1. Human Geography of South Asia: A Region of Contrasts
Chapter 25 Notes
Human Geography of South Asia: A Region of Contrasts

2. 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

3. Section 1: India
East India Company Flag
By the 1500’s Europeans were trading with India for spices & cloth.
Great Britain began to dominate this trade, through its company the British East India Company.

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

5. 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

6. Section 1: India Gandhi cont.- Advocated an end to the Caste system
British educated lawyer
Made own clothes (why?)
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

7. Republic of India
28 states and 7 union territories

8. Section 1: India India is the world’s largest democracy
͌ 1.1 billion people
Strongly Hindu country but
Over 150 million Muslims
Source of conflict?
One of the new 7 wonders of the world

9. 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.

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

11. 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
Has largest film industry in the world.
Public affection is discouraged

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. RELIGION

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

17. 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)

18. Section 2: Pakistan & Bangladesh
Partition- division of British India
Led to much violence between Hindu’s & 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.

19. Section 2: Pakistan & Bangladesh
Kashmir- small territory in northern India that both Pakistan & India claim as there own
Muslim population but had Hindu Maharaja at time of partition
Joined India
3 Wars over the territory
Both sides have nuclear weapons

20. 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

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

22. Section 3: Nepal & Bhutan
Geographically isolated, because of their mountainous terrain
Difficult to conquer &/or visit in its history

23. 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

24. Section 3: Nepal & Bhutan
Sherpas- people of Nepal of Tibetan ancestry
Renowned mtn. climbers & pack carriers

25. Section 3: Nepal & Bhutan
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)- born on the borders of Nepal & India in the 6th century
Founder of Buddhism

26. Section 3: Nepal & Bhutan
Buddhists in Bhutan use Mandalas-
Geometric designs that are symbols of the universe & aid in meditation.

27. Section 4: Sri Lanka & the Maldives
Sinhalese- Buddhist people from India that settled in Sri Lanka (majority)
Tamils- Hindu people from southern India that settled in Sri Lanka (minority)
Civil War has been taking place on & off since the 1980’s between these groups

28. Section 4: Sri Lanka & the Maldives
Population of only about 300,000 on over 1200 islands
Ruled by Sultans- Muslim Rulers