SOUTH ASIASOUTH ASIA

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INTRODUCING SOUTH ASIAINTRODUCING SOUTH ASIA

• Sometimes called the

. • Home to about 1/4 of

the world’s people.• Region of great

cultural contrasts.• Home to 39% of the

world’s poor who earn less than $1 a day.

Indian Subcontinent

Subcontinent • Landmass like a

continent, only smaller • Bordered by the

(1)Himalayan Mountains, (2)Arabian Sea, (3)Bay of Bengal, and (4)Indian Ocean. Is it’s own small tectonic plate moving north (creates the Himalayan Mountains)

Picture of south Asia

ArabianSea

Bay ofBengal

Indian Ocean

Himalayas

GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

• Area was created when the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate.

• Home to Himalayas – world’s highest mountain.

• 3 major rivers: • I.

• II.

– “brings life to the people”

• III.

Indus

Ganges

Brahmaputra

The Himalayas

• More than a 1,000 miles long & 100 miles wide

• Tallest mountains in the world

• Called the “Roof of the World”

Mt. Everest

• World’s highest peak

• 29,035 feet

Sherpas – mountain people, who are used as mountain

guides

Maldives Islands

• Atoll Islands, formed by the remains of sunken volcanoes, and coral reefs

• Are an archipelago – chain of islands• The Maldives comprise over 1,200 islands

CLIMATECLIMATE

• (1)Humid subtropical, (2)Tropical wet and dry, (3) Tropical wet, (4)Semiarid (5) Desert.

• Monsoons affect climate of South Asia.

• Coastal regions are often struck by tropical cyclones.

• Earthquakes are common in the region.

Monsoons

• Seasonal winds

• Between October and May DRY winds

• Between June and September WARM moist air – Very heavy rains during this time – 450 inches of rain (37 ½ feet!!!)– Joyous Celebration = good for crops (rice)

Monsoon diagram

Cyclone • A hurricane that occurs in South Asia/

Indian Ocean

Human Geography HISTORY

• Ancient civilizations developed in the Indus River valley.

• Portuguese were the first to colonize the area.

• 1858: Most of the area officially became part of the British Empire. Considered the “Jewel in the Crown” of the empire.

• Demands for independence around early 20th century were led by Gandhi in India.

History of India

• Began in the Indus Valley– The Indus River (modern day Pakistan) – Controlled by Hindus and also Muslims

• European’s came to the area looking for spices

• The British gained control of the area and established direct rule (period called the raj)

Creation of Modern India

• Ruled by Britain as a colony

• Left after WWII and split India into two countries India and Pakistan – India became a

Hindu state– Pakistan a Muslim

state

Fighting over Kashmir region

CULTURECULTURE

• Home to 3 major religions.

• Indus Valley Civilization = 1 of the world’s first advanced civilizations.

Hinduism

Buddhism

Sikhism

Hinduism

• A complex religion that has many gods

Cows are sacred to Hindus

* Karma

• Moral consequences of a person’s actions

* Reincarnation • The rebirth of souls after death, and the

moral actions of a person determine how a person is reincarnated.

When the cycle of reincarnation is over, a person becomes one with god – Nirvana or “Moksha”

* Caste System

• A system of social classes – can only move between castes through reincarnation.– Four basic castes

• The Brahmans (priests and scholars)

• The Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors)

• The Vaisyas (farmers and merchants)

• The Sudras (artisans and laborers)

• * The untouchables (dirty jobs)

The Brahmans• Highest “class” or caste

• Teachers, Priests, Doctors

Kshatriyas

• Kings and Nobility

• Warriors

• Second most prestigious

Vaishyas

• Merchants and Farmers

Sudras

• Artists

• Workers

• Service Providers

Untouchables• Excluded from society all

together

• Outcasts

• Also known as “dalits”

• Face violence and discrimination

• http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0306/feature1/

Buddhism

• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as “Buddha”

• A philosophy of living life that is similar to Hinduism

• Use mandalas (geometric designs) to symbolize the universe and aid in meditation

* Nirvana

• Enlightenment • When one meditates and

achieves the highest level of spirituality

Sikhism (SEEKism)• A monotheistic religion• God=Vahiguru (Sikh God

has no gender is not male or female…)

• Guru’s= religious teachers

• 6th largest world religion• Main goal is to avoid the

5 evils…– Ego– Anger– Greed– Attachment – Lust

Sikhism

• Originated in Northern India around the 16th century

• Founder: Guru Nanak– 9 other gurus (enlightened leaders)

• Beliefs: – 1 God– Salvation through meditation– Samsara (repetitive cycle of birth, life, and

death) – Elements of Hinduism and Islam– Sacred Text: Shri Guru Granth

KARMA

Reincarnation

REJECT CASTE SYSTEM

Sikhism Practices/Celebrations

• Nam simra: repetition of divine name• Attend Gurdwara: Temple• Must wear the 5K’s when baptized.

1. Kesa (long hair-turban used to cover hair)2. Kangah (comb) 3. Kacha (short pants)4. Kara (metal bracelet)5. Kirpan (ceremonial dagger)

• Drinking of alcohol and smoking is prohibited

Gandhi and Mother Teresa

Persuaded British to leave India through non-violent

actions

Catholic Nun from Calcutta;

Helped thepoor w/various

programs

Human Geography Human Geography AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

• 60% of the population are farmers.

• Slow rate of industrialization. • Produce calicoes (fine fabric

woven from cotton and printed with colorful patterns).

• Lack of industrial resources.

Has 1 billion people, and is growing!!!

Literacy = the # of people who can read.

PROBLEMSPROBLEMS

• Rapid population growth.• Poverty grows with

population. • Poor communication

systems.• Lack of education. • Low literacy rates.• Dependence on farming

– 2/3s = farmers

• Solutions –Land reform – redistribute land more fairly

–The Green Revolution – new farming techniques and better varieties of grain to make land more productive

Growing up in India p.571 • These young women from the state of Rajasthan

dress in traditional clothing to attend a fair. Festivals of all kinds are part of life for people of all ages in India. The traditional clothing worn by females in India includes embroidered skirts, head shawls, and lots of jewelry. In many places, however, Western-style clothing has replaced the traditional, especially for young people. Even though changes are taking place, females in India are treated differently from males both inside and outside the home. Females, for example, have more family responsibilities and less access to higher education and professional jobs.

If you lived in India, you would pass these milestones:

• You would receive some schooling, as Indian law provides free education from age 6 – 14. In some areas, though, you could be working even before the age of 10.

• In school, you would study history, geography, science, math, and moral education.

• You might be married at age 16 if you were a female living in a rural area and at age 17 if you were a female in an urban area

• You could enter the military at age 17 if you were a male

• You could vote at age 18