The Cultural Geography of The Cultural Geography of South AsiaSouth Asia

I. Population PatternsI. Population Patterns 22% of the world’s 22% of the world’s

population live herepopulation live here A. Human A. Human

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Rich, complex mix of Rich, complex mix of

culturescultures Six major religions and Six major religions and

hundreds of languageshundreds of languages

1. India1. India Hindu majorityHindu majority

Also Muslim, Buddhist, Also Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, and ChristianSikh, Jain, and Christian

People belong to one of People belong to one of hundreds of hundreds of jatijati

Social groups/ classesSocial groups/ classes

A. Human A. Human Characteristics cont.Characteristics cont.

2. Pakistan and Bangladesh2. Pakistan and Bangladesh Mainly MuslimsMainly Muslims Pakistan has five ethnic groupsPakistan has five ethnic groups Most of Bangladesh is BengaliMost of Bangladesh is Bengali

3. Sri Lanka3. Sri Lanka Sinhalese: BuddhistsSinhalese: Buddhists

The majority, run the govt. The majority, run the govt. Tamils: HinduTamils: Hindu

Resort to terrorismResort to terrorism Tamil TigersTamil Tigers

Have different languages and Have different languages and fight for control of the nationfight for control of the nation

4. Bhutan and Nepal4. Bhutan and Nepal Originally descendants of the Originally descendants of the

MongolsMongols Different in appearanceDifferent in appearance

Complex mix in Nepal: Complex mix in Nepal: SherpasSherpas

B. Population Density and B. Population Density and DistributionDistribution

760 people per Sq. mile760 people per Sq. mile 7 times the world average7 times the world average

1. Densely Populated 1. Densely Populated AreasAreas Indo-Gangetic PlainIndo-Gangetic Plain

Excellent farmingExcellent farming Rice abundantRice abundant

Sri Lankan plantationsSri Lankan plantations Bangladesh has 2,454 Bangladesh has 2,454

people per sq. milepeople per sq. mile 2. Less Dense Regions2. Less Dense Regions

Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau Still 125-250 people per sq. Still 125-250 people per sq.

milemile Thar Desert is sparseThar Desert is sparse Mountains of W. PakistanMountains of W. Pakistan Nepal and Bhutan: 25-60 Nepal and Bhutan: 25-60

per sq. mileper sq. mile Less in the northLess in the north

C. UrbanizationC. Urbanization Generally a low urban Generally a low urban

populationpopulation Bhutan: 15%, Pakistan: 28%Bhutan: 15%, Pakistan: 28%

1. Rapid Urban Growth1. Rapid Urban Growth People migrate for better jobs People migrate for better jobs

and higher wagesand higher wages Cities are overcrowdedCities are overcrowded

2. The Largest Cities2. The Largest Cities Calcutta: India’s largestCalcutta: India’s largest

Grim slums and bustling portsGrim slums and bustling ports Mumbai (Bombay): main Mumbai (Bombay): main

western portwestern port Delhi, 3Delhi, 3rdrd largest city in India largest city in India

New Delhi was built in the New Delhi was built in the early 1900searly 1900s

Dhaka, Bangladesh: the 2Dhaka, Bangladesh: the 2ndnd most crowded city in the most crowded city in the worldworld

Islamabad, Pakistan is Islamabad, Pakistan is growing from a middle class growing from a middle class surgesurge

II. History and II. History and GovernmentGovernment

A. Early HistoryA. Early History Culture hearth at the Indus Culture hearth at the Indus

RiverRiver Harappans build cities, Harappans build cities,

Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro Had a writing system, strong Had a writing system, strong

govt., and overseas –tradegovt., and overseas –trade 1700-1500 BC, they left1700-1500 BC, they left

Environmental changes?Environmental changes? Aryans entered the areaAryans entered the area

Left the sacred books of the Left the sacred books of the VedasVedas

Society was divided into classesSociety was divided into classes Noble, Priests, and regular Noble, Priests, and regular

peoplepeople A rigid caste system A rigid caste system

developeddeveloped

B. ReligionsB. Religions 1. Hinduism1. Hinduism

Grew out the Aryan culture, Grew out the Aryan culture, the Vedas, and the work of the Vedas, and the work of Brahman priestsBrahman priests

Hundreds of godsHundreds of gods Everyone has a moral duty: Everyone has a moral duty:

dharmadharma Good actions are rewarded Good actions are rewarded

and bad ones punished: and bad ones punished: karmakarma

People are People are reincarnatedreincarnated and either move up or down and either move up or down on the caste system based on on the caste system based on their karmatheir karma

Ultimate goal is to be Ultimate goal is to be reunited with the universal reunited with the universal spirit after living as Brahman spirit after living as Brahman priestpriest

HinduismHinduism

B. ReligionsB. Religions 2. Buddhism2. Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama, born in Siddhartha Gautama, born in 563 BC563 BC

A prince who left everything to A prince who left everything to find the meaning of lifefind the meaning of life

While meditating under a tree, While meditating under a tree, he found the true nature of lifehe found the true nature of life

Became the Enlightened One Became the Enlightened One or Buddhaor Buddha

Spent the rest of his life Spent the rest of his life teachingteaching

Buddhists accept the Four Buddhists accept the Four Noble Truths and follow the Noble Truths and follow the Eightfold Path to achieve Eightfold Path to achieve nirvana: inner peacenirvana: inner peace

Eliminate desires to eliminate Eliminate desires to eliminate sufferingsuffering

BuddhismBuddhism

C. Invasions and EmpiresC. Invasions and Empires The Mauryans est. an The Mauryans est. an

empire from 320-180 BCempire from 320-180 BC Last great ruler was AsokaLast great ruler was Asoka

A Hindu who spread A Hindu who spread BuddhismBuddhism

The Gupta Empire ruled The Gupta Empire ruled from 320-550 ADfrom 320-550 AD One of the most advanced One of the most advanced

culturescultures Developed numbers the Developed numbers the

Arabs adoptedArabs adopted

The Muslims conquered The Muslims conquered N. India in the 1100sN. India in the 1100s

The Mogols invaded in The Mogols invaded in the 1500sthe 1500s

C. Invasions and Empires C. Invasions and Empires cont.cont.

Final invaders were Final invaders were the Europeansthe Europeans Started arriving in the Started arriving in the

1500s for trade1500s for trade The English took over The English took over

trade from the trade from the Portuguese in the 1600sPortuguese in the 1600s

East India Co. grew and East India Co. grew and occupied most of the occupied most of the region by 1700region by 1700

The English The English reorganized education, reorganized education, taught English, and taught English, and developed civil servicedeveloped civil service

D. Modern South AsiaD. Modern South Asia 1. Independence1. Independence

Many wanted freedom from the Many wanted freedom from the UKUK

Mohandas Gandhi led them Mohandas Gandhi led them with nonviolent resistancewith nonviolent resistance

Known as Mahatma (Great Known as Mahatma (Great Soul)Soul)

Hunger strikesHunger strikes Granted independence in 1947Granted independence in 1947

Hindus became IndiaHindus became India Muslims became West and East Muslims became West and East

PakistanPakistan Ceylon was freed in 1972Ceylon was freed in 1972

Became Sri LankaBecame Sri Lanka Bhutan and Nepal were always Bhutan and Nepal were always

independentindependent

D. Modern South Asia D. Modern South Asia cont. cont.

2. Today’s Governments2. Today’s Governments Tensions are still there Tensions are still there

between Hindus and between Hindus and MuslimsMuslims

Disagree over the region of Disagree over the region of KashmirKashmir

Both have nukes nowBoth have nukes now 1971, East Pakistan 1971, East Pakistan

revolted and became revolted and became BangladeshBangladesh

All the govts. Are All the govts. Are democracies and democracies and monarchiesmonarchies

Nepal and Bhutan are Nepal and Bhutan are monarchiesmonarchies

III. Cultures and III. Cultures and LifestylesLifestyles

A. LanguagesA. Languages India has 14 major languagesIndia has 14 major languages

English is common, but Hindi English is common, but Hindi is the official oneis the official one

1. Indo-Aryan Languages1. Indo-Aryan Languages Hindi: IndiaHindi: India Urdu: PakistanUrdu: Pakistan Bengali: BangladeshBengali: Bangladesh Hindustani is a mixture of Hindustani is a mixture of

Urdu and HindiUrdu and Hindi Nepali: NepalNepali: Nepal Sinhalese: Sri LankaSinhalese: Sri Lanka

2. Other Languages2. Other Languages 1/5 speak ones from the 1/5 speak ones from the

Dravidian FamilyDravidian Family Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, and Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, and

MalayalamMalayalam

B. ReligionsB. Religions India and Nepal: HinduismIndia and Nepal: Hinduism

Live in all the countriesLive in all the countries Pakistan and Bangladesh: Pakistan and Bangladesh:

MuslimMuslim Largest minority in IndiaLargest minority in India

Even though Buddhism began Even though Buddhism began here, it has declinedhere, it has declined Still in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Still in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and

BhutanBhutan Jainism: extreme nonviolenceJainism: extreme nonviolence

Founded by Mahavira in the 500s Founded by Mahavira in the 500s BCBC

Will not kill anythingWill not kill anything Sikhism: combined Hinduism Sikhism: combined Hinduism

and Islamand Islam Founded by NanakFounded by Nanak Monotheism with karma Monotheism with karma

reincarnationreincarnation 40 million Christians in the 40 million Christians in the

regionregion

B. Religions cont.B. Religions cont.

1. Influence of 1. Influence of ReligionReligion Prayer flags in BhutanPrayer flags in Bhutan

Send out Send out mantrasmantras: : sacred messagessacred messages

Hindu teachers, Hindu teachers, sadhussadhus wear yellow wear yellow robesrobes

Only have a bowl and Only have a bowl and blanketblanket

Cattle are sacred to Cattle are sacred to HindusHindus

Muslim women dress Muslim women dress modestlymodestly

C. The ArtsC. The Arts

1. Architecture1. Architecture Taj Mahal blends Taj Mahal blends

Muslim and Hindu Muslim and Hindu stylesstyles

Built as a tomb for a Built as a tomb for a Muslim emperor’s wifeMuslim emperor’s wife

Mosques in Pakistan Mosques in Pakistan and Bangladeshand Bangladesh

Golden Temple of the Golden Temple of the SikhsSikhs

Dzongs: monasteries Dzongs: monasteries in Bhutanin Bhutan

C. The Arts cont.C. The Arts cont.

1. Music and Dance1. Music and Dance Dances are based on Dances are based on

mythologymythology Classical musicClassical music

Hindustani: northHindustani: north Karnatak: SouthKarnatak: South

Melody is the Melody is the ragaraga Rhythm is the Rhythm is the talatala

No harmony and the No harmony and the improvisationimprovisation

2. Literature2. Literature MahabharataMahabharata Includes the Includes the Bhagavad-Gita Bhagavad-Gita RamayanaRamayana

Epic poems from 1500-500 BCEpic poems from 1500-500 BC 3. Movies, most popular art 3. Movies, most popular art

formform Produce more films per year Produce more films per year

than any other countrythan any other country

D. LifestylesD. Lifestyles 1. Urban and Rural 1. Urban and Rural

ContrastsContrasts Most people are peasant Most people are peasant

farmers, low standard of livingfarmers, low standard of living Subsistence farmingSubsistence farming

Prosperous people live in the Prosperous people live in the cities, live modern lifestylescities, live modern lifestyles

Cities are still crowdedCities are still crowded Millions live on the streetsMillions live on the streets

2. Health2. Health The govts. have made The govts. have made

progress fighting tropical progress fighting tropical diseasesdiseases

Difficult to get clean waterDifficult to get clean water Cholera and dysenteryCholera and dysentery High infant mortalityHigh infant mortality

1/3 of babies in Nepal 1/3 of babies in Nepal

D. Lifestyles cont.D. Lifestyles cont. 3. Food Needs3. Food Needs

1/3 of the people do not 1/3 of the people do not get enough to eatget enough to eat

Govts. are doing what they Govts. are doing what they cancan

4. Education4. Education Key to improving the Key to improving the

standard of livingstandard of living In most areas, 1/3 of the In most areas, 1/3 of the

people can read and writepeople can read and write Sri Lanka is up to 90%Sri Lanka is up to 90% Weakening the caste Weakening the caste

system has opened schools system has opened schools to lower classesto lower classes

The untouchablesThe untouchables

D. Lifestyles cont.D. Lifestyles cont.

5. Celebrations5. Celebrations Diwali for HindusDiwali for Hindus Ramadan for Ramadan for

MuslimsMuslims Buddhists celebrate Buddhists celebrate

the birth of Buddhathe birth of Buddha