The Cultural Geography of The Cultural Geography of South AsiaSouth Asia
I. Population PatternsI. Population Patterns 22% of the world’s 22% of the world’s
population live herepopulation live here A. Human A. Human
CharacteristicsCharacteristics Rich, complex mix of Rich, complex mix of
culturescultures Six major religions and Six major religions and
hundreds of languageshundreds of languages
1. India1. India Hindu majorityHindu majority
Also Muslim, Buddhist, Also Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, and ChristianSikh, Jain, and Christian
People belong to one of People belong to one of hundreds of hundreds of jatijati
Social groups/ classesSocial groups/ classes
A. Human A. Human Characteristics cont.Characteristics cont.
2. Pakistan and Bangladesh2. Pakistan and Bangladesh Mainly MuslimsMainly Muslims Pakistan has five ethnic groupsPakistan has five ethnic groups Most of Bangladesh is BengaliMost of Bangladesh is Bengali
3. Sri Lanka3. Sri Lanka Sinhalese: BuddhistsSinhalese: Buddhists
The majority, run the govt. The majority, run the govt. Tamils: HinduTamils: Hindu
Resort to terrorismResort to terrorism Tamil TigersTamil Tigers
Have different languages and Have different languages and fight for control of the nationfight for control of the nation
4. Bhutan and Nepal4. Bhutan and Nepal Originally descendants of the Originally descendants of the
MongolsMongols Different in appearanceDifferent in appearance
Complex mix in Nepal: Complex mix in Nepal: SherpasSherpas
B. Population Density and B. Population Density and DistributionDistribution
760 people per Sq. mile760 people per Sq. mile 7 times the world average7 times the world average
1. Densely Populated 1. Densely Populated AreasAreas Indo-Gangetic PlainIndo-Gangetic Plain
Excellent farmingExcellent farming Rice abundantRice abundant
Sri Lankan plantationsSri Lankan plantations Bangladesh has 2,454 Bangladesh has 2,454
people per sq. milepeople per sq. mile 2. Less Dense Regions2. Less Dense Regions
Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau Still 125-250 people per sq. Still 125-250 people per sq.
milemile Thar Desert is sparseThar Desert is sparse Mountains of W. PakistanMountains of W. Pakistan Nepal and Bhutan: 25-60 Nepal and Bhutan: 25-60
per sq. mileper sq. mile Less in the northLess in the north
C. UrbanizationC. Urbanization Generally a low urban Generally a low urban
populationpopulation Bhutan: 15%, Pakistan: 28%Bhutan: 15%, Pakistan: 28%
1. Rapid Urban Growth1. Rapid Urban Growth People migrate for better jobs People migrate for better jobs
and higher wagesand higher wages Cities are overcrowdedCities are overcrowded
2. The Largest Cities2. The Largest Cities Calcutta: India’s largestCalcutta: India’s largest
Grim slums and bustling portsGrim slums and bustling ports Mumbai (Bombay): main Mumbai (Bombay): main
western portwestern port Delhi, 3Delhi, 3rdrd largest city in India largest city in India
New Delhi was built in the New Delhi was built in the early 1900searly 1900s
Dhaka, Bangladesh: the 2Dhaka, Bangladesh: the 2ndnd most crowded city in the most crowded city in the worldworld
Islamabad, Pakistan is Islamabad, Pakistan is growing from a middle class growing from a middle class surgesurge
II. History and II. History and GovernmentGovernment
A. Early HistoryA. Early History Culture hearth at the Indus Culture hearth at the Indus
RiverRiver Harappans build cities, Harappans build cities,
Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro Had a writing system, strong Had a writing system, strong
govt., and overseas –tradegovt., and overseas –trade 1700-1500 BC, they left1700-1500 BC, they left
Environmental changes?Environmental changes? Aryans entered the areaAryans entered the area
Left the sacred books of the Left the sacred books of the VedasVedas
Society was divided into classesSociety was divided into classes Noble, Priests, and regular Noble, Priests, and regular
peoplepeople A rigid caste system A rigid caste system
developeddeveloped
B. ReligionsB. Religions 1. Hinduism1. Hinduism
Grew out the Aryan culture, Grew out the Aryan culture, the Vedas, and the work of the Vedas, and the work of Brahman priestsBrahman priests
Hundreds of godsHundreds of gods Everyone has a moral duty: Everyone has a moral duty:
dharmadharma Good actions are rewarded Good actions are rewarded
and bad ones punished: and bad ones punished: karmakarma
People are People are reincarnatedreincarnated and either move up or down and either move up or down on the caste system based on on the caste system based on their karmatheir karma
Ultimate goal is to be Ultimate goal is to be reunited with the universal reunited with the universal spirit after living as Brahman spirit after living as Brahman priestpriest
HinduismHinduism
B. ReligionsB. Religions 2. Buddhism2. Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama, born in Siddhartha Gautama, born in 563 BC563 BC
A prince who left everything to A prince who left everything to find the meaning of lifefind the meaning of life
While meditating under a tree, While meditating under a tree, he found the true nature of lifehe found the true nature of life
Became the Enlightened One Became the Enlightened One or Buddhaor Buddha
Spent the rest of his life Spent the rest of his life teachingteaching
Buddhists accept the Four Buddhists accept the Four Noble Truths and follow the Noble Truths and follow the Eightfold Path to achieve Eightfold Path to achieve nirvana: inner peacenirvana: inner peace
Eliminate desires to eliminate Eliminate desires to eliminate sufferingsuffering
BuddhismBuddhism
C. Invasions and EmpiresC. Invasions and Empires The Mauryans est. an The Mauryans est. an
empire from 320-180 BCempire from 320-180 BC Last great ruler was AsokaLast great ruler was Asoka
A Hindu who spread A Hindu who spread BuddhismBuddhism
The Gupta Empire ruled The Gupta Empire ruled from 320-550 ADfrom 320-550 AD One of the most advanced One of the most advanced
culturescultures Developed numbers the Developed numbers the
Arabs adoptedArabs adopted
The Muslims conquered The Muslims conquered N. India in the 1100sN. India in the 1100s
The Mogols invaded in The Mogols invaded in the 1500sthe 1500s
C. Invasions and Empires C. Invasions and Empires cont.cont.
Final invaders were Final invaders were the Europeansthe Europeans Started arriving in the Started arriving in the
1500s for trade1500s for trade The English took over The English took over
trade from the trade from the Portuguese in the 1600sPortuguese in the 1600s
East India Co. grew and East India Co. grew and occupied most of the occupied most of the region by 1700region by 1700
The English The English reorganized education, reorganized education, taught English, and taught English, and developed civil servicedeveloped civil service
D. Modern South AsiaD. Modern South Asia 1. Independence1. Independence
Many wanted freedom from the Many wanted freedom from the UKUK
Mohandas Gandhi led them Mohandas Gandhi led them with nonviolent resistancewith nonviolent resistance
Known as Mahatma (Great Known as Mahatma (Great Soul)Soul)
Hunger strikesHunger strikes Granted independence in 1947Granted independence in 1947
Hindus became IndiaHindus became India Muslims became West and East Muslims became West and East
PakistanPakistan Ceylon was freed in 1972Ceylon was freed in 1972
Became Sri LankaBecame Sri Lanka Bhutan and Nepal were always Bhutan and Nepal were always
independentindependent
D. Modern South Asia D. Modern South Asia cont. cont.
2. Today’s Governments2. Today’s Governments Tensions are still there Tensions are still there
between Hindus and between Hindus and MuslimsMuslims
Disagree over the region of Disagree over the region of KashmirKashmir
Both have nukes nowBoth have nukes now 1971, East Pakistan 1971, East Pakistan
revolted and became revolted and became BangladeshBangladesh
All the govts. Are All the govts. Are democracies and democracies and monarchiesmonarchies
Nepal and Bhutan are Nepal and Bhutan are monarchiesmonarchies
III. Cultures and III. Cultures and LifestylesLifestyles
A. LanguagesA. Languages India has 14 major languagesIndia has 14 major languages
English is common, but Hindi English is common, but Hindi is the official oneis the official one
1. Indo-Aryan Languages1. Indo-Aryan Languages Hindi: IndiaHindi: India Urdu: PakistanUrdu: Pakistan Bengali: BangladeshBengali: Bangladesh Hindustani is a mixture of Hindustani is a mixture of
Urdu and HindiUrdu and Hindi Nepali: NepalNepali: Nepal Sinhalese: Sri LankaSinhalese: Sri Lanka
2. Other Languages2. Other Languages 1/5 speak ones from the 1/5 speak ones from the
Dravidian FamilyDravidian Family Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, and Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, and
MalayalamMalayalam
B. ReligionsB. Religions India and Nepal: HinduismIndia and Nepal: Hinduism
Live in all the countriesLive in all the countries Pakistan and Bangladesh: Pakistan and Bangladesh:
MuslimMuslim Largest minority in IndiaLargest minority in India
Even though Buddhism began Even though Buddhism began here, it has declinedhere, it has declined Still in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Still in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and
BhutanBhutan Jainism: extreme nonviolenceJainism: extreme nonviolence
Founded by Mahavira in the 500s Founded by Mahavira in the 500s BCBC
Will not kill anythingWill not kill anything Sikhism: combined Hinduism Sikhism: combined Hinduism
and Islamand Islam Founded by NanakFounded by Nanak Monotheism with karma Monotheism with karma
reincarnationreincarnation 40 million Christians in the 40 million Christians in the
regionregion
B. Religions cont.B. Religions cont.
1. Influence of 1. Influence of ReligionReligion Prayer flags in BhutanPrayer flags in Bhutan
Send out Send out mantrasmantras: : sacred messagessacred messages
Hindu teachers, Hindu teachers, sadhussadhus wear yellow wear yellow robesrobes
Only have a bowl and Only have a bowl and blanketblanket
Cattle are sacred to Cattle are sacred to HindusHindus
Muslim women dress Muslim women dress modestlymodestly
C. The ArtsC. The Arts
1. Architecture1. Architecture Taj Mahal blends Taj Mahal blends
Muslim and Hindu Muslim and Hindu stylesstyles
Built as a tomb for a Built as a tomb for a Muslim emperor’s wifeMuslim emperor’s wife
Mosques in Pakistan Mosques in Pakistan and Bangladeshand Bangladesh
Golden Temple of the Golden Temple of the SikhsSikhs
Dzongs: monasteries Dzongs: monasteries in Bhutanin Bhutan
C. The Arts cont.C. The Arts cont.
1. Music and Dance1. Music and Dance Dances are based on Dances are based on
mythologymythology Classical musicClassical music
Hindustani: northHindustani: north Karnatak: SouthKarnatak: South
Melody is the Melody is the ragaraga Rhythm is the Rhythm is the talatala
No harmony and the No harmony and the improvisationimprovisation
2. Literature2. Literature MahabharataMahabharata Includes the Includes the Bhagavad-Gita Bhagavad-Gita RamayanaRamayana
Epic poems from 1500-500 BCEpic poems from 1500-500 BC 3. Movies, most popular art 3. Movies, most popular art
formform Produce more films per year Produce more films per year
than any other countrythan any other country
D. LifestylesD. Lifestyles 1. Urban and Rural 1. Urban and Rural
ContrastsContrasts Most people are peasant Most people are peasant
farmers, low standard of livingfarmers, low standard of living Subsistence farmingSubsistence farming
Prosperous people live in the Prosperous people live in the cities, live modern lifestylescities, live modern lifestyles
Cities are still crowdedCities are still crowded Millions live on the streetsMillions live on the streets
2. Health2. Health The govts. have made The govts. have made
progress fighting tropical progress fighting tropical diseasesdiseases
Difficult to get clean waterDifficult to get clean water Cholera and dysenteryCholera and dysentery High infant mortalityHigh infant mortality
1/3 of babies in Nepal 1/3 of babies in Nepal
D. Lifestyles cont.D. Lifestyles cont. 3. Food Needs3. Food Needs
1/3 of the people do not 1/3 of the people do not get enough to eatget enough to eat
Govts. are doing what they Govts. are doing what they cancan
4. Education4. Education Key to improving the Key to improving the
standard of livingstandard of living In most areas, 1/3 of the In most areas, 1/3 of the
people can read and writepeople can read and write Sri Lanka is up to 90%Sri Lanka is up to 90% Weakening the caste Weakening the caste
system has opened schools system has opened schools to lower classesto lower classes
The untouchablesThe untouchables
D. Lifestyles cont.D. Lifestyles cont.
5. Celebrations5. Celebrations Diwali for HindusDiwali for Hindus Ramadan for Ramadan for
MuslimsMuslims Buddhists celebrate Buddhists celebrate
the birth of Buddhathe birth of Buddha