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South Asia, often referred to as the "Indian subcontinent," features diverse topography, including the Himalayas, which contain the world's highest peak, Mt. Everest. This region has a complex history shaped by colonialism, resulting in the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. With a population surpassing 1.1 billion, the subcontinent faces challenges such as overpopulation and environmental degradation. The caste system persists in India, despite legal prohibitions. Pakistan and Bangladesh grapple with political instability, while Nepal and Bhutan maintain their distinct cultural identities amidst modernization.
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Overview • Called “Indian sub-continent” • Indian plate moving up into the Eurasian plate • Rate of 3-4 inches per year for 1200 miles • Himalayas on north • Mt. Everest (highest in world: 5.5 miles high!) • Grows about 2.5 centimeters in height every year • Desert and steppe to west • Elevated plains on south • Slopes downward from west to east
Sir George Everest was first to record height and location • Sir Edmund Hillary was first to climb: 1953
Sir Edmund Hillary Tenzing Norgay
Sherpa Dangerous… • Summited by about 100 people per year • Roughly 10% die each year • About 120 corpses are still on mountain!
Monsoons • Warm and rainy in summer • >400 inches per year • Regular floods • Dry and warm in winter • Deserts are not in monsoon airflow • Tropical climate to east and south • Cyclones in Bay of Bengal
Colonialism • Trade brought Portuguese, Dutch, French & British • Looking for goods not in Europe: spices • French and British take India • 1858: war gives subcontinent to UK • “Crown Jewel of British Empire” • 1947: UK gives India independence • Makes Pakistan (w/Bangladesh) = Muslim India = Hindu • 1971: Pakistan and Bangladesh split
Regional Problems • Overpopulation • Little resources • Environmental: Erosion, salinization, pollution • Nuclear arms race between India and Pak. • Both have nukes, threaten each other • Kashmir: Control being fought over by India and Pakistan • Religious fighting between Muslims and Hindus in western India • Bus and train attacks; hotel attacks in Mumbai
India • 1.1 billion people (2nd largest in world) • 80% Hindu; 14% Muslim • ¾ live in rural villages • ⅓ live along Ganges River • Former part of Britain • Calcutta and Delhi = capitals • Mohandas Gandhi = Hindu leader • Non-violent resistance help end British rule • Mother Teresa
British Influence • Built railroads, roads, ports • English official language of government and business • Lots of trade with West • Separation of Muslims and Hindus • Strange fact: India is the world’s leader in movie production • Bollywood!
Caste System • Formal organization of society • 4 levels • Brahmin: religious leaders • Kshatriyas: military officers, government, scholars • Vaishyas: businessmen, farmers, merchants • Sudras: laborers, peasants • Untouchables: subclass of Sudras; unclean, did dirty work; no one can interact with them • Everyone is born into a caste based on past life; nearly impossible to move out • Technically illegal in India; still used in rural areas
Pakistan • Created in 1947 • Britain divided greater India into 2 countries to separate the Muslims and Hindus: • India: Hindu • West Pakistan: Muslim • East Pakistan: Muslim (now Bangladesh) • Mountains on north: K2 (second tallest) • Large deserts in west and east • Indus River Valley: water from mountains
People • Government and laws based on Islamic law • Has had a lot of political and economic instability over the past several decades • Helping US with war on terror • Arresting and holding al-Qaeda • Try to stop escape through passes
Population: 164 million • ¼ live in cities • 95% Muslim (second largest Muslim country) • Many languages (including English) • Very fast growing population Kashmir Region • Pakistan wanted control after 1947 • Populated mainly by Hindus from India • Caused lots of fighting between Muslims and Hindus
Nepal • Constitutional monarchy • Problems with Maoist rebels… • Mainly Hindu and Buddhist • Only official Hindu state in the world • Home to Mt. Everest • Brings in tourism $$ from climbers • Problems: • Pollution • Harm mountain’s ecosystem/environment • Sherpas are Nepalese expert climbers who lead expeditions up Everest
Current problem: • Maoists from China attacking government structure, wanting to bring down monarchy and democratic government • Want to install a “Communist republic” • 2001: 10 members of royal family killed in by crown prince • King’s brother now king • 2005: Suspended parliament and elections; cease-fire declared with Maoists • 2006: King gave up absolute power, reinstated Parliament • VERY poor: >½ people below poverty line
Bhutan • Constitutional monarchy • Tibetan Buddhist • Very isolated from outside world • “Happy”; Content with their situation and lifestyle • Works with India on any foreign issues • Home to the tallest unclimbed mountain in the world • Mountain climbing and smoking in public is banned; TV broadcasts started in 1999
Bangladesh • Surrounded by India • Islam • Population: 150 million in space size of Iowa • 7th largest country in world • Expected to double by 2025 • Covered by the Ganges Delta • Floods all the time • Very flat • Also deal with storm surges from cyclones in Bay of Bengal • 1991: 20 feet high - 130,000 killed
Also: Ferry disasters happen all the time • Overloaded; flip; people drown
Sri Lanka • Main export: Tea (#1); textiles and garments • Used to be a British colony; Ceylon Problem • Settled by two different ethnic groups: Tamils and Sinhalese • The Sinhalese are in control of the gov’t • Socialist; Rebel group = “Tamil Tigers” • Fighting over control of island • Tamils want independence
Maldives • 1200 islands • 26 atolls • 200 islands are inhabited (80 have tourist resorts) • Population: 320,000 • Sunni Muslim • Its highest point is 7.8 feet above sea level!! • 80% is < 3 feet above sea level • Only115 square miles! • Cobb County: 340 square miles
10% of land is used for agriculture • 90% of taxes came from airport duties and tourist related taxes Wacky facts: • 21,000 phones (1,290 cell phones) • 35,000 radios (1 AM, 1 FM, 1 shortwave station) • 10,000 TVs (1 station) • 6,000 internet users (1 ISP = .mv) • 5 airports FYI – No Notes
Fighting in Ayodhya over Muslim mosque site • Hindus want it: where Rama was born • Hindus tore it down to build a temple in 1992 • Fighting killed hundreds • Train burned by Muslims in Feb 2002 in Ahmedabad; killed 58 Hindus FYI – No Notes