South Asia

1. South Asia

2. Warm-up 2/28 • Question: What are the most intelligent and the most aggressive animals in Africa?

3. Warm-up 2/28 • Answer: According to scientists, hippos are the meanest; elephants the smartest.

4. Physical Geography • Himalaya Mts. • Mt. Everest- the tallest mountain in the world • Water surrounds the rest of the region- Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean • Hindu Kush- Mts. that lie to the west end of the Himalayas

5. Physical Geography • The three great rivers- • The Indus River • The Ganges River • The Brahmaputra River

6. Physical Geography • The Indo-Gangetic Plain- the most heavily populated part of South Asia • This area contains about 3/5 of India’s population • Largest cities- • New Delhi • Kolkata • Dakha

7. Physical Geography • Islands- • Sri Lanka • Located in the Indian Ocean • Lush tropical land • The Maldives • Make up an archipelago- a group of islands • Low-lying tops of submerged volcanoes, surrounded by coral reefs and shallow lagoons

8. Physical Geography • Natural Resources • Water and soil- South Asia rely on soil and water to provide food though fishing and farming • Timber • Minerals • Coal production • Petroleum • Natural gas resources • Uranium • Iron ore • Mica- used in electrical equipment- one reason for India’s growing computer industry

9. Physical Geography Six major climate regions • Tropical wet- rainforest • Tropical wet and dry- grasslands • Desert- little to no rain • Semiarid-temperate grassland • Humid subtropical- mixed forests • Highland

10. Physical Geography • Monsoons-seasonal winds • October-February- dry winds blow across South Asia from northeast • June- Sept.- winds blow from southwest bringing moist ocean air • Monsoons can cause hardship, but are crucial to life

11. Physical Geography • Cyclones- a violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain • Most destructive in Bangladesh

13. Warm-up 3/3 Where do most people live in South Asia? Do not just say “where the red dots are” I want you to be specific.

14. India • India became a democratic republic in 1950 • Population of more than 1 billion- the world’s largest democracy • Like the U.S.- India has a federation of states held together by a strong central government • Like Britain- they have a parliamentary democracy • The leader of the majority party in parliament becomes prime minister and head of the government

15. India • Many different ethnic, cultural, and religious factors influence politics • Hindus and Muslims- India is mainly Hindu, but do have a large number of Muslims therefore they must take their interests into account

16. India • Economics • Another challenge of India is to promote economic growth and raise standards of living • India has one of the world’s largest income, but per capita income is low • About half of India’s people live in poverty • About two-thirds rely on farming- majority of farms are very small • The Green Revolution- scientists introduced new farming techniques and higher-yielding grain varieties to improve production

17. India • Cotton textiles are also very important in India • India is also a major producer of iron and steel, chemicals, machinery, and food products

18. India • Modern life • Marriage and family are at the center of Indian life • Families are large • Some still have arranged marriages • Marriage is male-dominated • Divorce is rare • Most Indians eat a vegetarian diet based on rice, legumes, and flatbreads • Some Indians eat meat, fish, and chicken, often in spicy dishes called curry

19. India • Modern life • Popular sports- soccer, field hockey, and cricket • As the economy changes, more people are finding work in factories and offices • Education is important for change in India • Literacy rate has risen steadily since the 1950’s • In slum areas- literacy rates are low and school attendance is irregular • Government has placed a high priority on improving public education

20. India • Culture • Many languages- more than 1,000 languages and dialects are spoken in India • Hindi is the official language and English is widely spoken too • Hinduism- the most influential factor in India • Make up 80% of population • They believe in many gods and reincarnation- rebirth of souls and death • Karma • Caste system- system of social classes- the Brahmans (priests and scholars), the Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), the Vaisyas (farmers and merchants, and the Sudras (artisans and laborers)

21. Pakistan and Bangladesh • Economy • Large, rapidly growing populations • Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world • Subsistence farming- many families rely on what they grow themselves • Indus Valley- farmers here grow enough cotton and rice to allow for export • Fishing is also important for their economy

22. Pakistan and Bangladesh • Neither are highly industrialized, but both countries are trying to increase their industrial base • Exports- cotton garments, wool carpets, and leather goods

23. Pakistan and Bangladesh • Most of the people here are Muslims • The countries differ somewhat in their Islamic practices • Pakistan is stricter in imposing Islamic law on citizens • Women are not allowed to have contact with men who are not relatives, when women appear in public they must have wear veils • In Bangladesh it is not as common

24. Pakistan and Bangladesh • Pakistan is more diverse • They have five major ethnic groups and each has their own language and regional areas in the country • In Bangladesh most people are Bengalis

25. Pakistan and Bangladesh • Life revolves around the family • Arrange marriages are common and families tend to be large • Most people live in small villages, in simple homes made of materials like sub-baked mud, bamboo, or wood • The large cities are busy places, with crowded traffic and people

26. Pakistan and Bangladesh • Poetry is important and traditions of oral literature is strong • Music and dance is also important • Tradition of folk dances with elaborately costumed dancers act out Bengali myths, legends, and stories

27. Nepal and Bhutan • Both are located in the Himalayas • The mountains have helped to keep these countries isolated • Both countries have constitutional monarchies- kingdoms in which ruler's powers are limited by a constitution • Governments challenges- balance interest of two powerful neighbors, China and India

28. Nepal and Bhutan • Economy- • Decades of isolation and difficult topography have limited economic growth • They have limited natural resources • They rely heavily on agriculture- most farm plots are small because of the rough terrain • Timber industry is important • Most trade is with India • Increasing tourism- Himalayas are poplar for tourists

29. Nepal and Bhutan • Rich cultural traditions- • Various ethnic groups life here • Religious customs- religion is important • Hinduism and Buddhism are the most common religions • Folk art and festivals are popular • Artisans make metal bells, swords, and jewelry • They also weave colorful textiles from silk, cotton, and wool • People celebrate and perform dances based on religious stories

30. Sri Lanka and the Maldives • Religion and ethnicity are key factors • Buddhists- 75% of population • Hindus- 18% of population • Muslims- 7% • Also a small community of Christians

31. Sri Lanka and the Maldives • Economy • Sri Lanka has the highest per capita income in South Asia • Economies are mainly based on agriculture • Sri Lanka is one of the world’s leading tea-producing countries • Sri Lanka is also famous for gemstones- including sapphires, rubies, and topaz

32. Sri Lanka and the Maldives • Economy of the Maldives is a little bit different • Farming is limited by lack of land • Most food is imported • Fishing is one of the main economic activities • Tourism is the main economic activity

33. Sri Lanka and the Maldives • Challenges • 1980’s- civil war in Sri Lanka and the tourist industry collapsed • War damaged the country’s infrastructure

35. Warm-up 3/4 • “Cinema in India is like brushing your teeth in the morning. You can’t escape it.” • Answer the questions on your warm-up paper about the quote above. • Hand in your venn diagram from yesterday!

36. Natural Hazards • Tsunamis • Flooding • Droughts • Cyclones

37. Tsunamis • Tsunami- a series of ocean waves caused by tectonic forces along the ocean floor • They cannot be prevented • Can be prepared for • There are timely warnings • Effective response with increased technology • Tsunamis threaten most of South Asia

38. Flooding • Flooding mainly affects people of low elevation areas • Affects the Maldives in South Asia because of their low elevation • Most of the flooding is occurring because of climate change • They are the third most endangered country due to flooding • Also happens in Bangladesh because of rainfall (brought by monsoons)- people must adapt by building houses on stilts

39. Droughts • Occurs in Bangladesh • They have uneven rainfall seasons • Monsoons- brings long period of no rainfall at all followed by flooding • Causes food shortages

40. Cyclones • Also happen in Bangladesh frequently because it is located on Bay of Bengal • These storms bring rain and heavy winds • Cause loss of lives, but also loss of wealth and ability to boost economy

41. Assignment 3/4 • Write a newspaper or magazine article on a natural hazard in South Asia, its effects on the people, and settlements in the region.

43. Warm-up 3/5- answer the questions on your warm-up paper based on this image below

44. Warm-up 3/5 • What landmark is this? • The TajMahal • Where is it located? • It is located on the back of the Yamuna River in Agra, India • Which culture created it? • The Mughal Empire • Why/when was this landmark created? Why is it happening? • The Emperor ordered it to by built in 1632 to house the remains of his wife • What defining characteristics of this landmark standout to you?

45. History • Early Civilization • Empires • Colonization and Partition • Modern Day

46. History- Early Civilization • The Harappan Civilization- one of the earliest civilizations in the region • Existed between 2600-1700 B.C. • The Aryans- moved into the region and settled along the Indus River Valley • Established small kingdoms on the Ganges Plain • Hinduism emerged during their rule • The Vedas- written record of the religious teachings of the Aryans and is the major text of the Hindu faith • Caste system also developed during this time period and is still a part of Indian culture today

47. History- Empires • Empires that settled the region- • Mauryan, Gupta, and Mughal Empires • The Mauryan (321 B.C.) united most of India and spread Buddhism through most of the region • Mughal (early 1500’s)- helped to spread the influence of Islam • The TajMahal was constructed during Muslim domination in the region

48. History- Colonization • The British colonized the region in the late 1800’s to exploit the abundant natural resources • Indians tried to fight against British rule, but were unsuccessful and they were placed under a system called the British Raj- as a result many Indians were discriminated against and lived in poverty • Mohandas K. Gandhi led revolution against British control in the 1930’s and 40’s. • India achieved independence in 1947 • Gandhi used nonviolent resistance- a protest movement that does not use violence to achieve its goals.

49. History- Colonization/partition • The end of British rule in 1947 brought partition- or division of British India • Two new countries were created- India (mainly Hindu) and mainly Muslim Pakistan (separated into east and west Pakistan) • Partition led to a lot of violence between Muslims and Hindus • About 1 million people died in the conflict

50. Modern Day • Modern day challenges include poverty, overcrowding, ethnic/religious conflicts, and economic development. • India is the second most populated nation in the world with over 1.2 billion • India spends a lot of its annual health-care budget encouraging Indians to have smaller families • Education- essential to break the cycle of poverty and provide South Asians with the means to raise their standard of living