South Asia

Chapter 7

Geographyof

South Asia

A Subcontinent

• A large landmass smaller than a continent

• The region is a peninsula

• Large mountains create a natural border to the north

• Water surrounds the rest of the Peninsula

The Mountains

Himalayas

-Tallest Mountains in the world

-More than 50 mountains over 5 miles high!

Mt. Everest

Benefits of Mountains

• Provide natural barrier against invasion

• Block cold northern winds creating a warmer climate

• The source of the regions rivers

Hindu Kush

Kush means Death

The Southern Mountains

• Vindhya – create a border b/w northern and southern India, limited interaction b/w cultures

• Ghats (East, West) – ghat means “pass”, prevented Europeans from exploring the entire area

Western Ghats

Video ?s

• How much of the worlds population lives in South Asia?

• What country was created to be an independent Muslim state?

• What is the caste system?

• What religions exist in India & South Asia?

• Why have people moved to cities?

Khyber Pass (Hindu Kush) and Bolan Pass (Hindu Kush)

•Create a path for diffusion

•Traders

•Raiders/Warriors

The Khyber Pass

                                                                           

Kashmir Valley

• Whoever controls the Kashmir, controls the headwaters of the Indus River…the source of irrigation water.

Kashmir

Northern Plains

Indo-GangeticPlain

Northern Plains Facts

• Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra Rivers provide many resources to the region– Water– Natural Fertilizers– Irrigation

• Supports a large population

Ganges River

Indus River

•Principal River of Pakistan

•Home to 1st civilization in the region

•Indus means river

Thar Desert•Little Rainfall

•Small population

•Nomadic Lifestyle

Deccan Plateau

• Covers almost half of South Asia

• Bordered by mountains on three sides– Vindhya – North– Western Ghats – West– Eastern Ghats – East

• Tiny farms dot the landscape

The Climate of South Asia

The Monsoons

• Wet Monsoon – warm, moist wind from Indian Ocean brings rain from May – July

• Dry Monsoon – cold, dry wind from the mountains brings mild temperatures and low humidity

The role of monsoons

• Key to planting season for farmers

• The monsoon needs to arrive as planned or the farm season fails

• Too much rain = failed farming season

Monsoons, Floods, Destruction

• The population density is high surrounding the Ganges Delta

• Fertile Soil attracts millions of people

• 1991 Cyclone in Bangladesh– 140,000 died– Winds 150 mph– Waves 20 ft

Rainfall

• Both deserts (north west & central) and rainforests (north east) exist

• The mountains affect rainfall greatly

• Cherapunji, India – 425 inches of rain a year; NYC – 45 inches of rain a year

• Rain shadow – one side of a mountain is fertile; the other side is dry/arid

Temperature & Resources

• Tropical climate = warm temps year round

• Cold in higher elevations

• Water is scarce; irrigation is needed

• Iron ore, coal, copper, oil

• Nuclear Power

Early South Asia

Indus Civilization• How was the development of the Indus

Valley civilization similar to the development of other early civilizations?

• When did this civilization exist?• Describe the early cities• Describe the early farms• What reasons are proposed for the fall of

the civilization?

Aryan Culture

• When did the Aryan culture flourish?

• Describe the religious beliefs of the Aryans

• What was Aryan village life like?• What was the social structure in

Aryan society?

What are the characteristics

of early civilizations?

CitiesComplex Govt.Complex ReligionHighly SpecializedComplex Social ClassesRecord Keeping

2500-1500BC: a civilization grew

in the Indus River Valley

•The Indus Valley Civilization stretched from the Khyber Pass to the Arabian Sea.

Achievements of the Indus Valley Civilization

• Planned cities – Harrapa & Mohenjo-Daro

• Organized Governments – building codes & laws

• Farming Technology – first to grow cotton & domesticate chickens

• Trade – with Middle Eastern Cities goods & ideas

• Language - pictographs

Mohenjo - Daro

Early civ. In Pakistan

Harappa

Terracotta scale showing graduations

By 1500BC the Indus River

Valley Civilization was in decline.

Decline of the Indus River Civilization

• No definitive answers exist, possible reasons are:–Climate change; not enough water–Soil quality diminished after

centuries of farming–Flooding–Possible invasions

1500 BC: The Aryans invaded through the Khyber Pass.

•Nomadic people from Caucasus Mountains

•The migration took over 100 years

Achievements of Aryan Culture

• With superior weapons, they conquered the region

• Vedas – records of life; oral religious traditions, hymns, prayers, rituals

• Sanskrit – written language

• Farming, Government

Aryan culture spread

throughout most of South

Asia

Aryan Culture

• Centered around Hinduism• People found direction in their lives

from the Vedas – religious traditions–Rig Veda – most important

• Polytheistic people• Sanskrit still exists today

The Aryan culture developed a caste system probably based on race.Varna - classes

A caste system is a social class that one is born into and can never

change.

Four basic castes: 1. Brahman (priests) 2. Kshatriya (Warriors)3. Vaisya (Landowners, merchants, herders) 4. Sudra (peasants)

Brahman wife

Kshatriya farmers

Vaisya shopkeeper

Sudra peasants

The caste system became extremely complex based on specialization of

jobs and positions.

Marriage was only allowed

within the caste.

The lowest caste doing the

dirtiest jobs were called

untouchables.

People South Asia Video

• Questions to answer

• What do turbans indicate about the wearer?

• How has Hinduism influenced the caste system?

• What steps has the Indian government taken to eliminate the caste system?

Where Tigers Live

Tiger Physical Traits

• 13 feet long; 660 lbs – at its biggest

• 35-40 mph – top speed

• 10 meter – leaping distance

• Endangered species– Hunting– Loss of habitat