1. South Asia Human Geography & Issues Today

2. Culture of India  Blend of many different customs and traditions  Began in Indus Valley (Present day Pakistan) around 2500 B.C.  Aryan culture influenced Indian culture tremendously.  Biggest Religion today is Hinduism.

3. Indian Culture  The Mughal Empire brought Islam to India.  Ruled by Great Britain at one time.  Mohandas Gandhi was an Indian leader, who lead a movement based on nonviolent resistance.

4. Life in Modern India  Marriage and family are very important  Arranged marriages  Many relatives live under one roof  Marriages are usually male dominated and divorce is rare.  Hindi is the official language, English is spoken in the business world.

5. Belief System  Karma- moral consequences of one’s actions.  Reincarnation- rebirth of a Hindu.

6. Partitioning  Means to divide  West and East Pakistan came about due to partition.  West Pakistan- Pakistan  East Pakistan- Bangladesh *8 th most populated country in the world.  Family life in Pakistan and Bangladesh are very similar to that of India.

7. Nepal and Bhutan  Landlocked  Surrounded by mountains  Constitutional monarchies  Centered on agriculture  Nepal- Hinduism  Bhutan- Buddhism

8. Sri Lanka and the Maldives  Both countries have multi-ethnic populations.  Violence and civil war plagued the past of Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka- Buddhists and Hindus  Maldives- Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims.

9. Problems in South Asia 22% of the world’s population lives in South Asia. High poverty and illiteracy rates.

10. Families Children supplement income and take care of parents in their old age.

11. Education Few funds and inability to keep up with the needs of an exploding population have caused problems for education. Education is essential to break the cycle of poverty and provide South Asians with the means to raise their standard of living.

12. Monsoons Greatly affect the way of life of people in South Asia. Agriculture is greatly changed as well as homes. Can cause flooding, tropical cyclones and even drought.

13. Political Problems India constructed a dam that cut off water to Bangladesh. (The Ganges) Many Bangladeshi farmers lost farmland, and some illegally fled to India. A treaty was signed to give each country specific water rights to the Ganges.