South Asia
Subregions of South Asia
 India
 Pakistan and Bangladesh
 Nepal and Bhutan
 Sri Lanka and the Maldives
India
 Land of empires (Mauryan, Gupta, Mughal)
 European colonialism (British, French, Dutch, Portuguese)
 World’s largest democracy
 Reflects American and British democratic systems
 Economy:
 Farming, industry (textiles, iron, steel, chemicals, machinery, and food
products), high-tech industry
 Culture:
 Marriage and family are the center of Indian life
 Sports, music, movies
 Literacy slowly rising
 More than 1,000 languages and dialects are spoken
 Hinduism is the major religion
 Caste system
 Jainism, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism are other religions
India
Pakistan and Bangladesh
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Indus Valley civilization
Pakistan created through partition in 1947
Political struggles
Economy:
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Subsistence farming, small industry (textile, wool carpets, leather
goods), microcredit
 Culture:
 Islam is the dominant religion
 Pakistan has 5 main ethnic groups (Punjabis, Sindhis, Pathans,
Muhajirs, and Balochs)
 Urdu is official language for Pakistan
 Bengalis are the people of Bangladesh
 Sanskrit is official language of Bangladesh
 Love of poetry
 Folk music and dance
Pakistan and Bangladesh
Nepal and Bhutan
 Mountainous landscape caused isolation
 Constitutional monarchies
 Economy:
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Agriculture (rice, corn, potatoes, wheat)
Livestock (cattle, sheep, yaks)
Limited resources but large timber industry
Tourism
 Culture:
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Nepali is official language of Nepal
Sherpas (mountain guides of the Himalayas)
Bhote is major ethnic group in Bhutan
Hinduism and Buddhism
Folk art (metal bells, swords, jewelry, wooden sculpture) and
festivals (music, costumes, archery competitions)
Nepal and Bhutan
Sri Lanka and the Maldives
 Culture:
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Sri Lanka
Religion – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity
 Art and literature influenced by religious traditions
 Folk dancing
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Maldives
Muslim customs
 Islam is state religion
 No other religions allowed
 Bodu beru (big drum) music and dance
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 Economy:
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Agriculture in Sri Lanka, manufacturing
Fishing in Maldives
Sri Lanka and the Maldives