Southwest Asia and South Asia

Question 1
The independence of Pakistan from India took place on August 15, 1947. It is vital to
acknowledge that the agreement that ended British rule lasted about 200 years. Notably,
Mohandas Gandhi was at the forefront of ensuring that Pakistan gained its independence from
India. Religious strife between Hindus and Muslims was one of the causes of the delay in the
independence of Pakistan. The independence of both Pakistan and India gained momentum at the
beginning of the 20 th century when Gandhi organized a passive-resistance campaign to protest
about the oppressive rule of Britain in India (Berglee, 2012). The British colonial authorities
imprisoned Gandhi and other protestants for organizing protests, which only increased the war to
gain independence. The Indian National Congress came up with the Quit India Movement in
1942, which helped in increasing the chances of gaining independence.
A critical examination of the conflicts between India, Pakistan, and India indicates that
there were various reasons for such conflicts. One of the reasons is border control issues along
the Kashmir border. It is vital to acknowledge that the three countries share the same border, and
as such, conflicts arise as to who should control border operations and its natural resources. In
some instances, India has accused China of provoking military tensions at the border, which has
resulted in wars that result in deaths and injuries (Berglee, 2012). Additionally, the three
countries compete to build infrastructure along the border, often referred to as the Line of Actual
Control. The construction of a new road along the border by the Indian government was one of
the causes of conflicts between Chinese and Indian troops, which led to the death of several
soldiers.
Question 2

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The discovery of vast oil reserves in the Middle East has significantly affected the
economy of countries such as Iraq, Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The large oil reserves in the
Middle East have resulted in the increased creation of wealth for most of the countries in the
Middle East. Notably, oil and gas exportation in the Middle East has led to economic
modernization, which mainly entails infrastructural development, creation of job opportunities,
and industrial development. The revenues generated from oil and gas export have been used to
boost industrialization, which significantly improves economic growth (Malachova, 2012).
Additionally, oil exportation in the Middle East has helped in the creation of job opportunities
for the youths and other foreigners from other parts of the world who seek employment
opportunities in the region. Also, oil exportation in the Middle East has certain political impacts
in the region, including political stagnation. In the Middle East, there is a lack of accountability
in the government where the citizens from the paying taxes, so that the citizens cannot demand to
be represented in the right way because they do not contribute to the state’s income (Malachova,
2012). The membership of the Middle East countries in the OPEC cartel results in stability
across the world because the OPEC controls the prices of oil products by implementing policies
that guarantee stable and fair prices for petroleum producers. With such policies, healthy
economic growth is achieved hence stability.

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Figure 1: A map showing OPEC members.
Question 3
Based on the chapters provided in the book, there are many ancient civilizations in the
Middle East and South Asia. One of the ancient civilizations is the Indus Valley Civilization,
which has entailed different aspects. A critical examination of the Indus Valley Civilization
indicates that it has two main cultures, the Harappan and Late Harappan cultures. It is vital to
acknowledge that the early Harappan culture was derived from Neolithic cultures. Notably, the
Indus Valley Civilization helped in the development of an accurate system of standard weights
and measures (Berglee, 2012). Harappans created numerous things, including sculptures, seals,
pottery, and jewelry. Remarkably, there is a belief that the Harappans mainly worshipped a
mother goddess who was a symbol of fertility. It is worth noting that the Indus Valley

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Civilization lacked any temples and palaces that would give a clear indication of religious rites.
Also, some Indus Valley seals show a swastika symbol that was later included in Indian
religions, such as Hinduism. The Indus Valley Civilization’s political system consisted of Kings
who had supreme authority over the people. Also, the political system was theocratic in nature
because a religious organization was the source of all authority (Berglee, 2012). Notably, there
was a Citadel, which acted as a barrier to the civilization to protect it from invasions and other
disasters. The Indus people lived on the banks of the Indus river. Regarding hygiene systems,
some households had water and waste systems, and most homes had access to a bathroom and
toilet connected to the drainage systems.

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Figure 2: Indus Valley Civilization Map
Question 4
Three major religions of the world that have their beginnings in the Middle East include
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Notably, Christianity is the second oldest religion in the Middle
East, and it was started about 2000 years ago by the followers of Jesus Christ. It is vital to
acknowledge that Christianity originated from Judea, and Jesus Christ started preaching in
Galilee (Kamrava, 2013). A critical examination of the culture of Christianity indicates that
Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God and the savior of humanity. Additionally,
Christians believe that that those who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal savior are saved by
God and guaranteed of eternal life. Also, Christians believe that they should worship and praise
God in a church. Notably, the people who believe in God and Jesus Christ are called Christians,
and they have a responsibility to abide by the Ten Commandments of God (Kamrava, 2013).
Additionally, Christians are expected to live in a righteous manner by avoiding sinful ways so
that they can have eternal life. It is vital to acknowledge that Christianity is a global religion,
many people in the world practice this religion. Precisely, about 20 percent of the world
population are Christians.
Question 5
Regions such as India and China experience a type of rainfall called monsoon rains. It is
vital to acknowledge that monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds
of a region. Notably, monsoon often results in wet and dry seasons and is mostly associated with
the Indian Ocean. Remarkably, the process of formation of monsoon rains in India and China
involves different steps. First, differences in annual temperature over the land and sea occur, and
it creates a low-pressure region. In the region, the Thar desert and the adjoining areas of the

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northern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent are heated during the summer season. The
moisture-filled winds from the Indian Ocean rushes into the low-pressure zone created (Yu et al.,
2016). With time, the low-pressure zone shifts to the north and results in monsoon rains.
Notably, with increased monsoon rains, flooding of the rivers occurs, and people living near the
rivers are displaced.

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References

Berglee, R. (2012). World regional geography: People, places and globalization.
Kamrava, M. (2013). The Modern Middle East. In The Modern Middle East, Third Edition.
University of California press.
Malachova, A. (2012). The Middle East and oil: Economic modernisation and political
stagnation. E-International Relations Publishing, Lancaster University.
Yu, S., Li, P., Wang, L., Wang, P., Wang, S., Chang, S., … & Alapaty, K. (2016). Anthropogenic
aerosols are a potential cause for migration of the summer monsoon rain belt in China.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(16), E2209-E2210.