Global Studies

South Asia Final Review Sheet

Geography

Size in Relation to US (India)
1/3
Subcontinent
Large land mass that juts from a continent
Ganges
Major river; located primarily in India
Indus
Major river; located primarily in Pakistan
Brahmaputra
Major river; Bangladesh
Major Delta
Bangladesh
Northern Plain
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Major Desert
Thar (Great Indian Desert)
Monsoons
Seasonal winds that dominate the climate/weather of South Asia
Wet-spring/summer
Dry-fall/winter

General

Total Population (of India)
1.1 billion
National Language
Hindi
Most Common Economic Activity
farming
Capital City
New Delhi
Religious Groups
Hindu; Islam/Muslim; Sikhs; Jains

Hinduism

Reincarnation
rebirth
Karma
fate
Dharma
duty
Atman
soul
Moksha
heaven
Sacred Animal
cow

Hindu Deities

Brahman
Universal spirit; ultimate reality; ultimate god
Brahma
Creator god
Vishnu
Preserver god
Shiva
Destroyer god
Ganesh
Remover of obstacles

Civilizations

Chronological Order of Indian Civilizations
Indus, Aryan, Maurya, Gupta, Mughal

Indus River Civilizations

Location
Indus Valley (Pakistan)
Cities
Mohenjo Daro, Harappa
Impact on India
Cotton, chicken, wheel, water systems, cities, mother goddess, sacred animals, chess

Aryans

Description
Light-skinned, nomadic people who were herders
Impact on India
Started caste, Hinduism, Sanskrit, rajas, sacred cow

Maurya Empire

Asoka
India’s greatest king
Ruled with tolerance and non-violence, converted to Buddhism
Impact on India
Spread Buddhism, stone edicts, united Northern India

Gupta Empire

Ajanta Caves
Famous Buddhist murals, statues
Impact on India
India’s golden age
Art, literature, and mathematics (Arabic numbers, 0 and infinity)

Mughal Empire

Religion
Muslim/Islam
Akbar aka The Great
Ruled during the Mughal golden age/helped achieve it
Tolerant of Hindus and tried to create a universal religion
Shah Jahan
Built the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Considered most beautiful building in the world
Built as a tomb; blend of Islamic and Indian architecture
Impact on India
Increase in Muslims; blending of Islamic and Hindu culture

Caste System

Caste System
Social classification based on religion
Determination of Caste
Birth; karma according to Hindu beliefs
Brahmins
Highest caste; priests
Untouchables
Below caste system; considered sub-human; poor and mistreated

Colonial Period

Imperialism
Take over of a country for economic and political gain/power
Motivations for Imperialism
Wanted raw materials, markets for products, nationalism, social Darwinism, military superiority, White Man’s Burden
European Colonial Power
Britain
East India Company
Controlled trade in India
Direct & Indirect Rule
Directly ruled by EIC or Britain
Indirectly ruled through Indian rajas
Sepoy Rebellion
Indian soldiers revolted against the British after greased bullets controversy
Considered first blow of Indian independence
Changes Made After Sepoy Rebellion
EIC abolished; Mughal emperor exiled
Queen Victoria became empress; Indians got citizenship and freedom of religion

Independence

Mohandas Gandhi
Hindu; British trained lawyer; activism started in South Africa; led India to independence
Mahatma
means Great soul
Civil Disobedience
Refusal to obey unjust laws
Satyagraha
Truth force; Gandhi’s method of non-violent resistance
Amritsar Massacre
British killed peacefully protesting Indians; led to increased calls for independence
Salt March
Gandhi’s most important protest
Partition of India
Divided into two nations: Muslim Pakistan and Hindu-dominated India
Reason for Partition
To protect the Muslim minority
Year of Independence
1947

Modern India

Dominant Political Party
Congress Party
India’s Main Rival
Pakistan
Jawaharlal Nehru
First prime minister; promoted socialism and industrialization
Nonalignment
During Cold War India took aid from any side
Kashmir
Region in northern part of the subcontinent that is divided between India and Pakistan (China, too)
Indira Gandhi
Nehru’s daughter, prime minister, ruled as a dictator, killed by Sikh bodyguards
Sikh Separatist Movement
Pushing for own country. Indira cracked down on this movement; led to assassination of Indira
Independence of Bangladesh
Formerly known as East Pakistan; India helped with independence after a natural disaster
Green Revolution
The use of modern technology to improve agriculture-same time as operation flood to improve irrigation
Rajiv Gandhi
Son of Indira; prime minister; opened the country to foreign investment and promoted capitalism
Current Government Type
Parliamentary democracy
Government of India’s Claim To Fame
Largest democracy (based on population)
Nuclear Weapons
Pakistan and India both have nuclear weapons