South Asia Geography

• Unit 9 South Asia Review covers physical geography, social geography, globalization, and technology

Physical Geography

• Monsoons are heavy winds bringing rains from the oceans across the Indian subcontinent in the summer, and air from the north in the winter.
• Positives of monsoons include bringing moisture that allows for water to agriculture
• Negatives of monsoons include leading to flooding and being unreliable, leading to famine when the water doesn't come
• The Ganges River is a significant river in India for water and food resources
• The Ganges River has religious significance in Hindu culture, believed to perform miracles and is part of some religious ceremonies
• The Himalayas Mountains are a major mountain chain, including Everest, bordering South Asia and China
• Maldives is an archipelago, Muslim nation off the southern coast of India
• Sri Lanka is an island nation off the coast of India, site of a civil war between the Tamil and Sinhalese people
• Nepal is in the Himalayas, isolated as a result; home of sherpas that help guide people up Everest
• Bhutan is in the Himalayas, isolated as a result

Social Geography

• Hinduism is the majority religion in India
• The Caste system is a rigid social structure that splits Indian society between 5 different groups
• The caste system dictates that there is no social mobility and no mixing of the different castes, meaning castes determine occupations
• The Caste system originates, in part, from Hindu beliefs
• Reincarnation is the Hindu belief that when one dies the soul returns in another form
• Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity are considered major religions in the region
• Taj Mahal is a tomb built using a mixture of Hindu and Islamic architecture

Unit 8 South Asia Review

• The Green Revolution led to scientific improvements in agriculture to feed growing populations with increased crop yields
• A downside of the green revolution includes environmental damage with the use of chemicals and fertilizers
• Kashmir is a region near India/Pakistan that is claimed by both countries
• England controlled India for many years, and Gandhi helped lead to revolution away from Britain

Globalization and Technology

• India and Pakistan split between Muslim areas (became Pakistan) and Hindu areas (India) after the British left
• Society is more globalized today because of instant communication, the internet, faster world travel, and connectivity with cellular technology
• Globalization has affected this region by creating economic investment in the region
• Technology has affected South Asia since the educated, English-speaking population has adapted to the use of IT
• The U.S. turns to South Asia for workers because the labor force is educated, speaks English, and works for low wages
• The Bottom caste: Untouchables (Dalit) - do the worst jobs