Warm-Up Activity

Please answer the following questions on a piece of notebook paper.◦ 1. Have you ever been to the mountains? If so,

where?◦ 2. When did you go? What was the weather like?◦ 3. What did you do while you were there?◦ 4. Did you notice any differences between your

life in the city compared to mountain life?

Warm-Up Activity

NepalA Mountain Kingdom

Only major city in Nepal Elevation – 4,600 ft

Kathmandu

Lukla Airport 9,383 ft

Prayer Flags

Stupas

Mani Stones

Yaks

Sherpas

Village Life

Buddhist Temple

Mount Everest 29,029 ft

Most Nepalese are subsistence farmers. People eat what they raise and market what little surplus they might have for necessities such as salt, tea, and cloth.

To increase the amount of land suitable for farming, the Nepalese have built terraces into the steep slopes.

Everyday Life

Trekking routes frequently pass right through people's yards. Although children are used to seeing hikers along popular trails, they often stop playing to have a look at you.

Thatched roofs are common in the hills of Nepal. Thatching is surprisingly long lasting and watertight.

Life Along the Trail

Laundry is done by hand with water that has been drawn and carried or—when homes are close enough to a well—pumped through a hose from the public tap.

Teahouses and lodges can be found along major trekking routes, such as this one that passes through the village of Landruk.

Constitutional Government – both Nepal and Bhutan have this type of government◦ Government in which the ruler’s powers are

limited by a constitution.◦ Bhutan – King is supreme ruler◦ Nepal – King shares power with an elected

parliament

Nepal and Bhutan

Sherpas – Inhabit high Himalayan region◦ Tibetan ancestry◦ Traditional mountain guides of the Everest

region

◦ Siddhartha Gautama – known as Buddha, born on borders of present day Nepal and India.

◦ Buddhist teaching began in Nepal but later replaced by Hinduism

◦ Buddhism – Official religion of Bhutan◦ Hinduism – Official religion of Nepal

Mandalas – geometric designs that are symbols of the universe and aid in meditation.

Rich Cultural Traditions

Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Settlement of Sri Lanka◦ Sinhalese –

ethnic group, settled in ancient Sri Lanka Adopted Buddhism Built sophisticated irrigation systems Settled southern end of island Majority – 74% of population

◦ Tamils – Dravidian Hindus from southern India Settled northern end of island Minorities – 18% of population

Tensions between Sinhalese and Tamils resulted in civil war in the 1980s and continue to erupt in violence

History of the Islands

A Muslim State in the Maldives◦ Settled by Buddhists and Hindus from Sri Lanka◦ Arab traders made frequent visits.◦ Result: 12th century population had converted to

Islam◦ Sultans – 6 dynasties of Muslim rulers governed

the Maldives.◦ 1968 – declared itself a republic, headed by an

elected president.◦ 1,200 islands comprising 115 square miles and

300,000 people makes the Maldives one of the world’s smallest independent countries!!

History of the Islands

Ethnic Mosaic of the Islands◦ Sinhalese Buddhists – 75% (Southern, western, and central

parts)◦ Tamil Hindus – 18% (Northern part)◦ Muslims – 7%◦ Capital: Colombo – most live in smaller towns and villages

Cultural Life in Sri Lanka◦ Religion: Buddhist, Hindu temples, Muslim mosques and

Christian churches dot landscape

Cultural Life in the Maldives◦ Muslim customs – strong influence◦ Islam is the state religion, no other religions allowed◦ Bodu Beru (“big drum”)

Life in the Islands

Economic Strengths◦ Agriculture (rice farming)◦ Plantation agriculture (tea, rubber, and coconuts)◦ Sri Lanka – leading tea-producing country◦ Maldives – Fishing and tourism

Tough Challenges◦ Sri Lanka – civil wars caused tourist industry to

collapse◦ Maldives – global warming

Islands lie very low in the water, and any rise in sea level – caused by melting of the polar icecaps – could flood them completely.

Economy Activity of Islands

Population Grows◦ India’s population growing so fast it lacks basic

necessities – food, clothing, and shelter.◦ India: 1947 300 million, 2000 – 1 billion, 2045 – 1.5

billion ◦ South Asia – home to 22% of the world’s

population, live on 3% of the world’s land area Inadequate Resources

◦ Illiteracy – inability to read or write and widespread poverty have left millions without hope that their lives would improve

◦ Poor sanitation

Today’s Issues – South Asia

Smaller Families◦ India encourages people to have smaller families◦ Women marry young, have lots of kids◦ Use kids as a source of income◦ Children represent security ◦ High infant mortality – India 75 per 1,000◦ US 7 per 1,000

Education is a Key◦ Education is essential to break the cycle of

poverty

Managing Population Growth