Geography 210 - South Asia

What do continental plates float on?

Magma

What mountain range was created by the collision of the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate?

The Himalayas

Which is the world's highest mountain?

Mount Everest at 29,035 ft

What is another mountain range mentioned that is almost as tall as the Himalayas?

Hindu Kush Mountains

What are some barriers that prevent interconnectedness between regions?

Climate and mountains

What has carved deep valleys into mountain ranges?

Glaciers and Rivers

What famous pass is located between Northeast Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Khyber Pass

Which direction does water flow in Peninsular India?

From west to east

What is the significance of ancient rocks in South Asia?

The older the rocks, the more likely they are to contain mineral resources such as iron ore, gold, coal, and manganese.

What is the Deccan Plateau characterized by?

Higher in the west and lower in the east, sloping toward the Bay of Bengal. Covered by ancient lava flows, volcanic rock. Contains black soil, semi-arid climate, and 3 river origins.

What are some major rivers originating/flowing into India?

The Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra Rivers

Where do the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra Rivers begin?

In the Himalayan Mountains.

What forms at the junction of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers?

A river delta, near Bangladesh.

What characterizes the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta?

Low-lying land, with fertile soil, intensive farming, and prone to flooding

What are some ancient rock natural resources found in South Asia?

Iron, Uranium, coal deposits, petroleum, natural gas

What is the most critical natural resource in South Asia?

Water.

What is one of the world’s oldest civilizations?

Indus River Valley civilization

What were some things that the Indus civilization pionereed?

Sewage/drainage system, weight measurements, multi-story buildings, etc.

Where was the Indus River Valley flowing through?

Pakistan

What are common natural hazards in South Asia?

Earthquakes and Flooding.

What human activity exacerbates flooding?

Deforestation

What is a seasonal continental wind system that causes heavy rainfall?

Monsoons.

Who has access to quality water from deep wells in South Asia?

The wealthy

What was the theory that suggests the origins of Hinduism involving Aryan invaders?

Aryan Invasion Theory; Aryans invaded from the Northeast in 1500 BC

Where did Hinduism begin?

In the Indus River Valley in Pakistan.

How did the religious practices of Hinduism develop and over how long?

Over nearly 2,000 years through the interaction and merging of various cultures.

During what time period did the Indus River Valley Civilization exist?

3500 - 1800 BC

What type of religion is Hinduism classified as?

An ethnic religion - doesn’t seek converts; people are born into it.

Is Hinduism monotheistic or polytheistic?

Polytheistic; locally, usually one god is worshipped

What is the Hinduistic view after death?

Reincarnation - after death, the soul transfers to another body.

Where did Hinduism eventually diffuse out to?

Southeast Asia; about 2,000 years ago

What are the different castes?

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishayas, Shudras, Dalits

What caste is a priestly scholar?

Brahmin

What caste is a warrior and a ruler?

Kshatriyas

Merchants, artisans, and men involved in skilled professions belong to..

Vaishayas

Who is the founder of Buddhism?

Siddhartha Gautama; lived during 563 - 400 BC

Did Buddhism adopt the caste system?

No, it rejected it.

The goal of Buddhism is to

find Nirvana

In Buddhism, what do you get rid of to end suffering?

Ignorance, Hatred, and Greed (desires)

Buddhism diffused into

Southeast and East Asia

When did Christianity come into existence?

1st to 52 AD

What two countries have the highest concentration of Islam?

Pakistan and Bangladesh

Where did Islam originate?

Middle East

How was Islam introduced to South Asia?

1. Arab traders come into Indian ocean;

2. Muslim armies invade South Asia - 600 to 1700s

Mughals were the the descendants of

The Mongols - had the largest empire in history

What religion did the Moguls/Mughals practice?

Sunni Islam

Where and when did the Moguls come from into India?

From the Middle East; early 1500s

When did the Mughal Empire decline?

Late 1600s and early 1700s

Who held Goa, India in the early 1500s?

The Portuguese

Who did the Indian economy produce for?

Britain

Describe infrastructure in Colonial India and who it served

Served the British; consisted of railroads, communication systems, irrigation systems, postal service, and telegraph

Who controlled the colony of India?

A private company - British East India Company; NOT the country Britain

How did Britain civilize India?

Introduced English education, legal systems, railroads, telegraphs, and irrigation systems.

What major events happened in 1857?

1. Revolt against the British in India

2. British East India Company was abolished

How did Britain rule India?

Through local princes in India who implemented British laws.

When was the Indian National Congress Party formed?

1885

In 1906, what was formed?

The Muslim League

What was/is the largest minority group in India?

Muslims

Which country is non-allied - avoids alliances?

India

Which major bloc was formed to challenge the US and EU in the global economy?

BRICS

How much of the world population and GDP does the BRICS consist of?

1. 41% of world population

2. 31.5% of World GDP

East Pakistan is current day -

Bangladesh

Bangladesh (East Pakistan) wanted what kind of government?

Secular; was Muslim.

West Pakistan wanted what kind of government?

Islamic

When did Bangladesh become independent?

1971, after the Civil War that year.

What are natural disasters common in Bangladesh?

Flooding and hurricanes

What are common problems Bangladesh faces in development?

1. High population

2. Natural hazards

3. Few resources available locally

   • Uneven distribution

What is the dominant language in Bangladesh?

Bengali (98%) - which is also an ethnic group there.

What is Pakistan geography like?

Consists mostly of arid lowlands and high mountains

What resource is scarce in Pakistan?

Water

What was the dominant religion serving as a base for many institutions in Pakistan?

Islam; Used in government, education, industry, etc.

What is Pakistan’s official language?

Urdu

What is the literacy rate in Pakistan?

59%

Where does China import oil from?

The Persian Gulf

When was Afghanistan’s independence?

1920

What was a British protectorate from the Russian Empire?

Afghanistan

What happened in 1979?

USSR invaded Afghanistan

Who fought the USSR in Afghanistan?

Local militias - Mujahideen

When did Russia withdraw from its invasion of Afghanistan?

1992

Which group controlled Afghanistan in the late 1900s?

Taliban

Shia Muslims believe in political control by…

The Imams - Shia clerics

What country had a mostly secular govt. since the 1920s?

Turkey