Unit 9 Unit 9 South AsiaSouth Asia

South Asia and Southeast Asia South Asia and Southeast Asia make up the two regions in make up the two regions in

Southern Asia.Southern Asia.

The South Asian subcontinent The South Asian subcontinent includes the countries of India, includes the countries of India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh,

and Bhutan.and Bhutan.

Additional countries in South Additional countries in South Asia include Afghanistan, Sri Asia include Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. India is Lanka and Maldives. India is

the largest country on the the largest country on the subcontinent.subcontinent.

A subcontinent is a large A subcontinent is a large landmass that is part of a landmass that is part of a

continent, such as Asia, but it continent, such as Asia, but it is separated geographically.is separated geographically.

The Northern Plains, the The Northern Plains, the Northern Mountain Rim, and Northern Mountain Rim, and the Deccan Plateau are the the Deccan Plateau are the

major geographic regions in major geographic regions in the subcontinent.the subcontinent.

Each of the three regions varies Each of the three regions varies in their landforms and climate. in their landforms and climate. South and southwest of India, South and southwest of India,

are the islands of Sri Lanka and are the islands of Sri Lanka and the Maldives.the Maldives.

The Andaman and Nicobar The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of Islands, a union territory of

India lies in the Bay of Bengal. India lies in the Bay of Bengal. It consists of about 527 islands It consists of about 527 islands

both small and large.both small and large.

The Karakoram Mountains lie The Karakoram Mountains lie between the Hindu Kush between the Hindu Kush

Mountains to the west and the Mountains to the west and the Himalayas to the east.Himalayas to the east.

The Ganges and Indus Rivers The Ganges and Indus Rivers valleys, like the Tigris and valleys, like the Tigris and

Euphrates Rivers in the Euphrates Rivers in the Mesopotamia valley, Mesopotamia valley,

contributed to the development contributed to the development of ancient civilizations.of ancient civilizations.

Geologists and other scientists Geologists and other scientists theorize that the northern edge theorize that the northern edge

of South Asian subcontinent of South Asian subcontinent moved towards the Asian moved towards the Asian

tectonic plates that perhaps tectonic plates that perhaps formed the Himalayas.formed the Himalayas.

One theory introduced by One theory introduced by Alfred Wegener (1880-1930), a Alfred Wegener (1880-1930), a

German meteorologist and German meteorologist and geologist referred to this geologist referred to this

movement of tectonic plates as movement of tectonic plates as the continental drift.the continental drift.

He is the author of the book He is the author of the book called, “called, “Origin of Continents Origin of Continents

and Oceans," and Oceans," where he where he calculated that 200 million calculated that 200 million

years ago the continents wereyears ago the continents wereoriginally joined together, originally joined together,

forming a large super-forming a large super-continent.continent.

The name given to this super-The name given to this super-continent is known as the continent is known as the

Pangaea, meaning "All-earth".Pangaea, meaning "All-earth".

The South Asian region is The South Asian region is dominated by India, whether in dominated by India, whether in terms of geography-landmass, terms of geography-landmass, population, or gross domestic population, or gross domestic

product.product.

Historically, a common Historically, a common influence affecting the influence affecting the

development of South Asian development of South Asian civilizations and in more recent civilizations and in more recent times, has been their colonial times, has been their colonial

heritage and traditions.heritage and traditions.

One of the major cultural One of the major cultural influences has been provided influences has been provided by the Muslims who believe in by the Muslims who believe in

the Islamic holy book, the the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an and the traditions of Qur’an and the traditions of

Muhammad’s life.Muhammad’s life.

Historically the early invasions Historically the early invasions of India by Muslims impacted of India by Muslims impacted

the political boundaries that cut the political boundaries that cut across South Asia, including across South Asia, including the Sub-Indian continent, and the Sub-Indian continent, and planted the seeds of conflict planted the seeds of conflict that exist in the present day.that exist in the present day.

However, under British rule, the However, under British rule, the people and the land of the people and the land of the

subcontinent were tied together subcontinent were tied together in many ways.in many ways.

The British are linked to the The British are linked to the creation of new institutions creation of new institutions

such as the government such as the government bureaucracy, civil service, bureaucracy, civil service, military and universities. military and universities.

The British influenced the The British influenced the South Asian region by the South Asian region by the

means of common means of common communication such as the communication such as the English language, the use of English language, the use of the telephone, telegraph, the the telephone, telegraph, the postal system, and the press.postal system, and the press.

English became the national English became the national language of government, language of government,

business and higher education.business and higher education.

As the years went by, the South As the years went by, the South Asians began to resist the Asians began to resist the

British resence because of British resence because of racism and discrimination racism and discrimination

against natives which included against natives which included not providing equal reatment in not providing equal reatment in the armed forces, universities the armed forces, universities

and other civil services.and other civil services.

The Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress Party of 1885 and the Muslim Party of 1885 and the Muslim League of 1906 were critical League of 1906 were critical forces behind independence forces behind independence

from Britain. The Muslim from Britain. The Muslim League pressed to divide League pressed to divide

British India into two nations.British India into two nations.

They wanted the Muslims and They wanted the Muslims and non-Muslims partitioned into non-Muslims partitioned into

two nations. Hindus and Sikhs two nations. Hindus and Sikhs were influenced by Mohandas were influenced by Mohandas

Karamchand Gandhi’s and Karamchand Gandhi’s and Jawaharlal Nehru’s Jawaharlal Nehru’s

inspirations, thus, they were in inspirations, thus, they were in opposition to separate British opposition to separate British

India into two nations.India into two nations.

Gandi was a major political and Gandi was a major political and spiritual leader of India and spiritual leader of India and

Indian independence Indian independence movement. He inspired movement. He inspired

movements for civil rights and movements for civil rights and freedom around the world. freedom around the world. Nehru was a member of the Nehru was a member of the

Indian National Congress Party Indian National Congress Party and India’s first Prime Minister.and India’s first Prime Minister.

On August 15, 1947, India On August 15, 1947, India gained independence from gained independence from British rule. However, the British rule. However, the

British and the establishment British and the establishment of the Indian National Congress of the Indian National Congress

Party did not settle the Party did not settle the differences between the differences between the

Muslims and the Hindus.Muslims and the Hindus.

. Thus, the Muslims moved to . Thus, the Muslims moved to Pakistan and the Hindus in Pakistan and the Hindus in Pakistan moved to India. Pakistan moved to India.

Thereafter, when Pakistan Thereafter, when Pakistan became a nation, it divided became a nation, it divided

itself into East Pakistan itself into East Pakistan (formerly East Bengal) and (formerly East Bengal) and

West Pakistan.West Pakistan.

Conflict and war between the Conflict and war between the two regions occurred because two regions occurred because

East Pakistan was annoyed East Pakistan was annoyed with West Pakistan because with West Pakistan because

they were taking charge of the they were taking charge of the government.government.

In 1971, East Pakistan became In 1971, East Pakistan became the nation of Bangladesh. the nation of Bangladesh.

South Asia has many religions, South Asia has many religions, including Islam and Sikhism, including Islam and Sikhism,

and languages which continue and languages which continue to play a role in the politics, to play a role in the politics,

culture, and geographic culture, and geographic distribution and patterns distribution and patterns

among its citizens.among its citizens.

. The religions and many of the . The religions and many of the languages that are related to languages that are related to

each other in South Asia each other in South Asia establish a relationship that establish a relationship that

links or separates cultures and links or separates cultures and societies.societies.

These cultural factors impact These cultural factors impact South Asia’s government and South Asia’s government and

political boundaries and political boundaries and distinctly make their mark distinctly make their mark

across culture regions.across culture regions.