The document provides an overview of the geography, climate, vegetation, and history of South Asia. It describes the major geographical features like the Himalayan Mountains and river systems like the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra rivers. It discusses how the formation of the Himalayas influenced other landforms and natural resources in the region. It also provides brief summaries of the history, culture, languages, and governments of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other South Asian countries.

1. South Asia

2. What essential questions will guide our learning? 1. How is South Asia affected by altitude, ocean currents, and other geographical features? 2. How do the various climatic and vegetation zones influence the way in which the inhabitants live? 3. How has history shaped the governments, cultures, and people of South Asia? 4. How does this region affect and influence the world today?

3. Countries and Capitals Dhaka, Bangladesh Thimphu, Bhutan New Delhi, India Male, Maldives Kathmandu, Nepal Islamabad, Pakistan Colombo, Sri Lanka

4. Major Geographical Features Himalayas Mountains Mt. Everest, K2 Hindu Kush Mountains Karakoram Range and Sulaiman Range Indus River and the Thar Desert Ganges River, Ganges Delta Brahmaputra River Krishna River Godavari River Narmada River Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats Deccan Plateau Indian Ocean Arabian Sea Bay of Bengal Palk Strait, Gulf of Mannar Laccadive Sea Gulf of Khambhat

5. Information on South Asian landforms Himalaya Mountains : once called Mount Meru to ancient peoples in area was considered physical and spiritual center of world According to scientists: over 180 million years ago the Indian plate and the Eurasian plates began to drift towards each other and 50 million years ago they collided; then, the Himalayas formed. Parallel mountain ranges Contain world’s highest mountains; 20+ rise above 24,000 ft. Stretch 1,500 miles; form giant barriers between Indian subcontinent and China

6. Influence of the Himalayas Interestingly enough the formation of the Himalayas affected the “other” landforms The Deccan Plateau lies south of the Himalaya mountain range; covers central and southern India; varies in elevation from between 100 and 1000 meters; Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats separate the plateau from the sea and blocks winds and moisture from reaching the plateau, thus Deccan is a largely arid region; many people of various languages inhabit the Deccan Western Ghats: “mountain range” that is hotspot for biodiversity; average elevation is 1200 meters Eastern Ghats: older range than the Western Ghats; lower elevation; runs parallel to the Bay of Bengal

7. River Systems: 3 major rivers - Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra; all have origins in snow-capped Himalayas; Ganges flows east across Northern India; Indus flows west and south through Pakistan to Arabian Sea; Brahmaputra flows east, then west, then south through Bangladesh These rivers carry rich soil - alluvial soil; population density revolves around fertile rivers - New Delhi, Kolkata, Dakha

8. Natural Resources An area rich in natural resources, but with limitating factors: population Alluvial soil; river waters, sea water; timber - rain forests in India, pine, fir in Bhutan and Nepal; coal (Deccan Plateau), natural gas, uranium (Pakistan), iron-ore, mica (used for electrical equipment), diamonds (India), gemstones (Sri Lanka)

9. Climate and Vegetation in South Asia Six main climate zones: Highland in North India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan; Humid Subtropical in Northeast India, Bangladesh, Nepal; Desert and Semiarid in Pakistan and Northwest India; Tropical wet and dry in India and Sri Lanka; and Tropical wet on Southwest Indian coast, Southwest Sri Lanka, and Southern Bangladesh (see map on page 557) Weather and climate is heavily influenced by the monsoons- seasonal winds. Every October through February dry winds blow from northeast (Himalayas). June through September winds blow from southwest, bringing moist air - major rains in Ganges Delta; causes hardship and relief, very unpredictable. Cyclones also affect area (a violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain).

10. Vegetation types: Tropical rain forest (Southwest coast of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh); Tropical grassland (majority of India, part of Northern Pakistan); Deciduous and mixed forest (Northern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, part of Northern Pakistan); Temperate grassland (part of Pakistan); Desert and dry shrub (Pakistan and India); Highland (Himalaya mountain range)

11. A Closer Look at South Asia

12. India Culture and history date back more than 4,000 years Began in Indus valley (2500 BC) Aryans (light skinned peoples) crossed Hindu Kush mountains and spread across Northern India Aryans established small kingdoms on Ganges plain, pushing darker skinned peoples (Dravidians) south Two influential empires: Mauryan Empire - 321 BC, united most of India, leader Asoka spread Buddhism throughout Asia; Gupta Empire - ruled over northern India, peace and prosperity By 5th century BC a Muslim people conquered Indus valley became Mughal Empire in 1500s By 1500s European traders came to India in search of spices, cloth, goods not available in Europe; established trade relations, trading colonies - French, Dutch, Portuguese, but British won out British East India Company gained control of trade by 1757 and by 1857 established direct rule, this raj lasted almost 90 years Mohandas Gandhi began nonviolent resistance - led to independence on August 14, 1947 (Gandhi was assassinated a year later)

13. Independence brought division: Muslims (predominately Sunni) “chose” to separate into what are now Pakistan (west of India) and Bangladesh (northeast of India) Division based largely on religious differences: India remained predominately Hindu Hinduism: roots in Aryan culture; belief in many gods?, reincarnation, moral consequences - karma; caste system - system of social class - Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), Vaisyas (farmers and merchants), Sudras (artisans and laborers); over time further divisions - the untouchables dalits - lowest status; each person is born into caste and has moral duty (dharma), person can move to another caste through reincarnation; discriminating? Significant Hindu text: Vedas, Rigveda, Bhagavad Gita

14. Languages: official - Hindi, English; others - Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu India is largest democracy in World (by population) Indian cuisine: differs by region - north, south, east, west Bollywood major economic and entertainment India - 28 states, 7 union territories Current President: Pratibha Patil, Current Prime Minister: Manmohan Singh Population: just over 1 billion GDP: 1.1 trillion; GDP per capita: $941