Southern Asia (India and the Indian Perimeter)

Chapters 25 and 26

Countries of South Asia

Pakistan

India

Nepal

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Sri Lanka

India Natural Environment Three major landforms – The Himalaya Mountains– The Gangetic Plain– The Deccan Peninsula

Himalaya MountainsHimalaya Mountains

Cotton– 2nd largest exporter in world– India’s largest export is textiles (cloth)

Animals – Bengal Tigers, Indian elephants, monkeys, and cobras.

Indian ElephantIndian Elephanthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I64LL-dmHRc (5:00)

Common Indian MonkeyCommon Indian Monkeyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWWXx5XGAUE (2:00)

CobraCobrahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJFmLtMGSqs (3:18)

India’s History

Aryans (nomadic Central Asian cattle herders) conquered India in 1500 B.C.

They introduced Sanskrit language to the area.

By 1000 AD the Islamic Empires took over the area. They built the Taj Mahal.

By the 1700’s, the British gained control of the area from the French in the “Seven Years War”

Sanskrit Sanskrit

Taj Mahal

Agra, India

1632

Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his second and favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal.

She died giving birth to their 14th child.

Took 22 years to build.

The British East India Company controlled India for the British in the 1700’s

Sepoy Rebellion

– Many Indians did not like British rule.

– In 1857 there was a rebellion from Indian sepoys (Indian troops under the command of British officers)

– The sepoys killed the officers and their families.

– Both sides reported vicious acts of cruelty, but in the end the British crushed the revolt.

– Because of the sepoy revolt, the British did not treat the Indians as equals.

In 1885 the Indian National Congress was formed to request more rights from the British, but the request was denied.

The Sepoy Rebellion

Mohandas K. Gandhi– A young lawyer who led the independence

movement in the 20th century.– He was known as Mahatma (great soul) Gandhi.– Gandhi believed that nonviolent noncooperation

was the best way to bring positive change. – He led hunger strikes, boycott of British goods,

and protests.– His efforts were effective and Britain granted

independence to India after World War II.

Mahatma Gandhi

Partition of India– Britain and the Indian congress wanted India

to be one country.– Muslims in India wanted to be a separate

state.– Tensions grew, and to avoid war, Britain

divided the colony into the countries of India and Pakistan.

– Pakistan became mostly Muslim. – India became mostly Hindu.– This left many Hindus in Pakistan and many

Muslims in India.– About 14 million were displaced in the world’s

largest mass migration

– Panic let out and 1 million people died in massacres and riots trying to get to the country of their religion.

– These riots even killed Gandhi, when he was shot and killed by Hindu extremist in 1948.

– There is religious tension between the areas to this day.

Hinduism Aryan religion included the basic ideals that became part of Hinduism.

A pantheon is all the gods of a religion.

Hindi is the major language of India

Hinduism consists of thousands of deities (gods).

Hindu TempleHindu Temple

Hindu Temple in Singapore

Hinduism centers on 3 beliefs:– Reincarnation (being reborn in different

forms)– Dharma (doing one’s duty in life)– Karma (positive and negative forces

caused by a person’s actions)

Brahma – god of creation

Vishnu

god of protection

Shiva – the destroyer

Caste system– Brahmins (priests and intellectuals)– Kshatriyas (warriors)– Vaisyas (traders and merchants)– Sudras (laborers) – Dalits (unclean or oppressed)

World’s Largest Hindu Temple in New Delhi, India

Temple in Delhi, India

A Sadhu or holy man

India TodayOne out of every 6 people live in India (1.3 billion people)

India’s economy is extremely varied – Outsourcing – make many products for other

countries for cheaper than the country using them

Farming is the basis of the economy, but online merchandising is growing.

Cities are overcrowded, noisy, and smog filled.

70% of India lives in villages that have not changed much for generations. Electricity and paved roads are recent developments.

India’s Issues and concernsRapid growth /Over Population (33% of the country is younger than 14)

Poverty (many never attend school and do not have basic standards of life)

Political violence (particularly with Pakistan and the Muslim culture – Both countries now have nuclear capabilities)

Bombay

The Indian PerimeterThe countries of the Indian Perimeter are:– Pakistan – Bhutan (landlocked)– Nepal (landlocked)– Bangladesh– Sri Lanka

Monsoons greatly affect the climate and vegetation of the area.

Mount Everest (29,035ft) is located in Nepal

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

Mount Everest, Nepal

By the 1500’s the Aryans had moved into the area.

The Muslim Mughal Empire ruled the 1500’s to the 1700’s

Over time Great Britain controlled almost the entire subcontinent.

The British gave up control in 1947

Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971.

Sri Lanka became independent in 1948.

Bhutan became fully independent in 1949.

The area has 3 main religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam)

Christianity though publicly outlawed is practiced by some.

Temple in Nepal

Bangladesh is overwhelmingly agricultural.

Nepal and Bhutan are very poor and still mainly agricultural.

Pakistan and Bangladesh have more than 130 million people.

The streets of Bangladesh The streets of Bangladesh

Katmandu, NepalKatmandu, Nepal

Sri Lanka

India Perimeter Issues and Challenges

The greatest challenge of the Indian Perimeter is poverty.

Political issues over Kashmir region between India and Pakistan.

Military leaders have overthrown the Pakistan government three times in recent years.

Sri Lanka faces issue between Hindu Tamil minority and Buddhist Sinhalese majority.