chapter 25: human geography of south asia: a region of contrasts
TRANSCRIPT
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