South Asia Study Guide

8. From what region did the original settlers of South Asia originate?

Indus River

15. What "justification" is generally used to explain why the Ganges is both a sacred river and one of the world's most polluted?

people believe that the river is so sacred that it can even cleanse the trash/pollutants that are thrown in it

40. In the early 2000s, what general purpose was the sport of cricket used by India and Pakistan?

they loved the sport, but also helped the two countries be at peace with each other

38. What 1974 event led to the temporary end of hostilities between India and Pakistan, an era of relative peace that eventually ended in 1999?

"Friendship series" cricket tournament; humanized both sides

2. Generally speaking, what percentage of the top 100 tallest mountains are found in the Himalayan mountain system?

100%

35. What effect did partitioning have on the Indian city of Kolkata?

After the partition, their thriving textile industries withered and died.

17. What major event took place in Bhopal, India?

Bhopal Gas tragedy- pipes were not kept well and the leakage got out and affected the community. Most deaths due to gas leak in history

24. In an attempt to avoid using measurements of wealth to judge development, what country created "Gross National Happiness" as a measure of how happy the country is?

Bhutan

31. What is the caste system?

Caste system- (Vaishyas through Brahmins are the twice born groups); Brahmins- priests; Khsatiyas- warriors, princely- historical the most powerful; Vaishyas- merchants, landowners, artisans- skill of some sort; Sudras- servants- most of the population; Untouchables- outside the caste system- below humans. Unclean and most discriminated against; As of today, the caste system is illegal. Socially the caste system still exists.

1. Reflecting the history of the sport's spread, what type of countries tend to play the highest level of cricket?

Countries with large populations such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka

22. What is the origin of Nepal's unique flag, which is the only non-rectangular country flag in the world?

Hindu flags, which are triangular

10. What is the primary difference between the languages Hindi and Urdu?

Hindu is the language of India and Urdu is the language of Pakistan.

34. What was the basis for partitioning of South Asia?

Hinduism would dominate Islam if together as one country

41. Despite possessing the highest per capita GDP in South Asia, Maldives faces an uncertain future. What is the greatest threat to the survival of the Maldives?

If the ocean levels rise, it will disappear

18. Hinduism is primarily focused in which two countries?

India and Nepal/Bangledesh

21. What is the significance of Mt. Kailas?

Its the holiest place in Hinduism and the earthly home of Shiva. No one has ever climbed it.

37. What territory is the claimed by both India and Pakistan, which has led to these two countries fighting four different wars against one another?

Kashmir

13. In what ways has South Asia generally avoided the Malthusian catastrophe?

Malthius was a product of his time. Lifestyles changed when occupation started to change due to the industrial revolution. World grain production kept up with population.

42. What is unique about the North Sentinelese?

North Sentinel- last group that has not been contacted by outsiders- they kill anyone who tries to come on the island

30. Sikhism is primarily concentrated in which state of India?

Punjab

32. Similar to Silicon Valley in California, which region of India is the center for the country's high tech industry?

Silicon Plateau

27. What territory lays claim to the longest continuous Buddhist country in the world?

Sri Lanka

28. What is the general source of division in Sri Lanka, one that led to a 25-year civil war that ended in 2009?

Tamils in Sri Lanka- moved from India to Sri Lanka (they are hindu). They see themselves as ethnically different. Tamils are seen as second-class citizens. Two sides went to war. Tamil Tigers (LTTE)- Tamil Terrorist group. India supported them until the 90s. They declared independence- though no one recognized them (made their own stamps).

4. Why has South Asia avoided heavy influence from outside Asian nations?

The Himalayan Mountains protect them from outsiders

3. Why does the mountain K2, the world's second tallest mountain, lack an official name?

The K was because it was in the Karakorum mountains and the 2 was because it was the second peak listed

29. What role did the Maratha play in helping preserve Hinduism in South Asia?

The Mughal (muslim) had over reached and the Maratha pushed back this is why Hinduism is in India.

19. Why is Hinduism such a difficult religion to define?

There is not one unifying philosophy. It is so difficult to define because it is a collection of ancient religions

36. Why does the Indian state of Assam restrict immigration into its territory?

They want to keep a balance between culture and demographics; they want to have majority Assamis or else their culture would change

12. What is the Malthusian theory?

Written by Thomas Malthus. Stated that 1. resources grew at a rhyme rate 2. humans grow exponentially 3. human population will outgrow our resources and when we do that, we will see a Malthusian catastrophe 4. If the population grows too fast and is left unchecked, we will outgrow resources 5. negative checks- famine, disease, war, etc.

16. What was the Chipko movement?

a movement between deforestation- Deforestation- like Haiti, India is a poor country where people have cut down a large amount of trees. Large corporations have come in and cut down large amounts of lumber. Women and children hugged trees in order to stop deforestation and it worked.

9. Know the focal point of the initial ancient South Asian civilizations

caste system; indus and ganges river valleys

11. What criterion is used in the formation of the various states of India?

ethnicity

25. What function does Chimi Lhakhang serve in Bhutan?

fertility temple- women go there to try to become pregnant

6. What physical geographic feature generally contributes to the annual flooding in Bangladesh?

monsoons and tropical storms

5. What unfortunate problem is Mount Everest facing today?

pollution

26. What is significant about Doklam?

possible clash point for a potential war between China and India

7. What is a monsoon?

seasonal wind

23. What role did Prithvi Narayan Shah play in the creation of present-day Nepal?

seen as the father of Modern day Nepal; united the Gorka Kingdom

33. What post-independence plan did Mahatma Gandhi initially prefer for South Asia?

some wanted South Asia to remain united after WWII (Ghandi was behind this)

14. Within the context of South Asia, what is the green revolution?

the increase in cereal-grains production resulting from the introduction of hybrid strains of wheat, rice, corn, and the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, including irrigation and heavy doses of chemical fertilizer

39. Why did the British introduce sports to South Asia?

they wanted their colonies to feel like they were real British citizens, so they spread their sports

20. Due to their behavior, worshippers of the Hindu goddess Kali gave us what present-day term?

thugs- people who follow a particular deity- they follow Kali. Kali killed Shiva. People thought they were following Kali by robbing and killing people.