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People and Population
OF
SOUTH ASIA
BIG CONCEPTS
• The population of South Asia exceeds 1 billion
• South Asia has an ethnically diverse population.
• There are several hundred languages spoken in the
region, and most of the world’s major religions are
practiced here.
VS 1
BIG CONCEPTS
The Impact of Colonialism
• Most of South Asia was ruled
by the British under its colonial
empire.
• The colony of India was
divided into Pakistan, which
was comprised mostly of
Muslims, and India which
was mostly Hindu.
• Pakistan was divided into
East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan later broke from
West Pakistan to become Bangladesh.
• Issues from the colonial era still exist today as India and
Pakistan fight over who should control the Kashmir region.
VS 2
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BIG CONCEPTS
Conflict and Government
• Ethnic and religious
diversity in South Asia
often leads to conflict.
• After India and Pakistan
gained their independence,
Hindus and Muslims on the
wrong side of the border
often faced violence against
them.
• In Sri Lanka, the minority Hindus are using violence
to try to gain independence from the Buddhist in the
south.
VS 3
History and Government
India’s ancient history continues to influence its
populations today.
• First civilizations:
– Aryan people
– Indus Valley civilization
• India’s key religions:
– Hinduism: believes
most people are
reborn or reincarnated
as another living being.
– Buddhism
History and Government
• Achievements of the
Indus Valley
Civilization:
– Writing system
– Strong central
government
– Thriving overseas
trade
– First cities
Section 2
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History and Government
(cont.)
• Invasions and Empires:
– Mauryan Empire
– Gupta Empire
– Mogul Empire
– European invasion
–This area was fought over
by the Portuguese, Dutch,
and British.
– These powers fought for
control over Sri Lanka
because of its strategic
trade route location
History and Government
(cont.)
The British employed a policy of mercantilism an
economic system of using colonies for supplying
materials and markets to the colonizing country in
India.
History and Government
(cont.)
The British Rule the
Indian subcontinent
for over 200 years
Independence was
granted to India
August 15, 1947,
due to many efforts
from the revered
leader Mohandas K.
Gandhi led India’s
fight for
independence one
that ended in
freedom in 1947.
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Politics of the Region center on
Pakistan and India
• Behind much of the
politics is long history
of the clash of religion.
• When Hindu and
Muslim leaders could
not agree on a
constitution, the British
granted independence
to both areas in an
effort to decrease
conflict.
Politics of the Region center on
Pakistan and India
• Their long term feud
between land has led to
the two countries
developing the major
weapon of mass
destruction.
– India and Pakistan have
developed nuclear
weapons
Population Patterns
Population density and distribution, as well
as urbanization, continue to shape India’s
population patterns.
• The people:
– Many Indians identify
themselves by their
religion.
Question: In Pakistan
they are mostly Muslim
in India they are mostly
__________.
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Population Patterns
(cont.)
• Density and distribution:
– Bangladesh is
the most
densely
populated
country in
South Asia.
– Pakistan is
South Asia’s
most urbanized
country.
Section 2
Population Patterns
(cont.)
• Density and distribution:
– India’s average
population density is
about 7 times the world
average.
– Nearly 70% live in rural
villages.
– India’s cities are among
the world’s most
densely populated.
Section 1
Population Patterns
(cont.)
• Density and distribution:
– India has more than 15% of the Worlds people
living within its borders
– The highest population concentrations in South
Asia are found Gangetic Plain
Section 1
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THE END
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