South Asia•Pakistan•India•Nepal•Bhutan•Bangladesh•Sri Lanka

Physical Geography

• Himalayas Mountains• Monsoons & Climate• Ganges & Indus Rivers• Deccan Plateau

Cho Oyu, Nepal (Himalayas)

Ganges River

Himalayas Mountains

• a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau and rest of Asia

• India is called a subcontinent because the landmass was not connected to the Asian Continent plate.

• To comprehend the enormous scale of this mountain range consider that Aconcagua, in the Andes, at 6,962 m, is the highest peak outside Asia, while the Himalayan system includes over 100 mountains exceeding 7,200 meters or higher

• Top 3 peaks – Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga

Himalayas Seen from Space

Formation of Himalayas – Process of Plate Tectonics

Climbing Mount Everest• in 1953, Edmund Hillary, a New

Zealand mountain climber and beekeeper, and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa, are the first people credited with reaching the Mountain's summit.

• Avalanches are a constant threat and they have claimed many lives. Fierce storms may blow up unexpectedly, trapping or blinding climbers. Shifting glaciers can open suddenly, creating deep crevasses, often obscured by snow.

• Lack of oxygen is one of the major challenges posed by Everest. The oxygen levels at the top are only a third of what they are at sea level. Humans cannot survive for any length of time at elevation above 26,000 feet, which on Everest is known as the "death zone." At this altitude, the human body is unable to acclimate to the low oxygen and begins to deteriorate. Most climbers must use oxygen and will have difficulty sleeping

Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing climbing & taking a tea break.

MonsoonsIndia’s climate is dominated by monsoons. Monsoons are strong,

often violent winds that change direction with the season. Monsoon winds blow from cold to warm regions because cold air takes up more space than warm air. Monsoons blow from the land toward the sea in winter, and from the sea toward land in the summer.

India’s winters are hot and dry. The monsoon winds blow from the northeast and carry little moisture. The temperature is high because the Himalayas form a barrier that prevents cold air from passing onto the subcontinent. Additionally, most of India lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator, so the sun’s rays shine directly on the land. The temperature can reach as high as 110oF during the Indian winter.

The summer monsoons roar onto the subcontinent from the southwest. The winds carry moisture from the Indian Ocean and bring heavy rains from June to September. The torrential rainstorms often cause violent landslides. Entire villages have been swept away during monsoon rains. Despite the potential for destruction, the summer monsoons are welcomed in India. Farmers depend on the rains to irrigate their land. Additionally, a great deal of India’s electricity is generated by water power provided by the monsoon rains.

Pakistan is much drier than India. The summer monsoon winds in India bring moisture from the Indian Ocean; Pakistan is north of the ocean and receives much less rain. The Thar Desert is on the border between India and Pakistan. It covers more than 77,000 square miles, about the size of Nebraska.

Ganges River

According to Hindus, the river Ganga (feminine) is sacred. It is worshipped by Hindus and personified as a goddess, who holds an important place in the Hindu religion. Hindu belief holds that bathing in the river (especially on certain occasions) causes the forgiveness of sins and helps attain salvation. Many people believe that this will come from bathing in the Ganga at any time. People travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganga; this immersion also is believed to send the departed soul to heaven. Also, having a bottle of Ganges water in the home will help cleanse the sins of someone dieing.

•The Ganges is 1557 miles long (2506 km)

•The Ganges Valley, or basin, is 200 to 400 miles (322 to 644 km) wide

•The river starts in an ice cave on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, some 10,300 feet (3,140 meters) above sea level.

•It flows eastward and empties into the Bay of Bengal. Its mouths forms a vast delta. At the delta it is joined by the southward-flowing Brahmaputra River. Their combined delta is the largest in the world

Hinduism – Holy Texts:Vedas (Sacred Knowledge)• Form Foundation of

Hindu philosophy • Divided into 4 books• Hymns of Sacrifice• Composed around 1200BC

written in Sanskrit• Attributed to Aryans• Consists of hymns written

to the gods & goddesses

Upanishads•More Philosophical & Mystical

•Composed around 800-400BC•One Supreme Being – Brahman, is within us all

•Idea of Karma

•Idea of Reincarnation

Bhagavad-Gita•Idea of Dharma – Sacred Duty. What one is supposed to do in life – leads to Caste System.

•Details the god Krishna’s talk on the battlefield with warrior Arjuna – defining Dharma

Hinduism – Main Ideas• The Indian caste system has

been in use for many years.  Still today the values of the caste system are held strongly.  It has kept a sense of order, and peace among the people.  There are five different levels of the system: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, and Harijans. Within each of these categories are the actual "castes" or jatis within which people are born, marry, and die. They all have their own place among each other and accept that it is the way to keep society from disintegrating to chaos. 

1. Born: Everyone has sacred duties - Dharma (roles of castes) which add up ones Karma (good/bad actions or deeds)

2. Life then Death : When one dies, there is reincarnation. Depending on Karma, one is reborn to a better or worse life. One pays for mistakes or good deeds in later lives. This justifies the caste system.

?3. Goal of Hinduism: LIBERATION: If one finally evolves or has so many good deeds they get – release from cycle of rebirth and oneness with supreme being.

Hinduism: THREE BASIC PRACTICES

• Puja or worship• Cremation of the

dead• Regulations of the

caste system

RELIGIOUS CONTRASTS• ISLAM

– Monotheistic– No idols– One sacred book– Uniform dogma - 5

pillars– Intolerant (of other

religions)– Eat beef/Sacrifice cows– Bury Dead– Social Equality (in

theory)– Theocratic society

•HINDUISM–Polytheistic–Many idols–Various sacred writings–Varying beliefs–Absorbed other religions–Venerate cows–Burn dead (& alive)–Caste separation–“State” of secondary importance

History of IndiaMogul Empire

• Muslims, 1500 – 1857.• One builds Taj Mahal as

symbol of his love for his wife.

British• 1.      First come to trade – India has

better quality of goods.• 2.      British government give monopoly

of trade to British East India Company (BEIC).

• 3.      BEIC buy or take land from Moguls, have farmers pay tax to them. Tax is now in cash – if farmers can’t pay they lose land. 40% of farm land ends up in large landownership.

• 4.      Indians revolt and British Gov’t steps in and makes India colony.

• 5.      British want India to grow cash crops – cotton, indigo, opium, tea and coffee.

• 6.      No industrialization of India. British don’t want to take jobs away from their people.

Independence & Gandhi• Mahatma Ghandi: a major political and

spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. He was the pioneer of Satyagraha—a philosophy that is largely concerned with truth and 'resistance to evil through active, non-violent resistance—which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is commonly known in India and across the world as the Mahatma or “Great Soul”.

• Boycotts, sit-ins, and refusing to cooperate with British. Works against moral democracy (British).

• Also worked to help “untouchables” of Caste system. Opposed the partition of India.

After Independence• Pakistan and

Bangladesh are Muslim and are separated from India – Partition of 1947. There have been 3 wars between Pakistan & India (Even now troops mass in Kashmir (Northern Indian province). Bangladesh broke from Pakistan in 1971.

• Green Revolution. 1943: Bengal Famine – 4 million east Indians starve to death. India tries to feed itself (self-sufficient). Through science and modern farming techniques (irrigation of monsoons leads to double cropping, new seeds produce more with plant surviving droughts better, gov’t subsidies). Not self-sufficient but getting better.

•Industrialization – rapid growth in cities leads to slums. Calcutta to Jamshedpur has large coal and iron deposits. Still relying on old colonial systems so growth is slow.

•“Outsourcing” – high tech support in India. Computers & software problems are handled in India.

Pakistan1. Physical Features: Baluchistan Plateau in west and Thar

Desert in east with Indus River Valley in Middle. Mountains keep cold air from coming south and keep country hot.

2. Indus River Valley – irrigates middle of country, largest hydroelectric producer in world.

3. Very Islamic – religion keeps country together. Many different ethnic groups with different laguage and customs

Afghanistan

1. Very mountainous – Hindu Kush, rocky, dry country

2. Buffer State – separates opposing countries. First Russia & Great Britain in 1800’s then Soviet Russia invaded in 1979-1989

3. Fundamental Islam – Taliban & Al-Qaida strong holds (see Middle East Notes)

Bangladesh1. Climate – very hot, rarely drops below 80. 4-5

month monsoons brings lots of rain.2. Good times – warm, lots of water, fertile soil lets

farmers grow 3 crops a year. Bad times severe flooding cause damage & loss of life

3. Overpopulation – 131 million. Malnutrition is a constant problem. Can’t grow enough food for the country, have to rely on aid from other countries

Nepal Bhutan1. High in the Himalayan

Mountains. Mount Everest there.

2. Southern lowlands get rain and grow tropical crops on terranced fields

3. 90% Hindu4. Welcomes visitors.

Sherpas – ethnic group that helps climbers

1. High in the Himalayan Mountains

2. Southern lowlands get rain and grow tropical crops on terranced fields

3. 75% Buddhist

4. Discourages tourism and visitors

Sri Lanka1. Tropical Island off southeast coast of India2. Plantations in southwest – coconuts & rubber.

Grows 1/8 world’s tea3. Deforestation – cut down 2/3 of island’s rain

forest. Has caused droughts and climate change4. Social unrest – ¾ of population is Sinhalese

Buddhists while ¼ is Hindu Tamils. Both speak different languages with different alphabet. Tamils fight a civil war to gain rights and freedom. Rapper M.I.A. is a Tamil.

©CSCOPE 2008

Bangladesh • Slightly smaller than Iowa; mostly a river

plain. Prone to flooding.• A parliamentary democracy with six division.• Population: 151 million people• Languages: Bangla (Bengali) and English• Formerly known as East Pakistan.

Independent since 1971.• Primarily Muslim

©CSCOPE 2008

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT(BANGLADESH)

• Per capital GDP: $2300• 45% live below poverty line.• Agriculture and Textiles are main industries.• Cultivation of rice is the single most

important agricultural activity.• ONE OF THE WORLD’S POOREST AND

LEAST DEVELOPED STATES• Less than ½ million internet users

©CSCOPE 2008

Pakistan

• Twice the size of California• A federal republic with 4 provinces, one

territory, and 1 capital territory• Population: 165 million people• Languages: Urdu and English, however

48% speak Punjabi• Formerly known as West Pakistan.

Independent since 1947.• Primarily Muslim

©CSCOPE 2008

Economic Development: Pakistan• Per capita GDP: $2600• 24% live below the poverty line.• Agriculture and textiles are significant

industries.• 12 million Internet users

©CSCOPE 2008

SRI LANKA• Slightly larger than

West Virginia• Republic with 8

provinces• Population: 21 million

people• Languages: Sinhala

and Tamil • Primarily Buddhist

(70%)

DIVISION:• SOUTH (MAJORITY OF

POPULATION)• ARYAN• BUDDHISTS• SPEAK SINHALA

(INDO-EUROPEAN)• NORTH (18% OF THE

POPULATION)• DRAVIDIAN• HINDU• TAMIL LANGUAGE

©CSCOPE 2008

Economic Development: Sri Lanka

• GDP per capita: $4,700• 22% live below poverty

line• Rubber, tea and coconuts

are majors agricultural products.

• 428,000 Internet users

©CSCOPE 2008

Bhutan• ½ the size of Indiana• Absolute monarchy; constitutional monarchy

expected in 2008• Population: 2.3 million people• Official language: Dzongkha (pronounced

“zonka”) • Primarily Buddhist (75%)

©CSCOPE 2008

Economic Development: Bhutan

• GDP per capita: $1,400• 32% live below poverty line• Agriculture, cement, wood products and

electricity are significant industries• 30,000 Internet users