair-turban used to cover hair) Kangah (comb) Kacha (short pants) Kara (metal bracelet) Kirpan (ceremonial dagger)

Drinking of alcohol and smoking is prohibited