South Asia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9qfTdOQVcM
Bhangra Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtNlyGKyvi8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azFaBTxbPsk
II. Human Geography:
A. Human Characteristics
In South Asia, particularly
in India there is a rich,
complex mix of cultures.
Six major religions
and hundreds of
languages
1. India
a. Hindu majority

Also Muslim, Buddhist,
Sikh, Jain, and Christian
b. People belong to one of
hundreds of jati

Social groups/ classes
2. Pakistan and Bangladesh
a. Mainly Muslims
b. Pakistan has five ethnic
groups
c. Most of Bangladesh is
Bengali
Human Characteristics cont.
3. Sri Lanka
a. Sinhalese: Buddhists

The majority, run the govt.
b. Tamils: Hindu


Resort to terrorism
Tamil Tigers
c. Have different languages
and fight for control of the
nation
4. Bhutan and Nepal
a. Originally descendants of
the Mongols
b. Different in appearance

Complex mix in Nepal:
Sherpas
B. Language is also an area of concern. India alone
recognizes 15 official languages and 35 other major
regional languages.
• English
• Hindu
C. Population Density and Distribution
1. 760 people per Sq. mile
7 times the world average

2. Densely Populated Areas
a. Indo-Gangetic Plain
i. Excellent farming
ii. Rice abundant
b. Sri Lankan plantations
c. Bangladesh has 2,454
people per sq. mile!!!
3. Less Dense Regions
a.
b.
c.
d.
Deccan Plateau
Thar Desert is sparse
Mountains of W. Pakistan
Nepal and Bhutan: 25-60
per sq. mile

Less in the north
The majority of the population live in the Deccan
Plateau. Most of the people are farmers who have
developed their own regional and local culture due to
geographic features. Due to the large population, food
shortages, malnutrition, famines and low standards of
living is common. The region is also divided due to
politics and religions.
D.Urbanization
 Generally a low urban
population
Bhutan: 15%, Pakistan:
28%
 Rapid Urban Growth
People migrate for better
jobs and higher wages
Cities are overcrowded
Urbanization
 The Largest Cities
 Calcutta: India’s largest
 Grim slums and bustling ports
 Mumbai (Bombay): main western port
 Delhi, 3rd largest city in India
 New Delhi was built in the early 1900s
 Dhaka, Bangladesh: the 2nd most crowded city in the world
 Islamabad, Pakistan is growing from a middle class surge
E. Political concerns
1. India has the largest and most complex
democracy in the world. With a largely illiterate
population, symbols represent the various political
parties. Voting is for the political party not for an
individual.
2. The increase of terrorism has prompted India to
obtain nuclear weapons. Pakistan also has nuclear
capabilities.
3. As the region has
industrialized,
environmental concerns
has increased in
importance. Environmental
groups are pushing India to
pass regulations for
manufacturing.