PEOPLE, ECONOMY, AND GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH ASIA

DOMINANT RELIGIONS  Hinduism  Islam

BRITISH RULE  Began in the 1600s  Spices, coal, lumber, tea  Colonized the entire subcontinent by mid-1800  India was known as the “crown jewel” of the British Empire

HINDUS AND MUSLIMS  Hindus had a majority of the population  United against the British after centuries of conflict between themselves  Gained independence from Britain in 1947  Resumed conflict between Hindus and Muslims

PAKISTAN BREAKS AWAY  Divisions along religious lines led to Muslims breaking off from India and the formation of Pakistan  Continue to dispute territory between the two nations  Jammu and Kashmir  Bangladesh-a new country formed out of this conflict

INDIA’S ECONOMY  India dominates the economy of the region  4 th largest in the world  Forced to adapt to a market economy after the collapse of the Soviet Union  Operate according to supply and demand rather than government controls

INDIA’S GOALS FOR THE FUTURE  Educational opportunities for more people  Increase electrical capacity  Improve infrastructure  Roads, airports, sewers, etc.