cultural geography b mr. ehlke
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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) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
South Asia
South Asia Geo & Early History7 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 ContinuedClimate
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 ContinuedThe 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 Growinghttp://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0884418.html¾ of people still depend on farming
BangladeshOne 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 civilizationsIndus Valley Civilization one of earliest Arrival of Aryan’s
Nomadic/warlike people From caucus Mountains Sweep through Mid East settle into IndiaSet up social class system
(CASTE SYSTEM)
Caste System4 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 ContinuedMain 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 ContinuedMoksha = 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
BuddhismSiddhartha Gautama = Buddha/Enlightened
one
Buddha thought himself a HinduDifference
Denies existence of gods/Priests are not needed for Nirvana
Rejected Caste System
Buddhism Continued4 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 ContinuedThree 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 IndiaWhen British arrive India = separate states not
united British attempt conversion to Christianity Force Indian Princes to follow their lawsOutlaw 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 RuleSet 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 GandhiBorn 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 GandhiInspires India to unite
against British ruleSatyagraha
Method to end injustice Called it “Life Force” Civil Disobedience
Refuse to follow unjust lawsMake British aware of injusticeGives up Western ways Lives as traditional Indian
Hindu/Muslim ConflictDifferences-
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 homelandCurrently
Fighting over Kashmir Valley Nuclear War Threat
India since Gandhi Leaders Nehru
Improves economyIndustrializes country Improves agriculture
Indira Gandhi Nehru’s daughter 1975 ends democracy Restores it 10 years later Sikh body guards assassinated her
ContinuedRajiv 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 todayConverting to Islam to improve lives