India
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Pakistan
Maps Due and Map Quiz Next Period
❧
Bhutan
Afghanistan
Maldives
Bangladesh
What do you know about South Asia?
❧
What do you want to know?
1) Location
❧
SIZE AND ORIGINS
❧ Formed when landmass collided with Asia
(subcontinent)
❧ South Asia is about ½ the size of the USA.
❧ South Asia contains 20% of the world’s
population.
❧
Climate of South Asia ❧ South Asia has many
climate zones, mainly
affected by mountains
and elevation
-Dry in the northwest; no
desert
-Tropical in the north,
between the mountain
ranges
3 seasons, monsoons
-Dry in the southern interior,
wet along the coasts
❧
Deccan Plateau-high and flat
❧
Mountains
The Hindu Kush
mountains have
served as a barrier
for years. Khyber
Pass is one of the
few ways past them.
❧
The Himalayas are the
world’s highest
mountains, with 20+
peaks above 24,000 ft.
The Ghats (1,000
miles in length)
block moisture
from reaching the
interior, causing the
Deccan plateau to
be dry.
Mount Everest
❧ Highest peak in the
world, 29.029ft
above sea level.
❧ First officially
climbed all the way
in 1953 by Sir
Edmund Hillary and
Tenzig Norgay.
❧ 4% of climbers who
attempt Everest do
not survive.
❧ Tibetans: “Goddess
Mother of World”
❧
Rivers
❧ 3 Major Rivers
❧ Indus
❧ Ganges
❧ Brahmaputra
❧ All 3 rivers start in the
Himalayas
❧ Fed by Glaciers
❧
Landforms created by Rivers
• Alluvial plains – soil carried
down from mountains and
deposited when river
overflows banks.
❧
❧ Estuary – partially closed
area of seawater with
several rivers flowing into it.
Islands
❧ Sri Lanka
❧ Lush tropical
island
❧ Maldives
❧ Archipelago –
group of
islands
❧ Atoll – Low
lying top of
submerged
volcano
❧
Harappa-Indus River Crash Course
3000-1500 BC (modern Pakistan)
❧
2) Human-Environment
Interaction
❧
Importance of Rivers
❧ Fertile Soil for agriculture, accounts for
50% of jobs
❧ Transportation of people and goods
❧ Water Supply for 1.2 Billion in India
❧ Hydroelectric Power
❧ Religion - Ganges is sacred (Hinduism)
❧
Natural Resources
❧ Forests
❧ Important resource
❧ Deforestation is a concern
❧
❧ Minerals
❧
❧
❧
❧
Generate much of Energy
India 4th in Coal, Has enough oil to support ½ its needs
Uranium for Nuclear Power
Iron Ore Deposits – world’s leaders in exporting iron
ore
❧ Mica – key in electrical equipment (computers)
❧ Gemstones
❧ Diamonds (India)
❧ Sapphires & Rubies (Sri Lanka)
Severe Weather
❧ Monsoons – seasonal winds
that bring heavy rainfall to
South Asia during the summer.
❧ Highly unpredictable
❧ Causes floods in areas,
droughts in others
❧
❧ Cyclones – (Hurricanes) can be
very destructive to areas
heavily populated along the
coast.
❧ Storm Surge – rising sea level
causes flooding along coast
3) Movement
❧
Demographics
❧ 1.2 billion people, mostly in India.
❧ Birth, death, and infant mortality rates still very high compared
to most of the world, but gradually improving due to better
education, sanitation, and basic medical care.
❧
Immigration
Large numbers of
South Asians
immigrate to other
regions – educated
persons often
move to Western
countries
(especially UK and
USA) for
technology
positions, while
uneducated
persons usually go
to the Middle East
to work as laborers.
❧
Transportation
and Infrastructure
❧
❧ South Asia lacks of cross-border
infrastructure: Due to economic and
political reasons, cross-border trade in
South Asia accounts for a mere 5% of
total trade.
❧ South Asia lacks of adequate access to
basic social and economic services in
rural areas. Poor access to transport
infrastructure and services leaves
hundreds of millions of people in South
Asian countries without access to basic
social and economic services.
❧ The road safety problem in the region
is increasingly alarming. While India
has the highest number of road deaths
in the world with over 114,000 road
fatalities each year (WRS, 2009).
Bangladesh, with relatively low
motorization, has the worst fatality rate
in the region with 85.6 fatalities per
10,000 vehicles.
4) Place
❧
Cultures of South Asia
❧
•Different mixes of Hinduism,
Buddhism, and Islam – often
causes tension in the region
•
Thousands of languages!
• Poverty remains huge problem.
India is one of the worlds
fastest growing economies, but
other nations lag behind.
Political Geography of South Asia
Nations in South Asia:
❧ Afghanistan became independent in
1919.
❧
1.
2.
3.
4.
Four were created from British
India after WW2 (1947)
Pakistan (1947)
Sri Lanka (1947)
Bangladesh (1971)
❧
❧ Two are small countries located deep in
the Himalayas, isolated until recent times
1. Bhutan
2. Nepal
❧ One is a tiny island chain in the Indian
Ocean – Maldives.
Brief History of South Asia
Ancient Times – Hinduism and Islam, caste
system, several huge empires in region.
❧
British Rule – Britain ruled all of South Asia
from 1776 to 1948. “British East India
Company” controlled almost all commerce
until 1858, when control passed to the “British
Raj”.
1947 - Independence and Partition – British
freed and divided region into India (mostly
Hindu) and Pakistan (mostly Muslim).
Influenced heavily by Mahatma Gandhi.
Modern Era – Wars between India and
Pakistan. Growing economic power of India,
and Pakistan’s crisis with Islamic radicals and
Taliban.
What is the “Caste System”?
❧ Ancient origins, predating
Hinduism.
❧ Divided South Asian people into
different jobs and ranks in
society.
❧ Very complex, thousands of
smaller groups.
❧ Abolished in 1947, still exists.
❧ Mostly broken down in the cities,
still common in rural India
Religions of South Asia
❧
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❧
CULTURE HEARTH OF SOUTH ASIA
The Indus River
❧
❧ Where an early culture emerged and
developed
❧ Arts and trade routes emerged from
isolated tribes and villages to towns and
beyond.
❧ Hinduism emerged from the beliefs and
practices brought to India by the IndoEuropeans (Aryans). (6th century BC)
❧ Buddhism emerged during the 6th
century BC; made the state religion of
India in 3rd century BC
❧ Islam sweeps through central India from
the 8th -10th centuries AD
Hinduism
Who – Ancient priests of India
When – 5000 –3000 BCE
Where – India
Holy Books – Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita
Major Divisions – Numerous traditions
Basic Beliefs
⬜ Polytheistic – Thousands of deities,
many interconnected.
⬜ Reincarnation through infinite lives
and forms
⬜ Dharma – proper place or role in the
universe and society (caste)
⬜ Karma – cause and effect occurring
across lives.
⬜ Ultimate goal – oneness with
“Brahman” (God, Reality)
Simple, really… follow your DHARMA to
improve your KARMA so that you
reincarnate in a better position to reach
BRAHMAN.
Buddhism
Who – Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
When – 500 BC
Where – Northern India
Holy Books - Tripitaka
Major Divisions – Mahayana, Theravada
Basic Beliefs
⬜ No universal creator, only powerful
beings. Reincarnation, dharma, and
karma still apply.
⬜ Four Noble Truths: Life is suffering,
suffering caused by craving, craving
caused by ignorance, ignorance
relieved by knowing the Truth.
⬜ The “Eightfold Path” allows one to
attain Nirvana, freedom from
existence and suffering
Who – Muhammad
When – circa 620AD
Where – Arabian Peninsula
Holy Books – Quran and the
Hadith
Major Divisions – Sunni,
Shia
Basic Beliefs
⬜ There is no god but
Allah, and Muhammad is
the messenger of God
⬜ Quran is word of God.
⬜ Muslims must perform
the “Five Pillars of
Faith”.
Islam
Sikhism
Who – Guru Nanak
When – 1400’s
Where – Northwestern India
Holy Books – Adi Granth
Basic Beliefs –
•
Monotheistic, believe in reincarnation.
❧
•
All people are equal in God’s eyes.
•
Humans must free themselves from negative
thoughts and actions to attain salvation, become
one with God.
•
Teachings are passed down through teachers, or
“Guru”.
•
Sikh’s are bound by the “Five K’s”… kēs (uncut
hair), kaṅghā (small wooden comb), kaṛā (circular
steel or iron bracelet), kirpān (sword/dagger), and
kacchā (special undergarment).
Jainism
Who – Indus Valley priests
When – 900’s BC
Where – India
Holy Books – None
Major Divisions – “Whiteclad”, “Naked”
Basic Beliefs –
•
No divine being, universe is cyclical
❧
•
Reincarnation is eternal
•
Goal is to perfect your soul and become an
enlightened being
•
Jains believe in AHIMSA, total non-violence
against all living things
•
Monks take many vows and give up nearly
everything…. Even clothes, in some cases.
5) Regions – Nations of South Asia
India
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Pakistan
❧
Bhutan
Afghanistan
Maldives
Bangladesh
India
❧ ¾ of all South Asia land area; slightly
more than 1/3 of the U.S.
❧ A federal republic consisting of 28
states, 6 Union Territories, and 1
National Capital Territory
❧
❧ Population: 1.150 billion people
❧ 15 official languages. English and Hindi
most common.
❧ About 80% Hindu, 20% Muslim
❧ Emerging economic and regional
military power, with advanced
industrial and scientific capacity.
Who was Mahatma Gandhi?
❧ Father of modern India (1869-1948)
❧
❧ Preached non-violence, civil disobedience.
❧ Salt March – 1930, walked to sea to protest
British salt tax.
❧ After WWII, Gandhi pushes for independence for
India
❧ Would nonviolent resistance have worked on
other groups besides the British, like the Nazi’s for
example? Why or why not?
Trauma of Partition
❧ Gandhi wanted one unified India.
❧ Partition - split in 1947 into Hindu
(India) and Muslim (Pakistan)
❧
❧ Riots, refugees, violence – 14 million
people moved, ½ million died
❧ 1948 Gandhi assassinated by Hindu
extremist (intolerant of other religions).
India in Transition
❧
❧ India divided – modern caste system.
New wealth, huge poverty at same
time.
❧ Bollywood – Indian film industry,
largest in world!
❧ Booming population, bigger than
China soon. 1.1 billion people.
❧ High tech industries power the
economy.
❧ Huge, overcrowded cities
Pakistan
❧ Twice the size of California
❧
❧ A federal republic with 4 provinces, one territory,
and 1 capital territory
❧ Population: 173 million people
❧ Languages: Urdu and English, however 48% speak
Punjabi
❧ Formerly known as West Pakistan. Independent
since 1947.
❧ Primarily Sunni Muslim
❧ Continuing struggles with internal ethnic groups,
India, Afghanistan
Crisis in Pakistan
❧ Pakistan has internal divisions, an unstable
government, an expanding young population,
and troubles with Islamic Fundamentalists.
❧
❧ Tied into the current war in Afghanistan
(USA/NATO vs. Al Qaeda/Taliban), which
resulted from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
❧ Pakistan is violently divided between those
supporting the USA’s efforts, and those
supporting the Taliban.
❧ Pakistan has 20 to 50 nuclear weapons.
These could fall into the wrong hands if
Pakistan collapses.
Conflict Between India and Pakistan
❧ Jammu and Kashmir – In 1947 was
Muslim majority, but Hindu ruler. After
partition, military of both sides moved on
the region and war broke out.
❧
❧ After war, it stayed part of India. Sore
spot for Pakistan and India, constant
guerrilla war.
❧ Several wars, including 1971 war that
created Bangladesh.
❧ Both countries now have nuclear
weapons.
Why do India and Pakistan both feel that
they need nuclear weapons?
Afghanistan
❧ About the size of Texas
❧ Population – 30,000,000
❧ Mostly Pashtuns, who are Muslims.
❧
❧ Extremely poor, mountainous country
❧ Leading exporter of opium, heroin.
❧ US invaded in 2001 after 9/11, to defeat Taliban.
Taliban were/are funded partly by Pakistan, which
is also helping to fight Taliban.
Bangladesh
❧ Slightly smaller than Iowa
❧
❧ Low elevation and location make almost half of land
surface prone to flooding during monsoons.
❧ Parliamentary democracy
❧ Population: 154 million people
❧ Languages: Bangla (Bengali) and English
❧ Formerly known as East Pakistan. Independent since
1971.
❧ Primarily Muslim
❧ Cultivation of rice is the single most important
agricultural activity.
❧ One of world’s poorest nations.
Nepal
❧ Size of Arkansas
❧
❧ A parliamentary democracy, but was a
monarchy until 2005
❧ Population: 30 million people
❧ Languages: Primarily Nepali
❧ Primarily Hindu with approximately 10%
Buddhist
❧ Tourism on Mt. Everest
❧ Home of the Gurkha, soldiers famed for
bravery and the Kukri knife.
Bhutan
❧ ½ the size of Indiana
❧
❧ Constitutional monarchy, King Wangchuck
❧ Population: 700,000
❧ Official language: Dzongkha (pronounced “zonka”)
❧ Bhutan is still relatively isolated
❧ Almost entirely Buddhist
Sri Lanka
❧ Slightly larger than West Virginia
❧ Republic with 8 provinces
❧
❧ Population: 21 million people
❧ Languages: Sinhala (80%) and Tamil (20%)
❧ Primarily Buddhist (70%)
❧ Civil War (1983-2009) between Buddhist
Sinhalese majority government in south, and
Hindu Tamil minority (“Tamil Tigers”/LTTE) in
north.
Maldives
❧ Small archipelago, 26 separate atolls.
❧ Population - 300,000
❧
❧ Most of nation is less than 5ft above sea level,
highest point only 8ft.
❧ Islamic, run on sharia law.
❧ Economy based on fishing and tourism
❧ Maldives is heavily involved with UN global
warming treaties and conferences.