asia, australia, and oceania

Asia, Australia, and Oceania

Part 2South Asia

PopulationThe population of South Asia is now well over 1.3 billion. Pakistan has over 150 million people, while India has topped 1 billion. If current trends continue, India

should surpass China in the middle of the 21st century as the most populated nation

on earth.

South Asia’s population density is about 7 times the world average.

Mumbai, India

Delhi, India

Karachi,Pakistan

Islamabad,Pakistan

The Himalayas

are the most

dominant physical

feature in South Asia.

Mount Everest has the highest elevation on Earth, at 29,035 feet above sea level.

Over 2000 people have made it to the summit of Everest, while over 200 have

lost their lives on the mountain. Many of their bodies have never been recovered.

How Did the Himalayas Form?

As in other parts of the world, there are places in South Asia that are not as habitable. The coastal

and river valley regions are densely populated while the more mountainous and desert regions

are not as hospitable to live in.

South Asians depend heavily on the seasonal rains that arrive yearly during the MONSOON season. Unfortunately, there are also large

storms called CYCLONES that sometimes form in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal that

do tremendous damage.

Despite its large population, South Asia is still quite rural. There are huge cities such

as Bombay and Calcutta, but massive amounts of people live in the countryside,

making a living however they can. Problems have arisen as people from the country have migrated to the cities looking for opportunities, and then they can’t find them. Poverty is a way of life for millions.

South Asia TodayUnfortunately, the standard of living remains

low for most people. The lack of clean water, and proper nutrition are big setbacks. Many people remain poor peasant farmers who do what they can to get by. Some of

the major crops raised are cotton, rice, wheat, tea, and rubber. Fish are an

important natural resource, and some mining is done.

The rate of industrial growth varies throughout the region. Manufacturing of TEXTILES (clothing), has become a big

business.

With its huge workforce, India has the potential to become a great industrial

country.

The tourist industry has lured in people interested in hunting, photographing wildlife,

or mountain climbing.

Languages/Religion

Many languages are spoken throughout the region. India alone has 14 major

languages, and hundreds of local dialects. Having been a former British

colony, English is still used in government business, but Hindi is the

official language.

Hindus make up

the largest

religious group in South Asia.

Hinduism►After Christianity and Islam, Hinduism is the

world’s third largest religion.►Hindus believe that people live according to

their DHARMA, or moral duty.►Good and bad deeds are punished by the law

of KHARMA.►People are also REINCARNATED, until

weaknesses and earthly desires are overcome.

►Today, in Hindu majority nations like India and Nepal, cow milk continues to hold a central place in religious rituals. In honor of their exalted status, cows often roam free. In some places, it is considered good luck to give one a snack, or fruit before breakfast. In places where there is a ban on cow slaughter, a citizen can be sent to jail for killing or injuring a cow.

Hindu Pilgrims in the Ganges

Buddhism► A prince named Siddhartha

Gautama was born in what is now known as Nepal, about four centuries before Christ.

► In time, he became known as Buddha or the “Awakened One”.

► He taught that people should think clearly, act wisely, and treat others with kindness.

►Although it developed in South Asia, Buddhism is more widely practiced in East and Southeastern Asia.

►Rather than being a religion with a main god or gods, it is somewhat of a philosophy and/or lifestyle.

►Buddhists believe that a person can enter a state of insight, calm, and happiness called NIRVANA.

►Meditation is also part of their faith, and many seek to avoid self-indulgence.

The Four Noble Truths►#1 Suffering is an inherent part of existence.►#2 The origin of suffering is ignorance and

the main symptoms of that ignorance are attachment and craving.►#3 Attachment and craving can be ceased. ►#4 Following the Noble Eightfold Path will lead to the cessation of attachment and craving and therefore suffering.

The Noble Eightfold Path

Right UnderstandingRight ThoughtRight SpeechRight Action

Right LivelihoodRight Effort

Right MindfulnessRight

Concentration

The Caste System

One of the earliest world civilizations developed in the Indus River valley in present-day Pakistan.

After their decline, a new group known as the Aryans developed. One of the legacies they left behind was a rigid system, that divided people into social classes called CASTES from which they could not change. This system thrived in

India for centuries, and still exists.

►Brahmins – Teachers, Scholars, and Priests►Kshatriyas – Kings and Warriors►Vaishyas – Traders ►Shudras – Farmers, service providers,

some artisan groups►Dalits – the “Untouchables”

The term “untouchable” was outlawed in India’s constitution. The Caste System is not as

common in India’s cities, but is very common in the countryside.

Invasions/Empires►South Asia was ruled by many groups over the

centuries.►By the 1100’s Muslims had arrived.►The Portuguese were the first Europeans to

arrive, with Britain eventually becoming a dominant power.

►By the 20th century many of the people wanted to be free from foreign control. One man, Mahatma Gandhi, encouraged people to use nonviolent methods to achieve their desires.

Mahatma Gandhi

1869 – 1948Believed in living a

simple, self-sufficient life. He was a major influence in helping

India gain independence. His

non-violent means of protest have inspired

many people.

Britain was the major colonizer in South Asia. The area that became India was primarily Hindu, while

West and East Pakistan were mainly Muslim.

India and Pakistan have fought over the

region known as KASHMIR. India has

also had border disputes with China.

What makes this especially dangerous,

is that Muslim Pakistan and Hindu

India are both nuclear powers.

Nuclear weapons on the Indian subcontinent make it a world hotspot.

Pakistan also shares a rugged, somewhat lawless border with Afghanistan. It is believed

Osama bin Laden may be there.

►Pakistan has been somewhat helpful in America’s war against terrorism. However, some people don’t think they have helped enough.

►The situation is tough, because we have given aid to Pakistan, yet many of its citizens are radical Muslims and dislike the west.

►There is a concern about who will have control of the nuclear weapons if Pakistan becomes very unstable.

Benazir Bhutto was the daughter of Pakistan’s first

president.

In 1988, she became the first female leader of a

Muslim country.

In 2008, she was going to run for office again, but was assassinated in December of 2007, causing people to

question the future of democracy in Pakistan.