Chapter 25:Human Geography of South Asia:

A Region of Contrasts

Section 1: India

India- ancient culture, over 4,000 years old

Blending of many different cultures & traditionsMany invaders & empires came to power in the region

Section 1: India

By the 1500s Europeans were trading with India for spices & cloth.Great Britain began to dominate this trade through its company, the British East India Company.

East India Company Flag

Section 1: IndiaBy 1857 Great Britain controlled all of India.

This period is known as the Raj (lasted for 90 years).

Section 1: IndiaEventually Indians began to resist the British occupation.They were led by Mohandas Gandhi.

Advocate of mass nonviolent resistance-• Protest movement that does not use

violence to achieve its goals

Section 1: IndiaGandhi cont.-

Advocated an end to the caste systemBritish educated lawyerImprisoned many timesCommonly used hunger fasts as a resistance toolForced the British from India in August, 1947• Inspiration for Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr.’s tactics in the Civil Rights movement

Republic of India

•28 states and 7 union territories

Section 1: IndiaIndia is the world’s largest democracy

<͌ 1.1 billion peopleStrongly Hindu country butOver 150 million Muslims

One of the new 7 wonders of the world—Taj Mahal

Section 1: IndiaLand Reform- more balanced distribution of land among farmers

Proposal to redistribute land. Done because 25% of farmland is in the hands of a powerful 5% of farm families.

Section 1: IndiaGreen Revolution- increasing of crop yields by introducing higher-yielding grain varieties & teaching better farming techniques to farmers.

Introduced in late 1960s & early 1970sDramatically improved the amount of food available for the poor.

Section 1: IndiaModern Life-

Most marriages are arrangedDivorce is rareVery common for extended family to all live under one roof. Most are vegetarians (Hindus are usually vegetarian).Has largest film industry in the world--BollywoodPublic affection is discouraged.

Section 1: IndiaLanguages of India

18 major languagesMore than 1,000 are spokenEnglish is common in business areas. Hindi is the official language

Section 1: IndiaHinduism

80% of populationReincarnationKarma- moral consequences of a person’s actions (help to determine how a person is reincarnated)

Section 1: IndiaCaste system- system of social classes

Born into a specific casteOnly marry within your casteOnly move to a different caste through reincarnation

RELIGION

Section 2: Pakistan & BangladeshIndus Valley Civilization- largest of the world’s first civilizations

Began around 2500 B.C.

West PakistanEast Pakistan

India

PAKISTAN (AT PARTITION)

Independence & Division-Britain divided up India into a Hindu nation (India) and a Muslim nation (East & West Pakistan)

Section 2: Pakistan & BangladeshPartition- division of British India

Led to much violence between Hindus & Muslims1 million died10 million moved to new areasBy 1971 a civil war broke out and the new nation of Bangladesh was formed.

Section 2: Pakistan & BangladeshKashmir- small territory in northern India that both Pakistan & India claim as their own

Muslim population but had Hindu Maharaja (Sanskrit for “high king”) at time of partitionJoined India3 wars over the territoryBoth sides have nuclear weapons

Section 2: Pakistan & Bangladesh

Microcredit- very small loans that are made available to entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur- people who start & build a businessEffective way of getting poor workers out of poverty

Section 2: Pakistan & BangladeshPakistan & Bangladesh- most are Muslim

Ramadan- month-long period of fasting from sunrise to sunset

Section 3: Nepal & BhutanNepal & Bhutan-

Geographically isolated because of their mountainous terrainDifficult to conquer &/or visit

Section 3: Nepal & BhutanNepal & Bhutan

Both are Constitutional Monarchies-• Kingdom in which the ruler’s

powers are limited by a constitution

• Both are very poor & have limited resources

Section 3: Nepal & Bhutan

Sherpas- people of Nepal of Tibetan ancestry

Renowned mtn. climbers & pack carriers

Section 3: Nepal & BhutanSiddhartha Gautama (Buddha)- born on the borders of Nepal & India in the 6th century

Founder of Buddhism

Section 3: Nepal & Bhutan

Buddhists in Bhutan use Mandalas-

Geometric designs that are symbols of the universe & aid in meditation.

Section 4: Sri Lanka & the MaldivesSinhalese- Buddhist people from India who settled in Sri Lanka (majority)Tamils- Hindu people from southern India who settled in Sri Lanka (minority)

Civil War has been taking place on & off since the 1980s between these groups

Section 4: Sri Lanka & the Maldives

The Maldives- Population of only about 300,000 on over 1200 islandsRuled by Sultans- Muslim rulers