Political Map of South Asia

Physical Map of South Asia

Population Density if South Asia

Mt. Everest of the Himalayan Mts.

Formation of the Himalayas

Hindu KushWestern part of the Himalayas, separating Pakistan from Afghanistan and kept neighboring tribes from invading India. The only way through is the Khyber

Pass.

Deccan PlateauEastern and Western Ghats block

moister from reaching this interior plateau, so it is rather arid.

Major Rivers: used for farming and

energy production

Indus River: West and South through Pakistan

Ganges River: Northern India, sacred, polluted

More Rivers

Brahmaputra River: E, W, & S through Bangladesh

Bangladesh Delta: formed by Ganges & Brahmaputra Rivers

Indo-Gangetic PlainOne of the largest farming regions in the world. Home to 3/5 of India’s population.

Includes New Delhi, Kolkata, & Dakha

Off Shore Islands

Sri Lanka: tropical island south of India

Maldives: 1,200 islands, 200 inhabitable, most are atolls

Minerals in South Asia

1.India is 4th largest in world coal production

2.Uranium, oil, iron ore & diamonds also found

in India

3.Mica also found here- necessary for

electrical equipment which allows for the

major computer industry

4.Sri Lanka has sapphires and rubies

Climate Zones in South Asia1.Tropical Wet, Tropical Wet and

Dry, Desert, Semi-arid, humid

subtropical, and highland

2.Monsoons: heavy rains in the summer, dry in the winter

3.Ecosystems: rainforests, temperate

grasslands, desert scrub

Weather Issues

1.Severe monsoon season

2.Summer Monsoon: June – September– severe flooding

3.Winter Monsoon: October – February–

severe drought

4.Cyclones are a major problem

5.Build houses on stilts to combat

the monsoon flooding

Ancient Empires of India

1.Civilization began in the Indus Valley

(Pakistan)

2.Mauryan Empire (321 BCE) – spread

Buddhism

3.Gupta Empire (400 CE)

4.Mughal Empire (1700 CE) spread Islam

British Rule of India

1.British East India Company

2.Raj: period of direct British control

lasted for 90 years

3.Gandhi and nonviolent resistance

4.August 14, 1947 – India became

independent and division of India

(Pakistan & Bangladesh)

Democracy in India1. Jawaharal Nehru- 1st Prime Minister of India

(follower of Gandhi)2. Federation, Parliamentary Democracy

3.1st female Prime Minister – Nehru’s daughter, Indira Gandhi (1980s)

Life in Modern India

1. Marriage is center of Indian life and most are arranged

2.Most are vegetarians

3. Hindi is the official language

but 18 are recognized and >

1,000 spoken

4. 80% Hindu, but also have Muslims, Sikhs, Tamils, & Buddhists

Hinduism Originated in Indus Valley Civilizations

Polytheistic

Belief in unity of everything – Brahman

Goal to achieve enlightenment through reincarnation – caste system – Karma

Only Brahmans can perform religious rituals

Most are vegetarians

Sikhism Founded by Guru Nanak Dev in the Punjab area of India, now Pakistan

Believe in karma & reincarnation

Most are vegetarians

Reject caste system

Standard Beliefs: 1 immortal being 10 gurus The Guru Granth Sahib The teachings of the 10 gurus

Those who do not hold allegiance to another religion are sikh

Buddhism Siddharta Gautama – reached enlightenment & became Buddha

Middle Way

Reincarnation

Way of life, no Gods, no need to pray, no eternal life after death

4 Noble Truths

Eightfold Path

Four Noble Truths 1. Life means suffering.

2. The origin of suffering is attachment

3. It is possible to end suffering

4. ending of suffering is through the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path Perfect Understanding – through 4 noble truths

Perfect Thought – avoid jealousy or anger

Perfect Speech – no harsh words or mindless chatter

Perfect Action – observe 5 Precepts

Perfect Livelihood – don’t harm others

Perfect Effort – determined discipline

Perfect Mindfulness – awareness of the self

Perfect Concentration – purification of the mind

India’s Caste System – outlawed in 1947, but still widely practiced

1.Brahmans: priests and scholars

2.Kshatriyas: rulers and warriors

3.Vaisyas: farmers and merchants

4.Sudras: artisans and laborers

5.Dalits: untouchables

India’s Partition

1.Split b/w Hindu India and Muslim East and West

Pakistan

2.Muslims moved into Pakistan and

Hindus in India

3.1971 – East Pakistan becomes

Bangladesh

Nepal and Bhutan

1.Very mountainous and secluded

2. Constitutional monarchies

3.Tourism is growing in Nepal but Bhutan regulates tourism

4. Buddhism

5. Landlocked, unlike the other countries

in South Asia

Population Issues

1.Many people in India lack food, clothing, and

shelter

2.Illiteracy is a problem

3.High infant mortality rate, but small families are

encouraged

4.Education is key, but rarely

available for girls

Kashmir Issue

1.Area found over by India and Pakistan (12 million ppl live

here)

2.Most ppl who live here are Muslim, but controlled by Hindus

3.Both have nuclear weapons, fear of

nuclear war

4.Indus River Valley area

Farakka Barrage Dispute

1. Dam on the Ganges River

2. Built by India 16 km from the Bangladesh

border

3. Result: diverted much needed water from

downstream Bangladesh causing desertification

and contaminated fisheries

4. Bangladesh launched a complaint against India with the United Nations