Human Geography of India

1. Human Geography of India

2. Historical Factors • Indus Valley Civilization • Emerged along the Indus River (Pakistan) • Polytheistic • City-planning • Sophisticated plumbing and sewage systems • Language not yet deciphered • Mysteriously disappeared

4. Historical Factors • Aryans • Crossed the Hindu Kush into Indus River Valley • Established kingdoms along the Ganges • Developed the Caste system – Social System • Aryan culture played a key role in the development of Indian civilization

6. Historical Factors • Mauryan Empire • United most of India • Spread Buddhism

7. Historical Factors • Gupta Empire • Ruled northern India during an age of peace and prosperity • Spread of Hindu Culture

8. Historical Factors • Mughal Empire • Muslims conquer the Indus Valley and then occupied Ganges Plain • By the early 1500s, they had established an empire throughout much of India • Muslim rule brought new customs that sometimes conflicted with those of native Hindus

9. Europeans Arrive • 1500s – European traders arrive • The British East India Company allowed Britain to gain control over India’s trade with Europe • 1857 – British establish direct ruler over India • Raj – period of direct British control, lasted nearly 90 years

11. 1920 – Mohandas Gandhi • Nonviolent Resistance – a protest movement that does not use violence to achieve its goals. • Opposition movement started by Gandhi • August 14, 1947, India became independent • Division of India – Muslims of West and East Pakistan (now Pakistan and Bangladesh) chose to separate from India, which was strongly Hindu

12. The World’s Largest Democracy • 1950 – India became a democratic republic • World’s largest democracy!!! • Many different ethnic, cultural, and religious factors influence Indian politics • Hindus vs. Muslims • India is strongly Hindu, but has 150 million Muslims • Government leaders must take both interests into account.

13. Economic Challenges • Agriculture – 2/3 of India’s people rely on farming for their livelihood – main economic activity • Land Reform – more balanced distribution of land among farmers

14. Life in Modern India • Daily Life • Marriage and family – center of Indian life • Arranged marriages, low divorce rates • Education • Literacy is on the rise, but still a problem in city slums and rural areas.

15. Bollywood • Indian film industry located in Mumbai

16. Indian Culture • Multiple Languages • 18 major language groups • 1,000 languages and dialects • Hindi – Official Language • English – common language • Hinduism – Caste System • 80% of population, believe in many gods • Reincarnation • Karma • Caste system – born into

17. Pakistan and Bangladesh • Pakistan and Bangladesh are Muslim countries formed as a result of the partition of British India. • Considered “young” countries

18. Ancient Lands • Indus Valley Civilization • Largest of the world’s first civilizations • Well-planned cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

19. Partition and War • Partition – end of British rule in 1947 brought the division of British India . • Two countries were formed: • India (predominately Hindu) • Pakistan (separated into West Pakistan and East Pakistan) (Muslim) • East Pakistan became Bangladesh in 1971

20. Military Rule • Pakistan and India have fought wars over the territory of Kashmir. • Kashmir • 12 million people • Fertile river valleys • The Indus River flows through Kashmir • Indus is a critical drinking and irrigation source for Pakistan – unwilling to let India control • Since 1947 Pakistan and India have fought • Three Indo-Pakistani wars • 75,000 casualties!!! • Nuclear Weapons = Nuclear War

21. Economies Pakistan Bangladesh Farming Rice Jute Fishing Microcredit – small loans for entrepreneurs Textile Industry Export cotton garments • Farming • Cotton, Rice, Wheat • Textile Industry • Export cotton garments • Wool carpets • Leather goods

22. Islamic Culture • REMEMBER: Muslim Mughal Empire ruled for centuries • Ramadan – month-long period of fasting from sunrise to sunset. • Pakistan • Muslim • Stricter Islamic practices • Purdah – seclusion of women • Bangladesh • Less strict Islamic practices • Purdah is much less common

23. Ethnic Diversity Pakistan Bangladesh Less ethnically diverse Bengalis Speak a language based on Sanskrit • More ethnically diverse • 5 ethnic groups – each has its own language • Punjabis (1/2 of population) • Sindhis • Pathans • Muhajirs • Balochs • Urdu – national language

24. Modern Life • Arranged marriages, large families • Most live in small villages in home made of sun baked mud, bamboo, or wood. • Cities are large, crowded with traffic and pedestrians.

25. Nepal