South Asian Realm Study Guide Flashcards

Flashcards about the South Asian Realm

What historical period unified the South Asian realm in the past culturally?

The British Raj or colonial period.

Which state is the giant of South Asia?

India

Which physical features define the northern border of South Asia?

The Himalayan Mountains, forming a natural barrier between South Asia and China.

Name South Asia’s 3 physiographic regions.

1. The Northern Mountains 2. River Lowlands 3. Southern Plateaus

Who were the Aryans and when did they arrive to this realm?

Indo-Europeans nomads who arrived in India around 1500 BC and shaped early Vedic culture.

What are the Vedas?

Ancient sacred texts of Hinduism composed in early Sanskrit by the Aryans.

What is the caste system?

A social stratification system which divided Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work) and dharma (duty.)

Name the two largest language families spoken in this realm.

Indo-European and Dravidian.

Mention and briefly describe the three other religions (besides Hinduism) that were founded in this realm.

Buddhism- circa 500 BC in eastern Ganges Basin, Jainism- emerged alongside Hinduism, Sikhism- circa 1500 AD following Islam’s arrival.

Name the two Muslim Empires that ruled over parts of South Asia.

The Mughal Empire and the Delhi Sultanate.

Which architectural accomplishment is India’s iconic legacy of Islam?

The Taj Mahal.

When and what was the British Raj?

1857-1947 produced a new elite writhing the Indian population. Access to education combining Indian and British traditions and university education in Britain. This elite played a major role in rising demands for self-rule and independence.

How did the British secure desired trading arrangements in South Asia?

By establishing the British East India Company, which gained control through treaties, military force, and political manipulation.

Describe the transport networks in India organized by the British.

The British organized a vast transport network in India, including railways, roads, and ports, to facilitate the movement of goods, resources and troops across the colony.

Describe the mass migration that happened as a consequence of partition.

Millions of Hindus and Muslims moved across the new borders between India and Pakistan, and many people were killed during the violence. Hindus went to India and Muslims to Pakistan.

Compare the % of Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh before/after partition.

Pakistan: 30% before 1% after. Bangladesh: 25% before 4% after.

How is Islamabad an example of a forward capital? + Reason why they moved it?

They moved the capital to control the center and border areas better for Kashmir and wanted to show their dominance and would have more control and keep an eye out.

What is the line of control?

The Line of Control is the border that separates the parts of Kashmir controlled by India and Pakistan.

Which areas of this realm do the Taliban control?

The Taliban mainly control parts of Afghanistan and some areas near the border with Pakistan.

What has the U.S. done regarding the threat of terrorism?

The U.S. fought terrorist groups with troops and attacks. War on terrorism.

Describe South Asia’s urban areas/cities.

South Asia’s cities are crowded, busy, and growing rapidly.

What is the meaning of “India shining”?

“India Shining” was a slogan used to highlight India’s economic growth and development during the early 2000s.

What were the results of the economic reforms in South Asia?

The economy grew, more jobs were created, but not everyone got richer.

What percentage of India’s population is considered a new “middle class”?

About 30% of India’s people are now part of the new middle class.

What industry employs the most people in South Asia?

Farming (agriculture) employs most people in South Asia.

How much of the population in South Asia is rural?

About 70% of the people in South Asia live in the countryside.

How would you describe the life of rural farmers?

Rural farmers work extremely hard but often stay poor.

What is the difference between arithmetic and physiologic density?

Arithmetic density is the number of people divided by the total land area and physiological density is the number of people per arable land.

Who are the Taliban, and when did they first appear in Afghanistan?

Islamic extremists. Started in Pakistan. First appeared in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. Seen to collaborate with Al Qaeda.

What exactly is Sharia law, and how do people follow it?

A strict set of rules in the Quran that muslims follow. What extremists use to justify their wrong-doings.

What's Al-Qaeda, and what happened during the 9/11 attack?

A terrorist group in Afghanistan. Hijacked planes then crashed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon, killing thousands

Which ancient civilization was formed in present-day Pakistan around 2500 BC?

Indus Valley Civilization emerged in the Indus Valley in 2500 B.C.

How did the government try to bring the country together?

Tried using Islam and democracy to bring unity.

Briefly describe the four subregions of Pakistan.

Punjab (core), Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan (desert. Huge land but small in population).

Which type of government was adopted by India after its independence in 1947?

Democratic federal system.

In which stage of the demographic transition is South Asia today?

Stage 2 and 3.

Which is the only country in this realm that has not decreased its fertility rate?

Afghanistan

Why are boys more valued than girls in South Asia? Name three reasons.

Boys are more valued than girls because they will work and be productive, receive inheritance, and don't require a dowry.

Name a few consequences of gender bias.

Female infantisize, rape, not enough women for amount of men, etc.

Why are there communal tensions between the Sikhs, the Muslims, and the Hindus in India? Briefly mention and elaborate on the details.

They are ignored by the government. Hinduism is the majority so they thought India had to be all Hindu. Sikh extremists killed their own first female prime minister.

What percentage of India's population is Muslim, and how many people does that represent?

Only 15%. There are 200 million.

Describe the Caste System and explain how Hinduism perpetuated this system of inequality.

The caste system was a social hierarchy.

What has been done in India to improve opportunities for the Dalits? Why do they frequently choose to convert to Buddhism?

More job opportunities for Dalits.

What is the main economic activity across India and what is the urbanization rate?

The main economic activity across India is agriculture, with the urbanization rate being 34%.

What was Bangladesh called before it changed its name, and when did it become Bangladesh?

Bangladesh used to be called East Pakistan. It took the name Bangladesh in 1971.

Briefly describe the physiologic density of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is one of the top cities in the world that has the highest physiologic densities.

What are some of Bangladesh's vulnerabilities?

Bangladesh is highly susceptible to damage from natural hazards. Two of the deadliest weather disasters in the world caused by cyclones struck in the 20th century in Bangladesh.

What environmental issues is Nepal dealing with?

Environmental degradation, overused farmlands, a soil erosion, and deforestation. Not conserving the environment like Bhutan.

What is the main religion in Bhutan?

Buddhism influenced their daily lives. Meditation, diet, etc.

What significant change did Bhutan's government make in 2007?

The new king of Bhutan decided to order people to vote for a political party. They went from an absolute monarchy to a multi-party democracy.

What environmental issues can hurt the Maldives' economy?

Global warming, cereal reef degradation, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and overfishing.

Who are the Sinhalese?

The Sinhalese were the descendants of the first group of people to move to Sri Lanka.

Who arrived in Sri Lanka during the 19th century, and why did it cause tension?

Indian Tamils were brought to Sri Lanka by the British to work as laborers on tea and coffee plantations.