Concepts: Location Human Environment Interaction SS7G11a Describe the impact climate and location has on population distribution in Southern and Eastern Asia. Concepts: Location Human Environment Interaction

Concepts: Location Human Environment Interaction SS7G11b Describe how the mountain, desert, and water features of Southern and Eastern Asia have affected the population in terms of where people live, the types of work they do, and how they travel. Concepts: Location Human Environment Interaction

Concepts: Location Human Environment Interaction SS7G10a Describe the causes and effects of pollution on the Yangtze and Ganges Rivers. Concepts: Location Human Environment Interaction

THE SACRED GANGES RIVER

WOULD YOU DRINK OR BATHE IN THIS WATER???

SO WHY DO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN INDIA EVERY DAY STILL USE THE GANGES RIVER IF IT IS SO POLLUTED?

Concepts: Location Human Environment Interaction SS7G10b Describe the causes and effects of air pollution and flooding in India and China. Concepts: Location Human Environment Interaction

Concepts: Culture Beliefs and Ideals SS7G12a Explain the differences between an ethnic group and a religious group. Concepts: Culture Beliefs and Ideals

Concepts: Culture Beliefs and Ideals SS7G12b Compare and contrast the prominent religions in Southern and Eastern Asia: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Shintoism and the philosophy of Confucianism. Concepts: Culture Beliefs and Ideals

THE HINDU GOD SHIVA and YOGA MEDITATION

TAJ-MAHAL IN INDIA - MUSLIM ARCHITECTURE

STATUE OF THE BUDDHA “The Enlightened One”

SHINTO SHRINE IN JAPAN CALLED A TORII

CONFUCIUS ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHER

Hinduism Hinduism has grown to become the world's third largest religion, after Islam and Christianity. It is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Hinduism is generally regarded as the world's oldest organized religion with roots to the Indus Valley Civilization (4000-2200 BC)

Origins of Hinduism Although Hinduism is considered a polytheistic religion by most, strictly speaking, Hinduism is a henotheistic religion. A henotheistic religion recognizes a single deity (god), but recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets or forms of the supreme god. Hindus believe in reincarnation. This is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body. This produces a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many lifetimes. Nirvana is Hindu “heaven” where you live in eternal peace and don’t have to be reincarnated. You get there by living a perfect life on earth.

Hindu Beliefs Karma is the sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can achieve “enlightenment.” Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, power, and suffering are seen as the result of one's previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives. People are born into a Caste (social class) and it determines job, marriage, and friends. Belief of people are NOT equal.

The Caste System Brahmins (the priests and academics) Kshatriyas (rulers, military) Vaishyas (farmers, landlords, and merchants) Sudras (peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs).  The outcasts who did not belong to one of the castes. They worked in what are considered polluting jobs. They were untouchable by the four castes, and so they were simply called the Untouchables. The Caste System

The Ganges River and Hinduism The Ganges River is considered sacred. It is believed that dipping in the Ganges will wash away one’s sins, and that having one’s ashes disposed of in the Ganges after death may improve one’s next life. Devout Hindus make pilgrimages to bathe in the Ganges and to meditate on its banks.