South Asia

• Sub – continent• Two large nations-

Pakistan and India.• Four smaller –

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka.

Physical Setting.

• World highest mtns. Himalayas. 1,500 mls long.

• Summer monsoons/mtns barriers.

• Three major river systems.

• Brahmaputra.• Ganges.• Indus.

South Asia - Physical Features

• Ganges Plain – Pakistan to Bangladesh. Very rich soil.

• Deccan Plateau. Occupies most of the peninsula. Most people live along the coastal edges where the rainfall is heavy.

Early Civilization.

• The Indus Valley. • 3,000B.C. Mohenjo

Daro and Harappa.• Various waves of

conquerors came through the Khyber Pass.

Development Of Hinduism 3,0000 B.C. Brahma – The Creator. Vishnu – The Preserver. Shiva – The Destroyer. Reincarnation. Karma – A persons actions, determine reincarnation. Dharma – Duties one owes to family and caste. Caste – rigid social grouping dictating ones rank and position and

occupation. 90% of Indians are Hindus

Hindu Religion and Caste

• Created a stable and society for centuries.• Caste was one’s lot in their reincarnation.• Brahmin – Priests.• Warriors.• Merchants and farmers.• Laborers.• The Untouchables – prohibited contact with

others and given most distasteful tasks.

Sikhism

• Sikhism in the 15th century combined elements of Hindu and Islamic beliefs.

• Monotheism/equality of all men.

• Became a military brotherhood.

• Seek independence for Punjab province. North west India.

Religions

PeoplePeople

Population – 919 million. World’s second largest.

14 Languages. 1,000 dialects.

Hindi official language. (English)

74% live in rural villages.

Country at a Glance. Asain Population

Mohandus Gandhi. (1869 -1948)Mohandus Gandhi. (1869 -1948)

Stressed moral and spiritual strengths of India over materialism of West.

Advocated passive non-violence resistance to British rule.

Equal right for all people. United Indian nation first. Religion second.

British Colonial RuleBritish Colonial Rule

By 18By 18thth century British century British began to rule India.began to rule India.

1858 Sepoy Rebellion. 1858 Sepoy Rebellion. India part of British India part of British Empire. Empire.

““Divide and conquer.” Divide and conquer.” Used Hindu (Karma) Used Hindu (Karma)

(Dharma) loyalty. (Dharma) loyalty. 2020thth century. India century. India

wants independence. wants independence.

Effects of WWII.

• End of Western Imperialism.

• Gandhi main campaign. • 1947 Independence to

Hindu India. And Eastern and Western sections of Muslim Pakistan.

• 1947 Burma (Myanmar) granted independence. British controlled to block French expansion.

Pakistan and Bangladesh.Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Two sections of Pakistan separated by 1,000 miles of Indian territory.

Different geography, economies, interpretation of Islamic Law.

East Pakistan refuses to pay taxes to central government.

West Pakistan sent in troops - civil war. India entered war to support Bangladesh. 1972. Bangladesh granted independence.