South Asia Notes Countries South Asia is often

South Asia Notes

Countries South Asia is often called a subcontinent- a very large landmass that is smaller than a continent Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka

India – Taj Mahal

Pakistan

Nepal

Mumbai, India

Bangladesh

The Maldives

The Maldives

Bhutan

Sri Lanka

Mountains & Plateaus…. Himalayas Pangaea – theory that the earth was once a giant landmass When the continents broke apart, Africa rammed into Asia causing the land to crumple up forming the Himalayas Over 1000 miles long Contains Mount Everest World’s highest mountain 29, 028 feet high Lies on border between Nepal & China

Himalayas “Roof top of the world. ” Formed by the collision of tectonic plates Everest is the highest peak

Everest

Mountains & Plateaus Cont… Karakoram Mountains Hindu Kush Mountains Vindhya Mountains Separate north and south India Different cultures in these two regions due to the separation

Mountains & Plateaus cont… Eastern & Western Ghats Deccan Plateau Form a triangle at Southern India Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats are mountains along each coast The Deccan Plateau is in between the mountains

Rivers…. Indus Brahmaputra Ganges The major rivers start in the Himalaya Mountains Rivers carry fertile soil washed down from the mountains When rivers overflow, deposit alluvial soil (fertile soil from the silt) onto the flood plain

Indo-Gangetic Plain… Indo-Gangetic Plainalluvial plain that has been created by the flooding of the Indus and Ganges Rivers Largest alluvial plain in the world Alluvial plain - flat landform created by the deposition of sediment over a long period of time by one or more rivers.

Deserts…. Thar Desert (Great Indian Desert) lies in India & Pakistan Dry monsoon winds keeps desert arid and hot

Monsoons…. Monsoons are seasonal winds that greatly affect the climate Between October-May- winter winds blow from the north and northeast and are dry Between June-September- summer winds blow from the south and southwest over the Indian Ocean and bring warm, moist air Heavy rains during this time People depend on the heavy rains for farming Sometimes the heavy rains can cause disastrous floods

Cyclones…. Cyclone- storm marked by high winds and heavy rain Affects Bangladesh storm surges – waters wash ashore like a very high tide cause major disasters by flooding farmland also causing rivers to flood In 1991, a cyclone killed 131, 000 people

Population…. India is the 2 nd most populated country in the world (1. 1 billion people) Highest population growth rate in South Asia Improved health care and sanitation Lower death rate Population will double in 40 years if it continues to grow

Population…. High Population Density Densely populated areas: Along the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain Along monsoon watered coasts Near where rice is grown Bangladesh Country with the highest population density in the world Problem - difficult to produce enough food Less densely populated areas Deccan Plateau Thar Desert Mountains

Urbanization…. 70% of people live in rural villages in India It is increasing because South Asians are migrating to cities in search of better jobs and higher wages Largest cities in India Calcutta (3 rd largest in world) Bombay (9 th largest in world) Delhi (14 th largest in world) Cities are: Overcrowded Polluted Putting a strain on public facilities like schools and hospitals

History…. Early Civilizations Civilization began around the Indus river around 2500 B. C. Aryans moved into northern India from central Asia Spoke an early form of Sanskrit Aryans come into this region and left their ideas in Vedas: 1. four books about Aryan religious beliefs divided Aryan society into 3 classes Nobles Priests ordinary people eventually During developed into the caste system Aryan time, Siddhartha Gautama taught concepts of Buddhism

History… Islamic A. D. Empires 1000 Islamic empires began attacking India 1398 Timur attacked Babur then took over most of northern India and founded the Mughal Empire During this time Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal

European Colonization…. British began trading with India in the 1490’s Formed the East India Company Became the most powerful trading corporation Built trading posts and forts in strategic locations

Sepoy Rebellion By 1857 British East India Company controlled most of India Sepoys- Indian soldiers under command of British In 1857 sepoys rebelled against their British commanders Sepoy resented the British trying to (force) impose Christianity & European customs on them The Sepoys were not successful but it did force the British to tighten its control of India Sent a viceroy to take over India’s territory India became a British colony

European Colonization…. “jewel in the crown” for the British empire A viceroy is a governor ruling as a royal representative to take over a territory The viceroy gained control and alliances with other Indian states Indian Nationalism is the desire for self rule

European colonization…. To try to stop more unrest in India, the British spend lots of money on India’s economy development Built paved roads Built railway system Installed telegraph lines Dug irrigation canals Established schools and universities

Problems Under British Control… British officials discriminated against Indians Forced Indians to change their ancient ways Forced farmers to grow cotton instead of wheat British textile industries needed cotton Lack of wheat led to food shortages that killed millions of Indians began to demand more rights Formed Indian National Congress Political group that led to the long struggle for independence

Independence for India…. Indians wanted independence and equality Mohandas Gandhi led the independence movement Encouraged Indians to boycott British goods Led peaceful marches

India & Pakistan…. Following WWII, Britain granted India independence Hostility between Hindus and Muslims grew 1947 India was partitioned into 2 countries India Pakistan 1971 East Pakistan broke away from West Pakistan forming Bangladesh

Government…. India is the world’s largest democracy India’s government is based on British model Parliament Prime minister Pakistan has a president who is elected indirectly by members of the legislature Bhutan and Nepal are monarchies

Language…. Many different languages Indo-Aryan Language family Most languages spoken in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh fall in this language family - group of related languages that have all developed from one earlier language

Language…. Major languages spoken: India- Hindi & English Pakistan- Urdu Bangladesh- Bengali Nepal- Nepali Sri Lanka- Sinhalese

Religion…. India’s government is secular The major religions are: Hinduism Buddhism Islam India and Nepal - Hinduism 80% of India is Hindu Pakistan, Bangladesh, & Maldives – Islam Sri Lanka & Bhutan - Buddhism Two of the world’s major religions began in India - Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism…. Believe that: Every individual must live according to his or her own dharma – one’s moral duty in life Karma – positive or negative forces caused by a person’s actions Reincarnation – repeated rebirth of one’s soul in different forms Those who fulfill their dharma earn good karma and may be reborn as persons of higher status Many gods and goddesses Reincarnation and karma maintain the caste system

caste system – group of people who are born into a certain position in society 4 major castes: Brahmins – priests and intellectuals Kshatriyas – warriors Vaisyas – traders and merchants Sudras – farmers and laborers Dalits Born – “the oppressed” into caste & cannot move into another Indian constitution abolished caste system but still remains large part of daily life Caste System….

Hinduism Distribution

Buddhism…. Siddhartha Gautama was a prince He went on a pilgrimage - religious journey After years of spiritual searching and meditation, he became known as Buddha (or the Awakened One)

Buddha…. Buddha People taught: suffer because they are overly attached to material things To escape this suffering which leads to endless rebirth, one must live by certain rules The rules include: Thinking clearly Acting wisely Behaving kindly towards others Buddha taught guidelines so people enter nirvana - state of great insight, calm, and happiness

Sikhism…. Founded in the 1500 s by Guru Nanak Combined Hinduism and Islam into one religion Monotheistic - believe in one God Hindu ideas of karma and reincarnation Most Sikhs live in northwest India The khanda – the sikh symbol

Jainism…. Began in the 500 s BC by a young Hindu teacher Mahavira Believe in non-violence Every living thing has a soul 3 million followers in India Combines aspects of Hinduism & Buddhism

Influence of Religion…. Religion has a powerful influence on daily life in South Asia Prayer flags flap in the wind sending out mantras - sacred messages Sadhus - Hindu teachers In Hindu countries, cows are considered sacred and are seen roaming the streets Pakistan - women must dress modestly as Islamic law requires

Agriculture…. 56% of India is arable (fertile) 2/3 of people in South Asia are farmers Farming contributes 25% of India’s GDP Most are subsistence farmers- manage to produce just what they need to survive Some farmers are getting better technology (tractors) Often have small plots of land because of traditional inheritance practices Most farms are less than 2. 5 acres Land is divided equally among sons As generations pass, plots become smaller

Agriculture…. Variety of crops Major food crop is rice India is the world’s 2 nd largest producer of rice Other crops Wheat, Sugarcane , citrus fruits, rubber and cotton Jute - fiber used to make string and cloth Peanuts – leading producer Tea – grown on plantations in Sri Lanka

Agriculture…. Improved Agricultural Practices Since population is growing rapidly, food production must increase too Training farmersto use technology Programs to teach about irrigation, insect control, and fertilization Plant two or more crops on the same piece of land each year Agricultural research Green Revolution Began in the 1960 s Plant breeders were worried about world hunger Wanted to find ways to grow better crops (produced more, grew faster) Used genetic engineering on crops

Industry…. Some areas are more industrialized than others Light industry production of consumer goods (like bikes, TVs, textiles) Heavy industry production of machinery and equipment needed for factories

Tourism…. Important to the economies of the mountains countries Nepal - climb or trek in the Himalayas Sri Lanka - beautiful beaches Maldives - beaches (Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes went on their honeymoon there)

Deforestation The loss or destruction of forests due mainly to trees being cleared for logging or farming Half of India’s forests have been cut down since independence Soil erosion & overgrazing India Many trees cut down by logging companies to clear land for other businesses & farming Nepal Trekkers (mountain hikers) use lots of firewood Hikers also leave behind large amounts of trash 2010 – group of Sherpas led mission to clean up trash, oxygen tanks, and dead bodies left behind by trekkers Environment….

Effects of Deforestation…. Mangroves - trees along the coast of the Bay of Bengal Mangroves provide protection from cyclones and tidal waves Mangroves are being cut down leaving Bangladesh vulnerable to floods Himalayas Forests act like sponges and absorb the heavy rains of the monsoons When forests are cut down, it causes flooding and landslides Another effect of deforestation…

Things to Know for the Quiz: Mountains & Plateaus Major Rivers Indo-Gangetic Plain All About Monsoons Cyclones Sepoys Languages