Chapter 28—Introduction to South Asia

• nonaligned nation: A nation that adopted neutrality during the Cold War.
• Subcontinent: a large landmass forming a distinct part of a continent.
• alluvial plain: a broad expanse of land along riverbanks, consisting of rich, fertile soil left by floods.
• Monsoon: a seasonal shift in the prevailing winds that influences large climate regions.

1. List the two major world religions that emerged in South Asia in chronological order.
• Hinduism, Buddhism
2. What role has Islam played in South Asia’s history?
• Islam spread across the region through conquest and trade
• In 1206, Muslim invaders from Afghanistan est. the Sultanate of Delhi
3. How did British Imperialism begin in South Asia?
• In 1618, the English E. Indian Company gained the right to set up trading posts along the coast
• Over time, the company edged out rivals from other European countries
• In the mid-1770s, the company began to build a colonial empire
4. Describe the time period leading up to independence.
• 1885—Resistance to British rule led to the foundation to the Indian National Congress
• 1906—Muslim League represented the Muslim minority
• 1920—Congress leader Mohandas Gandhi launched a campaign of boycotts and peaceful demonstrations
• Tensions grew between Hindus + Muslims
5. What challenges has South Asia faced since gaining independence?
• Indian + Sri Lanka—faced ethnic unrest
• Civil war has swept Afghanistan
• Military seized power in Pakistan and Bangladesh
6. What countries do the Himalayas run through?
• India, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan
7. What is the Indus River’s importance to South Asia?
• 1 of 3 great rivers in South Asia + was home to the region’s oldest civilizations
• Begins in the Himalayas and runs to the Arabian Sea, forming alluvial plains as it deposits rich silt in flat areas
8. Would rainfall levels be higher on the western or eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, and why?
• Western—rain shadow effect; windward + leeward sides
9. What climates are more heavily impacted by the summer monsoons?
• Tropical wet, tropical wet and dry, semiarid
10. Which city is least affected by the monsoons?
• Kabul
11. What countries have desert scrub ecosystems? Tropical rain forests?
• India, Pakistan, Afghanistan; India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan
12. What ecosystem dominates India?
• Tropical grassland
13. What religion(s) dominate the following countries: India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Bhutan?
• Hinduism in India + Nepal, Islam in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, + Pakistan, Buddhism in Bhutan
14. What is cultural diversity like in South Asia?
• Abut half people in India speak Hindi, but many lang. are spoken throughout the region
• 1 of most densely settled pop.s on earth
• 6 major language families
• Urban landscape—Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, shows a mixture of old + new building styles—Arab tradrs
settled in the area beginning in the 700s
15. Where is the largest portion of India’s population located? Pakistan’s?
• IndiaNorth—near Nepal, Bhutan, + Bangladesh
• PakistanNorth—near Himalayas + east border
16. What economic activity dominates South Asia?
• Subsistence farming (agriculture)
17. What are the main economic activities in Bangladesh? Pakistan?
• Bangladesh—?... subsistence farming, commercial fishing, commercial farming, manufacturing and trade
 • Pakistan—Coal, nomadic herding, subsistence farming, commercial fishing, manufacturing and trade
18. Which island nation would benefit the most from commercial fishing?
• Sri Lanka
19. Which two countries struggle the most to provide adequate communication systems to their populations? Which is
most successful?
• Pakistan + Bangladesh
• Pakistan