Lesson 6: South Asia: Land and Water

1) The Indian Subcontinent A. A Natural Wall A.I. The landmass that now contains India used to be part of the continent of Africa. It is now a subcontinent of Asia. A.II. The Himalaya Mountain range was formed when the Indian subcontinent collided with the Asia continent. A.III. The process that formed the mountains still continues today. This means Mount Everest grows 2 inches a year. B. Rivers of Life B.I. The Himalayas help provide the region with its most valuable features for life. It is the source of important rivers. B.II. The Ganges River crosses through the northern part of India and then flows into the nearby country of Bangladesh. B.III. The river brings minerals necessary for good farming, therefore the areas around the rivers are more heavily populated.

2) Southeast Asia A. Mainland Southeast Asia A.I. The nations of Southeast Asia include Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. A.II. Of the various nations that are a part of Southeast Asia, the country of Singapore is the smallest of them. A.III. The geography here is similar to the Indian subcontinent. People live close to the mineral rich river valleys there too. B. Island Southeast Asia B.I. Four major nations of this region, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines, are made up of about 13,000 islands. B.II. The islands are part of the “Ring of Fire.” It is a region of volcanoes that surround the edges of the Pacific Ocean plate.

Homework: For the people of India, the Ganges River is a holy and sacred thing. Think about the importance of water as it has been discussed in Social Studies and Religion class. Make a list of six ways water is important for living and six more ways how water is important in religious faith. Lesson 7: South Asia: Climate and Vegetation

1) The Climates of South Asia A. The Summer Monsoons A.I. From June to early October the warm monsoon winds blow over the Arabian Sea picking up large amounts of moisture. A.II. As the warm air begins to cool over the mainland areas the moisture condenses and starts to fall as precipitation. A.III. The winds take the moisture all the way to the Himalayas where the last of it falls and fills the streams that become rivers. B. The Winter Monsoons B.I. In the winter months the monsoons change direction, and they bring cold, dry air down toward the Himalayan Mountains. B.II. The mountains again act as a natural barrier to the air and they stop it from passing through. South Asia then remains dry. C. People and Monsoons C.I. The monsoon rains cause Indian schools to start in June so the students will be on vacation when the temperatures rise. C.II. In Nepal, the monsoon rains can soften and weaken hillsides, which will cause mudslides that can destroy entire villages. C.III. In Bangladesh the monsoon rains can cause rivers to overflow and flood up to two thirds of the land where people live.

2) Climates and Vegetation of South Asia A. The climate of Southeast Asia starts is a humid tropical climate in the west and becomes a tropical wet-dry climate in the east. B. Vietnam is different though; it is a tropical wet rainforest there. There are no mountains there to block the winter monsoons. C. The island nations in South Asia also experience a year round wet season because they lack large landforms that stop winds.

Homework: None, Quiz 1. Lesson 8: India: In the Midst of Change

1) A Changing Society A. The Caste System A.I. The Traditional Hindu society divided its followers into four castes. The castes put people in a special social order. A.II. Below the lowest caste level is a group of people who are casteless, or the “Untouchable.” They are outcasts. A.III. Over the thousands of years that the caste system has grown the Untouchables still cannot mix with other groups. B. The System Weakens B.I. Mohandas Gandhi worked for the recognition and rights of the many people who were part of the “Untouchables.” B.II. Gandhi had many followers that he took on as pupils. He called them the “Harijans,” or the children of God. B.III. When India finally gained its independence from Britain it became the world’s largest democratic society. B.IV. The government soon passed laws requiring businesses to hire and schools to admit some Untouchables into them.

2) Women in India A. Women Gain Rights A.I. Gandhi urged women to take an active role in India’s fight for freedom. After that they decided to help themselves. A.II. Women were only able to vote and own a business beginning in 1947 after the British had given up control of the country. A.III. The second woman to become Prime Minister of India was Indira Gandhi, the daughter if India’s first ever Prime Minister. B. Changing Roles for Indian Women B.I. Women in India have been changing their roles and ways of life since winning their freedoms over fifty years ago. B.II. Some Indian women who are Muslims have even stopped wearing head scarves and veils in their everyday lives. B.III. Many Indian women have now gone onto college and gone into various scientific and medical fields of work.

Homework: Why do you think that the Indian government has taken the lead and an active role in helping the Untouchables gain rights and freedoms? 6 Sentence Response. Lesson 9: Pakistan: Economic Progress

1) An Agricultural Nation A. Irrigation Produces Larger Crops A.I. Pakistanis who live on the Indus Plain have dug thousands of canals and ditches to move water to their fields. A.II. The canals and ditches are designed to keep water close to the crops that need them even during a drought. A.III. Pakistani farmers grow many kinds of crops including mustard, beans, and a spicy dish called dhal. B. Problems and Solutions B.I. Irrigation can be beneficial to the Pakistani farmers and their crops, but it also has other consequences as well. B.II. The river water in Pakistan contains small amounts of salt. When the water evaporates it leaves the salt behind. B.III. The salty soil makes it difficult for some plants to grow, and Pakistan is trying to find plants that can still grow in it. B.IV. The rainy monsoon season can also cause flooding of the canals and farmland, so dams had to be built to manage it.

2) Industrial Growth A. Industries Based on Agriculture A.I. The construction of dams has allowed Pakistan to invest and use hydroelectric power to run their many industries. A.II. More than half of Pakistan’s industrial output comes from their ability to turn their own crops into industrial goods. A.III. For example, they can turn a crop like cotton into various clothing products all from within their own borders. B. Industries: From Steel to Crafts B.I. While most of the industries in Pakistan are related to agriculture, there are others that they are known for as well. B.II. The steel industry in Pakistan has helped to create everything from automotive parts to full size cars and trucks. B.III. Also, the hand woven carpets made by Pakistan artisans are sold all around the world at very high prices.

Homework: The canals of Pakistan are very important for the country’s benefit, but which do you think is the most important benefit of them? Is it the hydroelectric power that comes from them, or the irrigation of crops that is more important? 6 Sentence Response. Lesson 10: Vietnam: A Reunited Nation

1) Decades of Conflict and War A. The struggles of Vietnam and its people begin when they fought for independence from France after World War II. B. Once they had independence there was a civil war between the two groups who had different views on how to run the country. C. The North Vietnamese supported a communist government, the South Vietnamese wanted democracy for their country. D. A treaty was signed to stop the civil war that said there would be an election to reunite the country, but it never happened. E. The leader of South Vietnam declared that part of the country independent from the North, but the North didn’t agree to it. F. The North Vietnamese tried to take the South over by force, and the US responded by helping the South fight back. G. The U.S. eventually realized they were fighting a war they would never win and pulled out. The North took over completely.

2) After the War A. The Vietnamese Rebuild A.I. After the war Vietnam was reunited, but it was in horrible shape after 30 years of conflict had taken its toll on everyone. A.II. While the country is still communist today, it has had to adapt to the global market and allow some free enterprise. A.III. Vietnam is still one of the poorest countries in the world though. Homes lack running water and there is a lack of food. B. Rebirth of Ho Chi Minh City B.I. A city that is a good symbol of the rebirth of Vietnam is Ho Chi Minh City, which was formally known as Saigon. B.II. Ho Chi Minh City is the most prosperous city in all of Vietnam because it is the center of trade for the country. B.III. The new economic reforms the country has been working on have helped to modernize the city very quickly.

Homework: None, Quiz 2.