Cultural Geography B Mr. Ehlke
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Transcript Cultural Geography B Mr. Ehlke
South Asia
South Asia Geo & Early History
7 Countries (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan)
Geo Features
Himalayas (Tallest mountains in the world)
Kashmir Valley (Battle between India & Pakistan)
Indus River (Supports Pakistan’s population)
Ganges River (Supports India’s Population)
Sacred to Indians
Very Polluted
Geography Continued
Climate
Wet monsoon summer (3 months of rain)
Dry winter (9 months)
Diversity
4 major world religions (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh,
Buddhism)
Hindu = Majority in India
Islam = Majority in Pakistan & Bangladesh
Sikh = Minority in both
Buddhism = All other countries
700 spoken languages (Hindi is largest)
Geography Continued
The People
1 in 5 people on the planet are from South Asia
India # 2 (1,070,000,000) Expected to pass China
Pakistan # 6 (160,000,000)
Bangladesh # 8 (142,000,000)
Most live in villages/Cities are rapidly Growing
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0884418.html
¾ of people still depend on farming
Bangladesh
One of poorest most densely populated countries in
the world
Very fertile land from constant flooding
Barely above sea level
Causes massive flooding
50 cyclones in the 1990s alone
Early civilizations
Indus Valley Civilization one of earliest
Arrival of Aryan’s
Nomadic/warlike people
From caucus Mountains
Sweep through Mid East settle into India
Set up social class system
(CASTE SYSTEM)
Caste System
4 classes (Called Varna)
Brahmans (Priests)
Kshatryia’s (Warriors/Teachers)
Vaisya (Land owners & Merchants)
Sudra’s (Servants & Peasants)
Position is based on birth
Can not move up or down
Can not inter-marry
5th group not considered a class
(UNTOUCHABLES)
Religions of India/Hinduism
Basic Hindu Beliefs
No founder of formal church
Comes from ancient Aryan beliefs & practices
Major religion of present day India
Sacred Texts
Vedas & Upanishads
Ramayana & Mahabharata are also ancient writings
Polytheistic
Worship thousands of gods
Each god is part of supreme force (Brahman)
Brahman = supreme force of the universe
Hinduism Continued
Main Gods
1. Brahma = The Creator
2. Vishnu = The Preserver
3. Siva = The Destroyer
Atman = The essential self in every individual
Hindu’s believe all things part of the same universal
soul
Stress non-violence & Respect of nature
Believe people suffer from pursuit of false goals
Material riches & Personal pleasures
Hinduism Continued
Moksha = True goal for all Hindu’s
Soul freed from body united with Brahman
Can’t be done in one life/Reincarnation
Karma = every deed (mental or physical) in this life
affects fate in future lives
Present situation = result of previous lives
Caste System
Strict social class under Hinduism
Brahman’s believed to be closest to Moksha
Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama = Buddha/Enlightened one
Buddha thought himself a Hindu
Difference
Denies existence of gods/Priests are not needed for
Nirvana
Rejected Caste System
Buddhism Continued
4 Noble Truths
1. Suffering is universal
2. Cause of suffering is desire
3. End suffering by crushing desire (Nirvana = state of
wanting nothing)
4. End desire by following noble eightfold path
*Guide to conduct, Understanding suffering, compassion for
all creatures, Kindness & Truthfulness.
Buddhism Continued
Three Baskets Of Wisdom (Bible/Holy-book)
Recorded by followers
Sects of Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism
Monastic life to reach Nirvana
View Buddha as a great Teacher
Mahayana Buddhism
Worship Buddha as a god
4th largest religion in the world
Nearly 400 million Buddhists
British Rule of India
When British arrive India = separate states not united
British attempt conversion to Christianity
Force Indian Princes to follow their laws
Outlaw practice of “Sati”
Draft Indians into British Army
Sepoy Rebellion
Rumor that guns greased with pork & beef grease
Indians forced to fight in distant lands
Believe they lose caste if they die out of country
Major uprising of Indian troops/British kill many
Effects of British Rule
Set up court system & Hospitals
Improve roads & Communications
Destroy local economy
People forced to buy expensive British goods
Forced to grow cash crops (For British)
Leads to massive famine
Educate Higher classes
Become aware of their situation
Leads to Indian Nationalism/Gandhi
Amritsar Massacre
400 killed 1,100 wounded (Turning point in struggle for
freedom)
Mohandas Gandhi
Born to a middle class Hindu Family
Studies Law in England
Practices law in South Africa
Fights for civil rights
Inspiration to men like Martin Luther King Jr.
Mohandas Gandhi
Inspires India to unite
against British rule
Satyagraha
Method to end injustice
Called it “Life Force”
Civil Disobedience
Refuse to follow unjust laws
Make British aware of injustice
Gives up Western ways
Lives as traditional Indian
Hindu/Muslim Conflict
Differences Polytheistic vs Monotheistic
Islam teaches all are equal
Hindu’s follow the caste system
Muslim’s follow strict laws of Koran
Hindu’s tolerate many beliefs
Cattle = Food to Muslims
Sacred to Hindu’s
India Splits
2 Nations Created
Hindu dominated India
Muslim dominated East & West Pakistan
East Pakistan becomes Bangladesh in 1970s
War with Pakistan for independence
Fighting kills ½ million
15 million forced to flee homeland
Currently
Fighting over Kashmir Valley
Nuclear War Threat
India since Gandhi
Leaders
Nehru
Improves economy
Industrializes country
Improves agriculture
Indira Gandhi
Nehru’s daughter
1975 ends democracy
Restores it 10 years later
Sikh body guards assassinated her
Continued
Rajiv Gandhi
Son of Indira
Also Assassinated
Solving India’s problems today
1. Complete end to the caste system
2. Improve education (For all)
3. Slow population growth
4. Reduce rural poverty
Extra’s
Major improvements in rights for women
Education
Lacks teachers, technology, too many languages
Cow Poop
Used in cooking, flooring, and fertilizer
Untouchables today
Converting to Islam to improve lives