SOUTH ASIASOUTH ASIA

Land & ClimateLand & Climate

HimalayasHimalayas• Northern edge of the Indian subcontinentNorthern edge of the Indian subcontinent• World’s highest mountainsWorld’s highest mountains• Asia’s longest and highest systemAsia’s longest and highest system• Crosses most of Nepal and Bhutan as well as Crosses most of Nepal and Bhutan as well as

the northern portions of India and Pakistanthe northern portions of India and Pakistan• In Nepali, Himalaya means “home of the In Nepali, Himalaya means “home of the

snows.”snows.”• Mt. Everest is the world’s highest peak at Mt. Everest is the world’s highest peak at

29,028 ft.29,028 ft.• Himalayas are the source of South Asia’s major Himalayas are the source of South Asia’s major

riversrivers

Indo-Gangetic PlainIndo-Gangetic Plain• Formed by sediment carried by rivers Formed by sediment carried by rivers

and streams coming from the Himalayasand streams coming from the Himalayas• Flooding rivers deposit rich alluvial soil Flooding rivers deposit rich alluvial soil

eroded from the mountainseroded from the mountains• River plains are densely populated River plains are densely populated

despite terrible floods once in a while despite terrible floods once in a while that kill thousands of people.that kill thousands of people.

• 3 major rivers cut through the region3 major rivers cut through the region Brahmaputra RiverBrahmaputra River

• Major inland waterwayMajor inland waterway• Provides hydroelectricityProvides hydroelectricity

Indus RiverIndus River• Provides means of transportationProvides means of transportation

Ganges RiverGanges River • Most important river in South AsiaMost important river in South Asia• Named for the Hindu goddess, GangaNamed for the Hindu goddess, Ganga• River believed to be sacred by HindusRiver believed to be sacred by Hindus

Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau• Covers much of the southern 2/3 of the Covers much of the southern 2/3 of the

Indian subcontinentIndian subcontinent• Western Ghats are steep, rugged eroded Western Ghats are steep, rugged eroded

mountains that face the Arabian Sea.mountains that face the Arabian Sea.• Eastern Ghats are eroded mountains Eastern Ghats are eroded mountains

that face the Bay of Bengal.that face the Bay of Bengal.• Part of the plateau is a shield of granite Part of the plateau is a shield of granite

formed 600 years agoformed 600 years ago• Younger portion of the plateau is Younger portion of the plateau is

volcanic layers of lavavolcanic layers of lava

Monsoons strongly influence climates of Monsoons strongly influence climates of South AsiaSouth Asia• Seasonal winds blow from oceans in the Seasonal winds blow from oceans in the

summer and the interior of Asian continent in summer and the interior of Asian continent in the winterthe winter

• Wet summer monsoon usually begins around Wet summer monsoon usually begins around mid-June.mid-June.

• Some areas receive as much as 400 inches of Some areas receive as much as 400 inches of rain.rain.

• Winter monsoons are dry and bitterly cold.Winter monsoons are dry and bitterly cold.• Timing of the monsoon is critical to farmers Timing of the monsoon is critical to farmers

and economy of South Asia.and economy of South Asia. Tropical CycloneTropical Cyclone: hurricane-like storm that : hurricane-like storm that

produces winds above 100 miles an hour produces winds above 100 miles an hour and cause dangerously high seas and take and cause dangerously high seas and take many lives.many lives.

Monsoon Season

HistoryHistory Early HistoryEarly History

• Indus civilizationIndus civilization One of the world’s first advanced One of the world’s first advanced

civilizationscivilizations Developed in the Indus River valley around Developed in the Indus River valley around

2500 B.C.2500 B.C. Declined around 1750 B.C. for reasons not Declined around 1750 B.C. for reasons not

clearclear

• 1500 B.C. – Aryan nomads from Central 1500 B.C. – Aryan nomads from Central Asia conquered Indus areaAsia conquered Indus area

Indus Valley Civilization

Modern HistoryModern History• Europeans arrived in India during the Europeans arrived in India during the

1500s.1500s. Portuguese were first then the Dutch, Portuguese were first then the Dutch,

French, and British.French, and British. In time, the Dutch came to In time, the Dutch came to

monopolize the East Indies spice monopolize the East Indies spice trade.trade.

The French and British took more of The French and British took more of an interest in India for its own an interest in India for its own resources.resources.

After many conflicts, the British After many conflicts, the British gained total control of the region.gained total control of the region.• 1858 was the year the region came 1858 was the year the region came

under the British empire.under the British empire.• British India included present-day India, British India included present-day India,

Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.• As a result of British control, and to As a result of British control, and to

ensure an efficient flow of goods for ensure an efficient flow of goods for trade, many railroads, roads, and ports trade, many railroads, roads, and ports were built in the region.were built in the region.

Scenes from British India

Demands for independence increased in Demands for independence increased in the early 1900s.the early 1900s.• Massacre at Amritsar in 1919 in which British Massacre at Amritsar in 1919 in which British

troops fired on a large crowd of people troops fired on a large crowd of people protesting British policies killing 400 and protesting British policies killing 400 and wounding 1,200 increased desire for wounding 1,200 increased desire for independence.independence.

• The leader of the independence movement The leader of the independence movement was Mohandas K. Gandhi.was Mohandas K. Gandhi.

• He believed “nonviolent noncooperation” was He believed “nonviolent noncooperation” was the best way to bring about political and social the best way to bring about political and social change, including independence.change, including independence.

• Gandhi’s methods included boycotts, marches, Gandhi’s methods included boycotts, marches, and fasts.and fasts.

Mohandas Gandhi

Independence was granted in 1947.Independence was granted in 1947.• First, the British divided the region due First, the British divided the region due

to fear of conflict between the Hindus to fear of conflict between the Hindus and Muslims.and Muslims.

• The division was traumatic for millions The division was traumatic for millions of people.of people.

• Hundreds of thousands of people died in Hundreds of thousands of people died in riots and massacres in the war between riots and massacres in the war between the Muslims and Hindus.the Muslims and Hindus.

• Gandhi was shot in 1948 by a Hindu Gandhi was shot in 1948 by a Hindu extremist.extremist.

• East Pakistan broke away from West East Pakistan broke away from West Pakistan in 1971 and became Pakistan in 1971 and became Bangladesh. Bangladesh.

Gandhi working with Muslim

leaders

HinduismHinduism

Hinduism is the largest religion in Hinduism is the largest religion in IndiaIndia. .

Hindus have about Hindus have about 33 million33 million gods, gods, but all are collectively one god who but all are collectively one god who has millions of faces called has millions of faces called BrahmaBrahma..• BrahmaBrahma - The - The CreatorCreator• Vishnu - The Vishnu - The PreserverPreserver• Shiva - The Shiva - The DestroyerDestroyer

Brahma

Vishnu

Shiva

The 3 Main Ideas of Hinduism:The 3 Main Ideas of Hinduism:• ReincarnationReincarnation – The soul never dies, – The soul never dies,

but moves into the body of another but moves into the body of another human or animal. Therefore, ALL LIFE IS human or animal. Therefore, ALL LIFE IS SACRED.SACRED.

• KarmaKarma – Belief that current actions – Belief that current actions determine the next rebirth; for every determine the next rebirth; for every good and/or bad action, there is a result. good and/or bad action, there is a result. Karma is built up over generations and Karma is built up over generations and is passed down.is passed down.

• DharmaDharma – A set of rules that each – A set of rules that each person must follow; the rules are person must follow; the rules are determined by caste, birth, and age. determined by caste, birth, and age. FOLLOWING YOUR FOLLOWING YOUR DHARMADHARMA, CREATES , CREATES GOOD GOOD KARMAKARMA..

All of these ideas defend the All of these ideas defend the CASTE SYSTEM.CASTE SYSTEM.• A very rigid system of hereditary A very rigid system of hereditary socialsocial

classes.classes.• You can only reach a higher caste by You can only reach a higher caste by

following your dharma perfectly, dying following your dharma perfectly, dying and being and being reincarnatedreincarnated..

• Castes:Castes: Brahmins:Brahmins: Hindu priest caste Hindu priest caste Kshatriyas:Kshatriyas: Warrior/ruler caste Warrior/ruler caste Vaishya:Vaishya: Merchant/farmer casteMerchant/farmer caste Sudra:Sudra: Laborer/servant caste Laborer/servant caste

• UntouchablesUntouchables or outcastes are the or outcastes are the lowest level of humans who are lowest level of humans who are considered considered uncleanunclean because they deal because they deal with with death and dirtdeath and dirt..

• Today, it is Today, it is illegalillegal to discriminate to discriminate against castes, but it still exists against castes, but it still exists especially in especially in ruralrural areas. areas.

SikhismSikhism Founded in the 1500s by a guru Founded in the 1500s by a guru

(teacher) named Nanak(teacher) named Nanak Believe there is no God and that Believe there is no God and that

good deeds and meditation bring good deeds and meditation bring release from the cycle of release from the cycle of reincarnationreincarnation

Live in northwest India and want Live in northwest India and want independenceindependence

Issues in South AsiaIssues in South Asia

Religious and Ethnic TensionsReligious and Ethnic Tensions• Hindus & MuslimsHindus & Muslims• 18 official languages in India18 official languages in India• Pakistan has 5 different ethnic groupsPakistan has 5 different ethnic groups

OverpopulationOverpopulation• 1.1 billion people1.1 billion people• 15% of the world’s population live in 15% of the world’s population live in

IndiaIndia• 70% rural70% rural

Sites in IndiaSites in India

Taj Mahal

Golden Temple

Brihadisvara Temple