Human Geography of South Asia: A Region of Contrasts 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 & traditions Many invaders & empires came to power in the region

Section 1: India East India Company Flag 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.

Section 1: India By 1857 Great Britain controlled all of India. This period is known as the Raj (lasted for 90 years).

Section 1: India Eventually 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: India Gandhi cont.- Advocated an end to the caste system British educated lawyer Imprisoned many times Commonly used hunger fasts as a resistance tool Forced 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: India India is the world’s largest democracy ͌ 1.1 billion people Strongly Hindu country but Over 150 million Muslims One of the new 7 wonders of the world—Taj Mahal

Section 1: India Land 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: India Green Revolution- increasing of crop yields by introducing higher-yielding grain varieties & teaching better farming techniques to farmers. Introduced in late 1960s & early 1970s Dramatically improved the amount of food available for the poor.

Section 1: India Modern Life- Most marriages are arranged Divorce is rare Very common for extended family to all live under one roof. Most are vegetarians (Hindus are usually vegetarian). Has largest film industry in the world--Bollywood Public affection is discouraged.

Section 1: India Languages of India 18 major languages More than 1,000 are spoken English is common in business areas. Hindi is the official language

Section 1: India Hinduism 80% of population Reincarnation Karma- moral consequences of a person’s actions (help to determine how a person is reincarnated)

Section 1: India Caste system- system of social classes Born into a specific caste Only marry within your caste Only move to a different caste through reincarnation

RELIGION

Section 2: Pakistan & Bangladesh Indus Valley Civilization- largest of the world’s first civilizations Began around 2500 B.C.

PAKISTAN (AT PARTITION) India West Pakistan East Pakistan Independence & Division- Britain divided up India into a Hindu nation (India) and a Muslim nation (East & West Pakistan)

Section 2: Pakistan & Bangladesh Partition- division of British India Led to much violence between Hindus & Muslims 1 million died 10 million moved to new areas By 1971 a civil war broke out and the new nation of Bangladesh was formed.

Section 2: Pakistan & Bangladesh Kashmir- 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 partition Joined India 3 wars over the territory Both sides have nuclear weapons

Section 2: Pakistan & Bangladesh Microcredit- very small loans that are made available to entrepreneurs Entrepreneur- people who start & build a business Effective way of getting poor workers out of poverty

Section 2: Pakistan & Bangladesh Pakistan & Bangladesh- most are Muslim Ramadan- month-long period of fasting from sunrise to sunset

Section 3: Nepal & Bhutan Geographically isolated because of their mountainous terrain Difficult to conquer &/or visit

Section 3: Nepal & 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 & Bhutan Siddhartha 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 Maldives Sinhalese- 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 Population of only about 300,000 on over 1200 islands Ruled by Sultans- Muslim rulers