Post on 30-Dec-2015
South Asia
Indus River Valley Civilization (also called: Harappan Civilization)
330-1300BCE • One of the worlds earliest
urban civilizations. • Population height: over
5m• Traders, artisans,
farmers• Technologically
advanced: sewage systems
• More advanced than many areas of Pakistan & India today!
• Roots of Hinduism found here.
Colonization• India had millions of people, most were very poor &
either Hindu or Muslim. • For thousands of years, India was ruled by different
dynasties & kingdoms.• Great Britain, France, & Portugal took advantage of
the internal fighting & built colonies in India. • British goal: to get cotton goods, spices, silk & indigo. • French & British East India Companies fought for
control over India - British EIC won.
Sepoy/Indian Rebellion 1857
• 1st Indian War for independence from British
• Indians angered by British imposing British laws & customs, outlawing many traditional Indian customs.
• Rebellion united the Indians together.
Indian soldier facing execution for protesting the new use of the new rifles smeared with beef & pork grease. Photo
from the movie ”MANGAL PANDEY: THE RISING”
Gandhi (1869-1948)
& Independence• Born :India College: London.
• Lived & worked in South Africa: Goal to make things better for the ppl of S. Africa & India
• Urged Indians to be peaceful use non-violent resistance .
• Gandhi & others imprisoned multiple times for protesting.
• 1947 India gained independence, 1st PM was Nehru, ally of Gandhi.
• Powerful nation (British) defeated by a peaceful revolution.
India/Pakistan Partition• When the British left, they divided India
into 2 parts: – Pakistan: Muslim – India: Hindu
• Fighting began over this new border & the “Kashmir region”.
• Gandhi (78 yrs!) – 5 day hunger strike, stopped the fighting.
• 12 days later, a Hindu man, who disagreed with Gandhi's ideas of peace & tolerance for ALL, shot & killed Gandhi.
Issues in India TodayIssues in India TodayIssues in India TodayIssues in India Today
private & public ownership.private & public ownership.
Dependent on foreign aid & Dependent on foreign aid & investment investment
Urban areas have high-tech Urban areas have high-tech companies.companies.
3/4 are farmers3/4 are farmers
India’s “mixed India’s “mixed economyeconomy””
India’s “mixed India’s “mixed economyeconomy””
Per Capita Income in India
The Indian Caste System
Hinduism see religions notes from 1st
semester
• World’s oldest religion.
• More than just a philosophy, is a way of life.
• Hinduism has no founder , no single set of beliefs, no basic religious text (not bound by a single doctrine).
Sikhism see “Religions” notes from 1st semester for detailed information
• Sikhism combines the Muslim belief in one god with the Hindu belief in karma & reincarnation
Ganges RiverFor Hindus…
• Holy river
• Expected to bathe in this river at least once in your lifetime.
• washes away your sins.
TAJ MAHALता�ज महल
Built by the ruler Shah Jahan in the 17th Century as a tomb for his wife.
India’s “Green India’s “Green Revolution”Revolution”
1940’s-1970’s1940’s-1970’s
India’s “Green India’s “Green Revolution”Revolution”
1940’s-1970’s1940’s-1970’s GOAL GOAL make make India self-India self-sufficient in food sufficient in food grains.grains.
Introduced Introduced modern science, modern science, technology, technology, fertilizers & fertilizers & irrigation irrigation methods to help methods to help farmers triple farmers triple their crops their crops
Population Density
Influence of Mountains
Population & Settlements• lower elevation = higher pop
Movement• Khyber Pass (in the Hindu Kush
Mts) between Afghanistan & Pakistan. “Gateway for invasions”
Climate• Blocks cold air from the North
29,035 feet.
Highest mt. peak in the world.
Formed by tectonic plate movement.
The Himalayas
Thar DesertUp to 127ºF in
July.
Monsoons• Strong, often
violent winds that change direction with the season.
• WINTER (Nov-April): Monsoons blow from land toward the sea. Result: hot/dry winters
•SUMMER (May-Oct): from the sea toward landResult: rainy summers