•Often known as a
Sub-continent
•Surrounded by three
bodies of water:
•Arabian Sea = west
•Indian Ocean =south
•Bay of Bengal = east
Mountains and Plateaus:
Himalayas: created by the
colliding of two continents;
1,000 square miles; contains
the highest mountain in the
World = Mount Everest at
29,028 ft.
Other Northern ranges:
Himalayas meet the
Karakoram Mts. Meet Hindu
Kush….creating a barrier
between Indian sub-continent
and Asia
Nepal and Bhutan remained
isolated to this recent century.
Vindhya Mts: lie across the
center of the Indian
subcontinent, create by
collision; separated the people
of Northern and Southern
India.
The Ghats and Deccan Plateau:
rugged hills and eroded
mountains; Plateau between the
Eastern and Western Ghats
and is arid.
Other plateaus: Chota Nagpur
covered with forest of bamboo
and teak; stony tablelands
boarder the northwestern;
Karnataka Plateau where wild
elephants live
I.
Major River Systems:
A. High in Himalayas sources
for: Indus, Brahmaputra,
Ganges
B.Indus flows in Pakistan
C. Brahmaputra and Ganges
flow east to Bay of Bengal
D. Carry fertile soil from the
mountains
E. Floods bring rich soil, silt, or
alluvial soil
Indo-Gangetic Plain: worlds
largest continuous alluvial plain
Natural Resource
Soil and Water
-Rich soil from the IndoGangetic Plain;Rivers provide
drinking water and
transportation
-Dams being built to harness
hydroelectric power; Pakistan
has one of the Worlds largest
hydroelectric plants
- Bhutan and India
Fish thrive in this region (own
consumption and exports)
Energy Resources:
Few significant oil reserves
some in: northwestern coast
and in Pakistan; Natural gas
fields are found in southern
Pakistan; Uranium deposits
in India; Bangladesh has few
energy resources
Minerals
Scattered throughout the
region; Iron-ore: India; 9/10
of the worlds mica: needed to
manufacture electrical
equipment; Sri Lanka: largest
producers of graphite
Timber:
rain forest produce sal and
teak
sandalwood: sweet smelling
wood
forest cover much of Bhutan
Nepal’s forest: severely over
cut
To protect Sri Lanka's forest
exporting of timber has been
banned since 1977
Section 1: Population
Patterns
I.
Human
Characteristics:
 Richest and most
complex mixes of
people in the world
 6 major religions;
100’s of languages:
numerous social
groupings
India:
1. Religion
Hindu; Muslim
Buddhist; Sikh; Jain;
Christian
-
2. From
central Asia
and Europe
3. Roots over 8,000
years
Jati: social groups
that define one’s
occupation and
social standing
Pakistan and
Bangladesh:
9 out of 10
people are
Muslims
Pakistan 5
major ethnic
groups
Bangladesh
all are
Bengali
Sri Lanka:
Divided into 2 major ethnic
groups
Sinhalese and the Tamils
Live on different parts of the
island; speak different
languages; practice religions
Sinhalese: Buddhist; Tamils:
Hindu
Sinhalese dominate the
government
Tamil tigers
Bhutan and Nepal:
most from Mongolia
Nepal: one of the worlds
most complex ethnic
make-ups
Nepalese (Sherpas)
famous world-wide first
conquest of Mount
Everest
Population Density and
Distribution
756 people per square mile
7 times the World average
double in less than 40 years
Regional Variation
Varies from one region to
another
Climate, vegetation, terrain
have an impact
Fertile farmland vs. glacierdotted mountains
Densely Populated Areas:
Found on the Indo-Gangetic Plain;
Live where rice is grown
Sri Lanka: Tea and rubber are
grown; most people live in rural
areas
Bangladesh: most densely
populated (2,320 ppsm)
-Despite good framing:
there is not enough food for
the people in Bangladesh
-Population will double in
the next 29 years
Less Densely
Populated Regions:
India’s Deccan
Plateau less
populated than IGP
Thar desert very
sparse Western part
of Pakistan
Southern most
portions of Bhutan
and Nepal
Urbanization:
Rapid Urban
Growth
migrating for
better jobs and
higher wages
cities are
becoming over
crowded
strain on public
facilities like
schools and
hospitals
The Region’s largest Cities
Calcutta India’s largest city (located
on the Ganges river)
Slums vs. the bustling port, thriving
iron and steel industries, efficient
subway system, modern buildings
Bombay India’s main western port
Delhi, India’s 3rd largest city
New Delhi capital of India
Cites of Bangladesh are as the rest of
the country
Dhaka has more ppsm than any other
city in the world
Section 2: History and
Government
Early History:
1st civilizations Indus Valley
(2500 years ago)
developed a writing system,
strong central government,
rich overseas trade
Environmental changes led
to decline of this civilization
Stranded cities
Hittite Script
Aryans: left little
behind
Vedas: four books
tell about the Aryan
religious beliefs
Society divided into
3 classes:
- nobles
- priest
- ordinary people
Caste System: developed in which people could
not change their social status
Hinduism:
Grew out of Aryan culture
Way of life and set of beliefs
Must live according to their Dharma
(moral duty)
Karma: all good actions are
rewarded and bad deeds punished
Reincarnated: reborn
Recognizes many gods and goddesses
Different forms of one being
Different paths towards the
same goal
Buddhism:
Will discuss
at a future
date.
Invasions and Empires
Maurya: lasted 320 b.c.e. and 180
b.c.e.
Asoka (or Maurya) impressed with
Buddhism and helped spread
Buddhism
Gupta Dynasty (320 b.c.e. to 550
b.c.e.)
India advanced cultures in the
world
arts; science; technology
numerals
700’s missionaries, merchants,
adventurers enter countries
Muslim armies conquered
northern India (1100’s) ruled for
several centuries
Europeans arrived in the 1500’s
1600’s British entered:
East India Company
By 1700’s it occupied the entire
region
-Reorganized education
-Introduced English
language
-Developed a civil service
Modern South Asia
Independence::
Mohandas k. Gandhi
(British trained leader)
Non-violent methods to
persuade the British to
leave
Encouraged Indians not
to buy British goods
1947: divided into two independent
states (Pakistan and nation of
India)
East and West Pakistan
Ceylon was granted independence
in 1972 (Sri Lanka)
Bhutan and Nepal had always
remained independent from the
British
Today’s Government:
Tensions arose between the Hindus
and Muslims
East Pakistan declares
independence in 1971
Democracies and Monarchies
Section 3: Cultures and Lifestyles
Languages:
-
14 major languages
-
1000 other languages and dialects
-
English commonly spoken in business
-
Hindu is the official language of India
A. Indo-Aryan Languages:
1.
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Northern
India
2.
Hindu, Urdu, and Bengali
3.
Nepali and Sinhalese
B. Other languages:
1.
1/5 in Southern India and Sri Lanka
speak Dravidian Languages
2.
Nepal and Bhutan: close ties to central
Asia
Religions:
Major Religions: Hinduism; Islam; Buddhism
1. Pakistan and Bangladesh are Muslim
2. Buddhism influence has declined in this region
3. Hinduism has absorbed many Buddhist
teachings
4. Jainism:
-founded by Mahavira (Hindu teacher)
-every living thing has a soul
5. Sikhism:
-combination of Hindu and Muslim beliefs
-live in northwestern India
6.Christianity
Influence of Religion
1. Powerful influence on daily life
2. Prayer flags flap in the wind,
sending out sacred messages called
mantras
3. In India sadhus (Hindu teachers)
can be found every where
- wear yellow robes
- carry a bowl and blanket
- live on gifts from those who
want to improve their karma
4. Consider cows to be sacred
5. Women in Pakistan dress modestly
in accordance with Islamic law
The Arts:
Architecture
Taj Mahal is in India
built in 1600’s for a beloved
wife
made of white marble
has towers and domes in the
Islamic style
Mosques in Pakistan and
Bangladesh
Golden Temple
Dzongs ( Buddhist monasteries)
Music and Dance:
Classic Indian dance are based on Hindu
mythology
Bharta Natyam: danced in the South
women dressed in gorgeously bright
silk saris
gold bracelets
hand gestures
rapid whirling and
stamping feet
Kathakali dances from the west
Music is divided into
Hindustani: practiced in the north
Karnatak: practiced in the south
Melody is raga and the rhythm is
called the tala