Transcript Chapter 19
South Asia
South Asia
Separated from Asia by the Himalayas in the
North
Bigger than a peninsula and smaller than a
continent– called a Subcontinent
Has strongest Monsoon winds in the worlddue to Himalayas
India is the dominant country and major
influence in the area
William Carey was the first modern
missionary to the region- translated the Bible
into many native languages
I. India
Largest country in South Asia
Second largest in population in the world
Overtake China in 2050
World’s largest democracy
Federal Republic, 25 states and 6 territories
Speak Hindi officially, but use English
Largest cities: Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata (formerly
Calcutta)
I. India
Major Geographic Features
Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea
Himalayas- highest mountain range on earth, included Mt.
Everest- highest mountain in the world
Ganges River- one of world’s longest, most important river
in India, supplies water for irrigation, significant in Hindu
religion
I. India
Major Geographic Features
Great Indian Desert- south of the Indus river
Deccan Plateau- heart of Indian peninsula, dry climate
Mumbai is located in the North- largest city
New Delhi is the capital
Disputed Border Regions
Mahatma Gandhi- tried to make peace with the Muslims in
India, assassinated by a Hindu in 1948
Kashmir- claimed by both India and Pakistan, in the East
I. India
Religions
Hinduism- 80% of population
2 of most sacred things: cattle and Ganges river
Castes, no upward mobility
Brahmins- highest class, priests and teachers
Vaisyas- middle class- merchants, skilled craftsmen and farmers
Untouchables- lowest level
Reincarnation- cycle of birth, death and rebirthultimate goal: become part of Brahman- the world spirit
Karma- total affects of a person’s actions
Not one leader or one book- gurus attract followers based on their own
teachings
Islam- second largest religion in India
Christianity- today about 2.3% of population professes some form of
Christianity– many movements can be traced to William Carey
Sikhism- combine the teachings of Islam and Hinduism
Jainism- related to Buddhism and Hinduism, cannot be violent against
any life form
I. India
Government and Economy
British involvement- since the British East India company
was established, the British had influence in India, after
WWI granted India more representation in government and
full independence in 1947
Benefits- English language spread among the educated, railroad
systems were put in place, strong administrative tradition
Growing economy despite poverty and natural disasters
Read Rupees and Rajas pg. 483
II. Pakistan and Bangladesh
Used to be part of India until 1947
Separated due to religious differences, split Muslim
region from Hindu
Pakistan then split into East and West sections, then in
1971 East Pakistan became Bangladesh at India’s
encouragement
Pakistan
Physical Features- Indus River valley makes up most
of the land, most people live along the river, rest of the
area is part of the Great Indian Desert, many Afghan
refugees crossed the Khyber Pass into Pakistan
97% are Muslim
Government- officially a federal republic but in
reality it is a military dictatorship
Bangladesh
Natural Disasters- location makes typhoons and
tsunamis a constant threat
Poor. Overpopulated. Ill-governed. Poorest
country in the world.
Society- rely on donated food, medical care is
scarce, most people rely on agriculture for
livelihood but the destructive weather patterns
often ruin crops
Government- corrupt and lazy officials in a
Parliamentary Democracy
Economy- is growing slowly, produces Jute
IV. Nepal
Physical Features
Has 8 of the world’s 10 highest peaks
Home to Mt. Everest
Very prone to natural disasters
Society- people are a mix of Tibetan and Indian, most
widely spoken language: Nepali
Only official Hindu state in the world
Sherpas- famous as guides
Government and Economy: constitutional monarchy, very
poor economy- 80% of people work in agriculture
Capital: Kathmandu
V. Bhutan
Physical Features- climate ranges from severe cold to
tropical due to the Himalayas
Name means “Land of the Thunder Dragon”
Society- mainly a Buddhist society, very few women
receive an education
Government and Economy:
very closely linked to India
ruled by a king who promises to move towards
democracy
no diplomatic relations with the US
VI. Sri Lanka
Physical Features- lies 20 miles off the coast
of India
Climate is tropical, monsoons are common, rain
forests are the natural vegetation
Hit by tsunami in 2004, left 31,000 dead, 6,300
missing, and 443,000 homeless
Society- conflict between Sinhalese
(Buddhist) and Tamils (Hindu) have been
going on for decades
Government and Economy- republican form of
government
Tea is major export, very famous commodity
Capital: Colombo
VII. Maldives
Physical Features
Smallest nation in Asia
1,190 coral islands- 200 are inhabited, 80 are tourist destinations
Highest point- only about 8 feet of elevation
Society
Amazingly literate compared to nearby nations, 99% literate,
education is not mandatory
Government and Economy- influenced by Dutch and then
British,
government follows secular Muslim law
one president since 1978
Economy dominated by fishing and tourism
Capital: Male (mahlee)