South Asia Powerpoint Flashcards by cummies benedict

Himalayan Mountains

Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Nepal and Bhutan
contain many of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest
geologically active region

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Western and Eastern Ghats

form Deccan Plateau

Western Ghats influence the Indian monsoon pattern
average elevation is approximately 4000 feet

Eastern Ghats are lower (average elevation approximately 2000 feet)
less continuous than the Western Ghats

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Deccan Plateau

located in south-central India (between the Western and Eastern Ghats)
dry (moisture blocked by Western Ghats)

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Indus River

Starts in himalayas
flows southwestward through Pakistan
empties into the Arabian Sea

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Ganges River

Starts in himalayas
flows southeastward to the Bay of Bengal
sacred to Hindus
heavily polluted
Ganges river valley is one of the mostly densely populated regions in the world

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Brahmaputra River

flows southwestward from Tibet
southward through Bangladesh
merges the Ganges
empties into the Bay of Bengal

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Sundarbans

largest mangrove forest in the world
located on the delta of the Ganges River
protect coastline from storms
known for its diversity of wildlife (Bengal tiger)
humans depend on forest for their livelihood

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Sundarbans ecosystem is threatened by

industrial and agricultural activity (development, population growth)
climate change (sea level rise, saltwater intrusion)

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Climates in Region

Tropical – mostly along the coast of Southeastern India, Sri Lanka
Mild Temperate - northeast
Dry/Arid – northwest; southcentral India (deccan plateau region)
Highland – Himalayans

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Vulnerability to climate change

increased rainfall (and flooding) and droughts
more intense storms
sea level rise
increase in prevalence of disease (particularly from mosquitoes)

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Monsoons

a seasonal reversal of wind flows in parts of the lower to middle latitudes,
driven by atmospheric pressure gradients
governs precipitation patterns here

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Climate of South Asia

Summer: southwesterly winds bring warm, moist air from south; results in heavy rainfall and flooding
Winter: northeasterly winds bring dry conditions
Late/unusually dry monsoon season can lead to drought, famine
Climate change may disrupt the monsoon pattern

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Natural Resources

Modest resource wealth, compared to other world regions (coal, iron ore, bauxite, manganese)
The geology of the region yields large amounts of sandstone and marble
- reflected in architecture

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labor and environmental concerns

challenging physical labor and dangerous work conditions

pollution, land degradation - damages watersheds, wildlife habitats and forest cover

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Air pollution

motor vehicle emissions is a major contributor
coal-fired powered plants
crop burning
linked to premature deaths (respiratory disease, lung cancer)

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Water Issues

competition between agricultural and urban use
poor distribution systems
pollution

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most successful economic sectors

textiles
petroleum
pharmaceuticals
Technology
Tourism

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Mountain Tourism in Nepal

Very important

It brings in revenue and offers job opportunities (guides, porters, etc.)

Challenges associated with tourism in Nepal

worker exploitation (low pay, dangerous work)
lack of cultural respect
damage to natural environment
tourism business is vulnerable to outside factors

Child Labor (causes)

form of bonded labor sometimes (labor for a loan)
additional income
better life for child

Poverty and Literacy

Poverty rates are very high (especially in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan)
Low literacy rates
	Bangladesh -75%
	India – 74%
	Nepal – 68%
	Bhutan – 67%
	Pakistan – 59%
	Afghanistan – 43% (literacy rate for females 15 and over is only 30%)

Hinduism

polytheistic

belief in karma, reincarnation

Buddhism

Based on teaching of Siddhartha Gautama(the Buddha)
focus on achieving enlightenment—a state of inner peace and wisdom (nirvana)
Four Noble Truths - related to suffering

Languages (India)

there are over 20 official languages in India
Hindi is the most prevalent (spoken by approximately 40% of the population)
English is the lingua franca

Caste System

a social hierarchy that determines norms of interaction between classes reinforced by language, region and occupation associated with Hinduism common in India and Nepal outlawed by Indian constitution, but remains in practice in some areas

Gender Inequality

women are socially, culturally, and economically dependent on men dowry disadvantages women -6000 dowry deaths annually in India (murder/suicide over dowries) arranged marriages child brides women are often under threat of violence from male relatives low literacy rates (women’s literacy rate approximately 30% in Afghanistan)

Microfinance

programs that provide small-scale credit and saving to the self-employed poor, including those in the informal sector who cannot borrow money from commercial banks

The Raj

period of British Rule in India (1858-1947)

Partition (1947)

India – Hindu | Pakistan – one country, but two separate territories (East Pakistan and West Pakistan); Islamic

Problems with Partition

Hindus minorities in Pakistan Muslims minorities in India. Religious violence erupted 12 million people fled to respective countries

East and West Pakistan

1971 West Pakistan becomes Pakistan East Pakistan becomes Bangladesh

Kashmir

northwestern portion is Pakistan southern portion is India northeastern corner is China

Demographics

greatest population density is along the Ganges river | lower population density in the more arid regions and the more mountainous regions

Growth Rates

Rate of growth varies by country | Afghanistan is growing at a relatively high rate, while India and Sri Lanka are growing at a lower rate

Bhutan

smallest country of South Asia low level of urbanization highly traditional, rural, Buddhist society the King of Bhutan coined the term: Gross National Happiness

Swayambhunath

also known as the Monkey Temple | Buddhist temple

Pashupatinath Temple

oldest Hindu temple complex in Kathmandu | site of Hindu cremation rituals

Indian gender demographics

Preference for men (more men, sex-selective abortions) | large, rapidly growing population

Grameen Bank

grassroots organization formed to provide small loans (microfinance) to rural poor in Bangladesh has grown into international organization that lends worldwide average loan is a little over $100 (enough to buy a cow, a sewing machine or a slik worm shed) 97% of borrowers are women 99% repayment rate

Caste system Top and Bottom of hierarchy

Brahmins (priests, teachers) | Dalits (“the oppressed”, untouchables)

Languages (Pakistan)

English and Urdu are official languages | Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in the country

Puja (Hinduism)

worship ritual typically involves offerings of fruit, water or flower may be done at a temple or at home

Pollution of India's water

about 70% of India is polluted most of the pollution is a result of untreated sewage; industry, agriculture, improper disposal of garbage climate change/drought, etc. are causes