Early History

South Asias first cities, Harappa and Mohenjo Daro, appeared in the Indus River valley by 2500 B.C. and had structures made of brick, carefully laid-out streets, plumbing, and sewers.

Early History (cont.)

The Indus Valley civilization declined between 1700 B.C. and 1500 B.C., possibly because of earthquakes, floods, or the Indus River changing its course.

Early History (cont.)

About 1500 B.C., nomadic herders known as Aryans settled in northern South Asia. Eventually people were separated by caste, or social group that someone is born into and cannot change and that determines a persons positions in life. In South Asia a caste is sometimes called a jati.

Early History (cont.)

Hinduism is one of the worlds oldest religions. Hindus believe that every living being has a soul that wants to be reunited with Brahman, the eternal spirit of Hinduism.

Early History (cont.)

In the 500s B.C., Buddhism was founded by a young prince named Siddhartha Gautama who gave up wealth and family in search of truth, eventually becoming known as the Buddha, or Enlightened One.

Early History (cont.)

The Buddha taught that people suffer because they are too attached to material things and that by following his Eightfold Path, they can reach a state of endless peace and joy called nirvana.

Early History (cont.)

In the early 1500s, Moguls, or Muslim warriors, created an empire in South Asia. Emperor Akbar, the greatest Mogul ruler, added new lands to the empire, reduced taxes, and improved the lives of ordinary people. Akbar brought peace and order to his empire by treating all people fairly, including the Hindu majority.

Modern South Asia

In the 1600s, the East India Company built a string of trading posts along the coasts of India, with forts to protect them. Through trade and military might, the British became the dominant power in South Asia, having colonized most of the subcontinent by the mid-1800s.

Modern South Asia (cont.)

By the early 1900s, independence movements were spreading across South Asia. The popular Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi protested British rule by nonviolent civil disobedience the refusal to obey unjust laws using peaceful protestsand by encouraging strikes and boycotts, or refusal to buy, British goods.

Modern South Asia (cont.)

In 1947 the British government divided India. The mostly Hindu area became India. The mostly Muslim area became Pakistan, which was further divided into West and East Pakistan.

Modern South Asia (cont.)

In 1971 East Pakistan declared its independence and after a brief civil war, became the new country of Bangladesh. Pakistan now includes only the lands northwest of India.

In 1948 Britain gave independence to the island of Ceylon which later took back its ancient name of Sri Lanka.

Modern South Asia (cont.)

India and Pakistan continue to fight over the ownership of Kashmir in the Himalaya and Karakoram mountains. Each has nuclear weapons. Even though they have developed better relations through peace talks, they have not been able to settle their dispute over Kashmir.

The People of South Asia

South Asia, with nearly 1.5 billion people, includes three of the worlds seven most populous nationsIndia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in South Asia. Ongoing population growth presents major challenges for South Asia.

The People of South Asia (cont.)

South Asias cities are packed with buyers and sellers and vehicles ranging from carts to cars. Skyscrapers and modern apartments are signs of urban wealth and the growing middle class, but poverty is widespread, as evidenced by inadequate housing, homelessness, and begging.

The People of South Asia (cont.)

Unemployment, pollution, disease, crime, and lack of clean water are common problems in urban slums.

The People of South Asia

(cont.)

A well-known ethnic group in South Asia, the Sherpa, whose ancestors came from Tibet, are a farming people; but because of their remarkable endurance in high altitudes, many Sherpa are hired to guide climbing expeditions or to carry the gear and supplies on such trips.

The People of South Asia (cont.)

South Asias people speak 19 major languages and hundreds of local dialects. In India alone, the government officially recognizes 15 languages. About half of Indias people speak Hindi as their primary, or major, language.

The People of South Asia (cont.)

Urdu is Pakistans official language, and Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh. English is also widely spoken in the parts of South Asia that were once under British rule.

Religion, the Arts, and Daily Life

Hinduism, the most widely practiced religion in South Asia, influences the daily life of about 800 million Indians. Islam is the second-largest faith in the region.

Indias Muslims and Hindus have sometimes clashed, but India has a secular, or nonreligious, government and Muslims rights are protected under the law.

Religion, the Arts, and Daily Life (cont.)

Sikhism was founded in the early 1500s. Most of South Asias Sikhs live in northwestern India, and many want an independent Sikh state there. Jainism has about 4 million followers in India and 100,000 elsewhere in South Asia. Jains reject all violence and aim to protect every living creature. Small Christian communities also exist in some urban areas of India.

Religion, the Arts, and Daily Life (cont.)

One of Indias greatest poems is the Mahabharata, a sacred text. Written down about 100 B.C., the Mahabharata is the longest poem in any written language, and it describes a great war.

Religion, the Arts, and Daily Life (cont.)

Most of Indias traditional dance styles involve themes from Hinduism or heroic tales. Classical Indian music usually features the sitar, a stringed instrument.

Contemporary South Asian music reflects the growing influence of Western styles, such as rock and roll.

Religion, the Arts, and Daily Life (cont.)

Moviemaking is a booming business in the region. The city of Mumbai, nicknamed Bollywood, is the center of the Indian film industry.

Religion, the Arts, and Daily Life (cont.)

Western-style clothing is popular in South Asian cities, but many women people still dress in traditional garments such as the sari, or long, rectangular cloth draped gracefully around the body.

Religion, the Arts, and Daily Life (cont.)

Religious beliefs influence diet in South Asia.

Hindus do not eat beef, Muslims do not eat pork, and the Jain do not eat any meat.
Dishes have spicy sauces and are served with rice or flat breads. Tea and flavored yogurt drinks are favorite beverages.