iGCSE Bangladesh Studies Edexcel

This subject is broken down into 27 topics in 7 modules:

  1. Early Bengal and the British Raj 4 topics
  2. The Freedom Movement 4 topics
  3. Post-independence Bangladesh 4 topics
  4. Physical Geography 4 topics
  5. Human Geography 4 topics
  6. Economic Geography 4 topics
  7. Regional Geography 3 topics
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  • 7
    modules
  • 27
    topics
  • 10,252
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Bangladesh Studies

Early Bengal and the British Raj

Land and history of ancient Bengal

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Land and history of ancient Bengal

Ancient Bengal Geography and Climate

  • Ancient Bengal was a region located in the northeastern part of the Indian Subcontinent.
  • It was divided by the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, the largest river delta in the world.
  • Bengal's climate is defined by high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and high humidity, ideal for growing rice and jute.

Early Civilisations

  • The area that is now known as Bengal was settled by Austroasiatic and Dravidian-speaking peoples in the second millennium BC.
  • Buddhism was widely practiced in Ancient Bengal and was spread by Emperor Ashoka during his conquest.
  • Hinduism became dominant after the decline of Buddhism, under the Gupta Empire and Pala Empire.

Governance and Empire

  • Bengal was ruled by several empires and kingdoms, notable among them are the Gupta Empire, Pala Empire, and the Sena dynasty.
  • The Pala Empire is considered the golden age of Bengal, with advancement in arts, sciences and education.
  • Bengal became a regional trade and commerce hub under these empires, with connections as far as Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Religion and Culture

  • Bengal was a significant center of Buddhist learning and art during the Pala Empire.
  • Bengal witnessed the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism, sects of Hinduism during the reign of the Sena dynasty.
  • The period also saw the compilation of influential texts and the development of the Bengali language.

Arrival of Europeans and the British Raj

  • The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Bengal in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch, French and the British eventually.
  • The region fell under British control after the Battle of Plassey in 1757 with the establishment of the British East India Company.
  • The British Raj significantly impacted Bengal's economy, politics, and culture, laying the foundation for modern-day Bangladesh.
  • While the British introduced legal and educational reforms, it was also marked by socio-economic oppression and famines including the Great Bengal Famine of 1943.

Course material for Bangladesh Studies, module Early Bengal and the British Raj, topic Land and history of ancient Bengal

Bangladesh Studies

Physical Geography

Natural disasters and environmental hazards

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Natural disasters and environmental hazards

Natural Disasters

  • Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and experiences a variety of natural disasters annually, including cyclones, floods, and earthquakes.

  • The country's low-lying geography makes it particularly susceptible to flooding, especially during monsoon season. Rivers like the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Meghna often overflow, causing widespread damage.

  • Frequent and large-scale inundation often leads to comparatively high death tolls, destruction of housing and infrastructure, loss of crops, and spread of waterborne diseases.

  • Cyclones are another common natural disaster, striking mainly in the pre-monsoon (April-May) and post-monsoon (October-November) periods. The Bay of Bengal's geographical location forms a hotbed for cyclones formed from low-pressure systems.

  • The deadliest cyclone in recorded history, The 1970 Bhola Cyclone, struck Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) with a death toll between 300,000 to 500,000 people.

  • Storm surges accompanying cyclones can lead to catastrophic damage along the coast, especially in the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, which act as a natural barrier to cyclones.

Environmental Hazards

  • Bangladesh is also exposed to severe environmental hazards that pose significant challenges to the country’s development.

  • The issue of air pollution, primarily in major cities such as Dhaka, is becoming increasingly severe with the rise of industrialisation and population density.

  • Due to land scarcity and rapid urbanisation, deforestation has turned into a significant issue, also leading to soil degradation and erosion.

  • The over-extraction of groundwater supplies in Bangladesh has led to widespread water scarcity. It has also led to the intrusion of saltwater into fresh aquifers, particularly in coastal regions.

  • Bangladesh has been grappling with the severe impact of climate change, including elevated temperature, changing precipitation pattern, rising sea levels, and resulting saline water intrusion, detrimental to agriculture and human health.

  • Also alarming is the hazard of arsenic contamination in drinking water across Bangladesh. This contamination poses serious threats to both human health and the environment.

Course material for Bangladesh Studies, module Physical Geography, topic Natural disasters and environmental hazards

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