•Often known as a Sub-continent

•Surrounded by three bodies of water:

•Arabian Sea = west

•Indian Ocean =south

•Bay of Bengal = east

Mountains and Plateaus:

Himalayas: created by the colliding of two continents; 1,000 square miles; contains the highest mountain in the World = Mount Everest at 29,028 ft.

Other Northern ranges: Himalayas meet the Karakoram Mts. Meet Hindu Kush….creating a barrier between Indian sub-continent and Asia

Nepal and Bhutan remained isolated to this recent century.

Vindhya Mts: lie across the center of the Indian subcontinent, create by collision; separated the people of Northern and Southern India.

The Ghats and Deccan Plateau: rugged hills and eroded mountains; Plateau between the Eastern and Western Ghats and is arid.

Other plateaus: Chota Nagpur covered with forest of bamboo and teak; stony tablelands boarder the northwestern; Karnataka Plateau where wild elephants live

I.                Major River Systems:

 

A. High in Himalayas sources for: Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganges

B.Indus flows in Pakistan

C. Brahmaputra and Ganges flow east to Bay of Bengal

D. Carry fertile soil from the mountains

E. Floods bring rich soil, silt, or alluvial soil

Indo-Gangetic Plain: worlds largest continuous alluvial plain

Natural Resource

Soil and Water

-Rich soil from the Indo-Gangetic Plain;Rivers provide drinking water and transportation

-Dams being built to harness hydroelectric power; Pakistan has one of the Worlds largest hydroelectric plants

- Bhutan and India

Fish thrive in this region (own consumption and exports)

Energy Resources:

Few significant oil reserves

some in: northwestern coast and in Pakistan; Natural gas fields are found in southern Pakistan; Uranium deposits in India; Bangladesh has few energy resources

Minerals

Scattered throughout the region; Iron-ore: India; 9/10 of the worlds mica: needed to manufacture electrical equipment; Sri Lanka: largest producers of graphite

Timber:

rain forest produce sal and teak

sandalwood: sweet smelling wood

forest cover much of Bhutan

Nepal’s forest: severely over cut

To protect Sri Lanka's forest exporting of timber has been banned since 1977

Section 1: Population Patterns I.                Human Characteristics:         Richest and most complex mixes of people in the world        6 major religions; 100’s of languages: numerous social groupings

India:

1. Religion

-        Hindu; Muslim Buddhist; Sikh; Jain; Christian

2. From central Asia and Europe

3. Roots over 8,000 years

Jati: social groups that define one’s occupation and social standing

Pakistan and Bangladesh:

9 out of 10 people are Muslims

Pakistan 5 major ethnic groups

Bangladesh all are Bengali

Sri Lanka:

Divided into 2 major ethnic groups

Sinhalese and the Tamils

Live on different parts of the island; speak different languages; practice religions

Sinhalese: Buddhist; Tamils: Hindu

Sinhalese dominate the government

Tamil tigers

Bhutan and Nepal:

most from Mongolia

Nepal: one of the worlds most complex ethnic make-ups

Nepalese (Sherpas) famous world-wide first conquest of Mount Everest

Population Density and Distribution

756 people per square mile

7 times the World average

double in less than 40 years

Regional Variation

Varies from one region to another

Climate, vegetation, terrain have an impact

Fertile farmland vs. glacier-dotted mountains

Densely Populated Areas:

Found on the Indo-Gangetic Plain;

Live where rice is grown

Sri Lanka: Tea and rubber are grown; most people live in rural areas

Bangladesh: most densely populated (2,320 ppsm)

-Despite good framing: there is not enough food for the people in Bangladesh

-Population will double in the next 29 years

Less Densely Populated Regions: India’s Deccan Plateau less populated than IGP

Thar desert very sparse

Western part of PakistanSouthern most portions of Bhutan and Nepal

Urbanization:

 

Rapid Urban Growth

migrating for better jobs and higher wages

cities are becoming over crowded

strain on public facilities like schools and hospitals

The Region’s largest Cities

 

Calcutta India’s largest city (located on the Ganges river)

Slums vs. the bustling port, thriving iron and steel industries, efficient subway system, modern buildings

Bombay India’s main western port

Delhi, India’s 3rd largest city

New Delhi capital of India

Cites of Bangladesh are as the rest of the country

Dhaka has more ppsm than any other city in the world

Section 2: History and Government

 

Early History:

1st civilizations Indus Valley (2500 years ago)

developed a writing system, strong central government, rich overseas trade

Environmental changes led to decline of this civilization

Stranded cities Hittite Script

 Aryans: left little behind

Vedas: four books tell about the Aryan religious beliefs

Society divided into 3 classes:

- nobles

- priest

- ordinary people

Caste System: developed in which people could not change their social status

Hinduism:

Grew out of Aryan culture

Way of life and set of beliefs

Must live according to their Dharma (moral duty)

Karma: all good actions are rewarded and bad deeds punished

Reincarnated: reborn

Recognizes many gods and goddesses

Different forms of one being

Different paths towards the same goal

Buddhism:

Will discuss at a future date.

Invasions and Empires

 

Maurya: lasted 320 b.c.e. and 180 b.c.e.

Asoka (or Maurya) impressed with Buddhism and helped spread Buddhism

Gupta Dynasty (320 b.c.e. to 550 b.c.e.)

India advanced cultures in the world

arts; science; technology

numerals

700’s missionaries, merchants, adventurers enter countries

Muslim armies conquered northern India (1100’s) ruled for several centuries

Europeans arrived in the 1500’s

1600’s British entered:

East India Company

By 1700’s it occupied the entire region

-Reorganized education

-Introduced English language

-Developed a civil service

Modern South Asia

 

Independence::

 

Mohandas k. Gandhi (British trained leader)

Non-violent methods to persuade the British to leave

Encouraged Indians not to buy British goods

1947: divided into two independent states (Pakistan and nation of India)

East and West Pakistan

Ceylon was granted independence in 1972 (Sri Lanka)

Bhutan and Nepal had always remained independent from the British

Today’s Government:

Tensions arose between the Hindus and Muslims

East Pakistan declares independence in 1971

Democracies and Monarchies

Section 3: Cultures and Lifestyles

  Languages:

-          14 major languages

-          1000 other languages and dialects

-          English commonly spoken in business

-          Hindu is the official language of India

A. Indo-Aryan Languages:

1.        Pakistan, Bangladesh and Northern India

2.        Hindu, Urdu, and Bengali

3.        Nepali and Sinhalese

B. Other languages:

1.        1/5 in Southern India and Sri Lanka speak Dravidian Languages

2.        Nepal and Bhutan: close ties to central Asia

 

Religions:

 

Major Religions: Hinduism; Islam; Buddhism

 

1. Pakistan and Bangladesh are Muslim

2. Buddhism influence has declined in this region

3. Hinduism has absorbed many Buddhist teachings

4. Jainism:

-founded by Mahavira (Hindu teacher)

-every living thing has a soul

5. Sikhism:

-combination of Hindu and Muslim beliefs

-live in northwestern India

6.Christianity

Influence of Religion

1. Powerful influence on daily life

2. Prayer flags flap in the wind, sending out sacred messages called mantras

3. In India sadhus (Hindu teachers) can be found every where

- wear yellow robes

- carry a bowl and blanket

- live on gifts from those who want to improve their karma

4. Consider cows to be sacred

5. Women in Pakistan dress modestly in accordance with Islamic law

The Arts:

 Architecture

Taj Mahal is in India

built in 1600’s for a beloved wife

made of white marble

has towers and domes in the Islamic style 

Mosques in Pakistan and Bangladesh

Golden Temple

Dzongs ( Buddhist monasteries)

Music and Dance:

 

Classic Indian dance are based on Hindu mythology

Bharta Natyam: danced in the South

women dressed in gorgeously bright silk saris

gold bracelets

hand gestures

rapid whirling and

stamping feet

Kathakali dances from the west

Music is divided into

Hindustani: practiced in the north

Karnatak: practiced in the south

Melody is raga and the rhythm is called the tala