South AsiaIndia and Its Neighbors

Geography of S. Asia• Sub-continent of Asia—

separated by mountains—growing

• Mountains: Himalayas, Hindu Kush

• Important rivers: Ganges, Indus,

• Deccan Plateau —central India• Many rainforests• Island countries of Sri Lanka,

Maldives

Deccan Plateau

Maldives and

Sri Lanka

• Khyber Pass —important for invaders• Mt. Everest —tallest mtn. in the world• Large deltas (Bangladesh) with lots of

sediment

Climate and Monsoons

• 3 seasons: cool, hot, rainy• Monsoons –seasonal winds

that bring moisture (often heavy rains)

• Monsoons too early, late, or too much rain and it ruins crops

Ancient India• About the time as Ancient Egypt

• Along Indus River Valley, cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

• Aryans from southern Russia—spoke Sanskrit

• Used iron ore for farming and weapons, introduce the horse to area

• Area becomes a crossroads for trade

Caste System• Social class system under Hinduism• Caste- inherited social class, called Varnas• Determines jobs, marriage, friends

– Brahmans—highest: priests, teachers– Kshatriyas-Kings/rulers, warriors– Vaishyas-merchants and farmers– Shudras-labors– Untouchables—lowest: jobs no one else

would do, Gandhi worked to help these people

*Reincarnation kept this alive—hope to be reborn in higher class

History of India• Mughal Empire –Muslim ruled area

• Emperor Akbar —included Muslim & Hindus, taxed based on how much owned

• Strong time for arts, sciences & trade

--Mughal Empire collapses—British set up traded posts in India (spices, tea and silk) eventually rule all of India

--British bring missionaries (Christianity), legal system and language to area

India’s Independence

• Groups form to protest the British• Mohandas Gandhi –used nonviolence for protests,

wanted independence and equality for all groups and women

• Hunger strikes, marches, famous quotes• Gandhi was assassinated by radical • India gains indy but is split into 3 countries: India

(Hindu), Pakistan and Bangladesh (Muslim)

India and South Asia Today• India –largest Democracy in the world

-very poor, literacy rates low,

-technology is increasing more jobs

Afghanistan• Afghanistan– was ruled by Taliban

(Islamists) who were very strict• Wars and civil wars, Russia invaded• Very poor, not much farmable land,

mountainous• Poppy—often made opium/heroin

Pakistan

country born from India, mostly Muslim, violence between Hindus and MuslimsSome radical Islamists, struggle for control Conflict with India—both nuclear weaponsTerrorists hiding in mountains

• Ruled by kings for a long time

• very poor and mountainous

• Holy temples• Very isolated

from world• Increasing $

from tourism

Nepal and Bhutan

Bangladesh– farming, overpopulated, monsoon flooding because of low elevationMost people farm, little industry, very poorJute—like burlap and bamboo

Sri Lanka and the Maldives• Sri Lanka—mountainous with lots of rain, a

democracy, fishing and tourism• The Maldives—1200 islands, 300 inhabited, low

lying, Islamic government, fishing, rice crops, tourism, very poor