Transcript South Asia Human Geography - The Joyful Celebrated Home

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH ASIA
Be warned. These are some
very thick and chunky notes.
There is no fill-in-the-blanks
sheet for this.
Cultures of South Asia
-Different mixes of
Hinduism, Buddhism,
and Islam – often causes
tension in the region
- Thousands of
languages!
-Poverty remains huge
problem. India is one of the
worlds fastest growing
economies
Political Geography of South Asia
Nations in South Asia:
• Afghanistan became independent in
1919.
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1.
2.
3.
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Four were created from British
India after WW2 (1947)
Pakistan (1947)
Sri Lanka (1947)
Bangladesh (1971)
• Two are small countries located deep in
the Himalayas, isolated until recent times
1. Bhutan
2. Nepal
• One is a tiny island chain in the Indian
Ocean – Maldives.
Brief History of South Asia
Ancient Times – Hinduism and Islam, caste
system, several huge empires in region.
British Rule – Britain ruled all of South Asia
from 1776 to 1948. “British East India
Company” controlled almost all commerce.
1947 - Independence and Partition – British
freed and divided region into India (mostly
Hindu) and Pakistan (mostly Muslim).
Influenced heavily by Mahatma Gandhi.
Modern Era – Wars between India and
Pakistan. Growing power of India, and
Pakistan’s crisis with Islamic radicals and
Taliban.
What is the “Caste System”?
• Ancient origins, predating
Hinduism.
• Divided South Asian people
into different jobs and ranks in
society.
• Very complex, thousands of
smaller groups.
• Abolished in 1947, still exists.
• Mostly broken down in the
cities, still common in rural
India
Nations of South Asia
India
Nepal
Bhutan
Afghanistan
Sri Lanka
Maldives
Pakistan
Bangladesh
India
• ¾ of all South Asia land area;
slightly more than 1/3 of the U.S.
• A federal republic consisting of 28
states, 6 Union Territories, and 1
National Capital Territory
• Population: 1.150 billion people
• 15 official languages. English and
Hindi most common.
• About 80% Hindu, 20% Muslim
• Emerging economic and regional
military power, with advanced
industrial and scientific capacity.
Mohandas Gandhi
(1869 - 1948)
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Father of modern India
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Nicknamed “Mahatma” ( great soul)
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Preached non-violence, civil disobedience.
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Salt March – 1930, walked to sea to protest British salt tax.
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After WWII, Gandhi pushes for independence for India
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Assassinated January 30, 1948 by a by a Hindu fanatic
• Would nonviolent resistance have worked on other
groups besides the British, like the Nazi’s for example?
Why or why not?
Trauma of Partition
• Gandhi wanted one unified
India.
• Partition - split in 1947 into
Hindu (India) and Muslim
(Pakistan)
• Riots, refugees, violence –
14 million people moved, ½
million died
• 1948 Gandhi assassinated
by Hindu extremist
(intolerant of other religions).
India in Transition
• India divided – modern caste
system. New wealth, huge
poverty at same time.
• Bollywood – Indian film
industry, largest in world!
• Booming population, bigger
than China soon.
• High tech industries power the
economy.
• Huge, overcrowded cities
Pakistan
• Twice the size of California
• A federal republic with 4 provinces, one
territory, and 1 capital territory
• Population: 173 million people
• Languages: Urdu and English, however
48% speak Punjabi
• Formerly known as West Pakistan.
Independent since 1947.
• Primarily Sunni Muslim
• Continuing struggles with internal ethnic
groups, India, Afghanistan
Crisis in Pakistan
• Pakistan has internal divisions, an
unstable government, an expanding
young population, and troubles with
Islamic Fundamentalists.
• Tied into the current war in Afghanistan
(USA/NATO vs. Al Qaeda/Taliban), which
resulted from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
• Pakistan is violently divided between
those supporting the USA’s efforts, and
those supporting the Taliban.
• Pakistan has 20 to 50 nuclear weapons.
These could fall into the wrong hands if
Pakistan collapses.
Conflict Between India and Pakistan
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Jammu and Kashmir – In 1947 was
Muslim majority, but Hindu ruler. After
partition, military of both sides moved
on the region and war broke out.
• After war, it stayed part of India. Sore
spot for Pakistan and India, constant
guerrilla war.
• Several wars, including 1971 war that
created Bangladesh.
• Both countries now have nuclear
weapons.
Why do India and Pakistan both feel that
they need nuclear weapons?
Afghanistan
• About the size of Texas
• Landlocked
• Population – 30,000,000
• Mostly Pashtuns, who are Muslims.
• Extremely poor, mountainous country
• Leading exporter of opium, heroin.
• US invaded in 2001 after 9/11, to defeat
Taliban. Taliban were/are funded partly by
Pakistan, which is also helping to fight Taliban.
Bangladesh
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Slightly smaller than Iowa
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Low elevation and location make almost half of
land surface prone to flooding during monsoons.
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Parliamentary democracy
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Population: 154 million people
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Languages: Bangla (Bengali) and English
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Formerly known as East Pakistan. Independent
since 1971.
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Primarily Muslim
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Cultivation of rice is the single most important
agricultural activity.
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One of world’s poorest nations.
Nepal
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Size of Arkansas
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A parliamentary democracy, but was a
monarchy until 2005
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Population: 30 million people
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Languages: Primarily Nepali
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Primarily Hindu with approximately 10%
Buddhist
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Tourism on Mt. Everest
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Sherpas: an ethnic group from Nepal's
Himalaya region famed for their climbing
prowess that serve as mountain climbing guides
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Home of the Gurkha, soldiers famed for bravery
and the Kukri knife.
Bhutan
• ½ the size of Indiana
• Constitutional monarchy, King Wangchuck
• Population: 700,000
• Official language: Dzongkha (pronounced “zonka”)
• Bhutan is still relatively isolated
• Almost entirely Buddhist
Sri Lanka
• Slightly larger than West Virginia
• Republic with 8 provinces
• Population: 21 million people
• Languages: Sinhala (80%) and Tamil
(20%)
• Primarily Buddhist (70%)
• Civil War (1983-2009) between Buddhist
Sinhalese majority government in south,
and Hindu Tamil minority (“Tamil
Tigers”/LTTE) in north.
Maldives
• Small archipelago, 26 separate atolls.
• Population - 300,000
• Most of nation is less than 5ft above sea
level, highest point only 8ft.
• Islamic, run on sharia law.
• Economy based on fishing and tourism
• Maldives is heavily involved with UN global
warming treaties and conferences.
Tunak Tun
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Tunak Tunak Tun
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refrain: (5x)
Tunk tunk Tun
Tunk tunk Tun
Tunk tunk Tun
Da Da Da
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Sweetheart, come smile with me
sometimes
My heart's keeper (lover) look
This body is not under your or my
control
(4x)
Sweetheart...
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refrain2
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Sweetheart, the strings of the instrument
play
listen to what the heart says
Come and love me
(4x)
Sweetheart...
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refrain2:
refrain (4x)
The world is a colorful place
it's not good nor bad
(4x)
Listen friends the iktaara(1) says
Mehndi's friends
refrain (4x)
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Sweetheart, you are moon and I am
Chakor(2)
there no one like us
Our threads of life is in the hands of god
(4x)
Sweetheart
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refrain2
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(1): iktaara = Musical instrument with one string
(2): Chakor = A mythical bird that is supposed to look at
the moon continuously like it is in love with it
Reference: http://lirama.net/
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