Download South Asia Study Guide

South Asia Study Guide
South Asia Physical Geography
1. What is a monsoon?
What is its importance?
2. How were the Himalayas formed?
3. What is polluting the Ganges?
4. What climate does Nepal and Bhutan have?
5. What three rivers begin in the Himalayas?
6. Where is the Deccan plateau located?
7. What physical feature do most Indians live on?
India: A History
8. Why was it difficult for one group to dominate India for any length of time?
9. How did the Aryan invasion influence India’s culture?
10. Why was the Taj Mahal built?
11. What is Raj?
Hinduism/Buddhism
12. Who founded Buddhism?
13. What do Buddhists believe is the cause of all suffering?
14. Where does Buddhism rank in size of the world religions?
15. How can Buddhists reach Nirvana?
16. What are the three main gods of Hinduism and what are they worshipped for?
17. Where does Hinduism rank in size of the world religions?
18. What are the sacred texts of Hinduism?
19. What is Karma?
20. What is Dharma?
21. Why is the cow worshipped in Hinduism?
22. What is the purpose of the caste systems?
Name and describe each level.
23. Where is the Caste system prevalent today?
Soul of India
24. Describe the importance and uses of the Ganges River.
25. What type of government does India have, making it the largest in the world?
26. What is the largest employer in the world and is important because it links every outpost & city to each other?
27. What religion blends Hinduism and Islam into one and believes there is one god that is found in the heart and soul of
Everyone?
28. What religion believes all things possess a soul and all life is sacred?
Partition of India Article & Notes
29. What was the partitioning of India?
30. What political group represented Muslims?
31. What was the largest mass migration in human history?
32. What were the causes of the partitioning?
Indians?
33. Who was Mohammad Ali Jinnah?
34. What form of protest did Gandhi believe in?
35. What was satyagraha?
36. Which of Gandhi’s protests proved to be his most successful and influential? Why?
37. What happened during the actual partitioning – when the new countries were formed?
38. Pakistan is for:
39. How did Bangladesh form?
India is for:
40. How did Gandhi die?
41. Why is Pakistan considered extremely dangerous today?
42. What area do India and Pakistan continue to fight over today?
Explain the history of this conflict & why they would fight over this territory.
Population Issues
43. What is India’s current population?
44. How is India trying to regulate growth?
45. What are the causes of growth?
46. Why do families prefer sons over daughters?
47. What does this preference lead to?
48. What are the effects of overpopulation? Explain thoroughly.
Country Profiles: Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Malidives
For each country, list the following:
Physical characteristics:
Important historical facts:
Economy based on:
Type of government:
Important cultural facts (Language, religion..)
Problems?
Rank in size?