1. South Asia Geography
Unit 8
(Chapters 24, 25 and 26)

2. The subcontinent
Subcontinent – a large landmass, slightly smaller than a continent.
Two tectonic plates, the Indian and Eurasian were forced together creating mountains by collision

3. Landforms Mountains Himalayas
Highest point in the world
Mt. Everest
Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountains are part of the Himalayan chain

4. Deccan Plateau
Large arid region between Western and Eastern Ghats (small mountain ranges)

5. Rivers Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra
All have their sources in the Himalayas
Both pictures show different views of the Ganges River, considered the greatest river of the Indian subcontinent

6. Rivers support alluvial plains
Like the Nile, Indian rivers bring minerals and moisture to lands
Makes rich farmland
Indo-Gangetic Plain is one of the most fertile farming regions in the world
Many crops are grown in India. It is extremely necessary to grow significant quantities of food for their ever-expanding population.

7. Offshore islands
The Indian Subcontinent also contains two large island groups
Sri Lanka
The “teardrop” of the subcontinent

8. The Maldives Another chain of islands, smaller than Sri Lanka
They are an archipelago
Island group

9. Indian-subcontinent natural resources
The subcontinent relies heavily on it’s land and water as resources
Also:
Forest for timber, plants and animals
Minerals, coal, oil and natural gas, iron ore
Coal strip mining
Iron ore from Pakistan

10. South Asia Climate Monsoons (Seasonal) Himalayas
Summer monsoon brings tons of rain
Very necessary to help support agriculture in South Asia
Winter Monsoon is a wind shift that brings dry air.
Himalayas
Man has tried to best Mt. Everest and other Himalayan slopes since the beginning of recorded history

11. Cyclones Hugely destructive storms of circling wind and water that can submerge miles of coastline.

12. South Asia Human Geography
History
Originally South Asia was many small empires
Mauryan, Gupta (both Buddhist) and Mughal (Muslim) Empires held power at different times.
Colonialism
In 1500’s European traders came to South Asia.

13. India is now the World’s largest democracy!
Later the British (and a few others) colonized much of South Asia and controlled it for years.
Natives did not like colonial rule and protested.
Mohandas Gandhi began opposition movement
Based on non-violent resistance
Eventually Great Britain gave in
Granted Independence to India
August 14, 1947
India is now the World’s largest democracy!

14. Religious Conflict Religions India/Pakistan conflict
Many different religions,
Much of the violence due to religious differences
India/Pakistan conflict
India is mostly Hindu, Pakistan mostly Muslim. They fight over territory.
Kashmir – disputed land
They divided the land between Hindu’s and Muslims, naming the Muslim sections Pakistan. This was called partition.

15. What do Hindu’s believe?
Complex religion
Polytheistic
Believe in reincarnation
Idea that your soul returns to Earth many times
Karma – moral consequences of a persons actions in one life determine that person’s next life

16. Buddhism Buddhism was born in South Asia
Now much more popular in Central Asia (China)
Buddhists believe in focusing on leading a good life, not material possessions.
Through meditation and good deeds they try to achieve nirvana (perfection of spirit)
This religion created by Siddartha (Buddha)

17. South Asia Economics Most economic activities center on agriculture
Subsistence farming
Growing what your family needs to eat and survive, with little left over to sell
Many south Asian families are subsistence farmers
New Ideas
Land reform
Redistribute the land so that more people have access to good amounts, instead of just the wealthy five percent.
Green revolution
Introduced new farming techniques and crops to improve yield (how much product you get)
It has been working

18. Issues India Faces Population explosion Poverty Caste System
India is a stage 2 country
Their population growth rate is fastest in the world
Will be most populous country by about 2015.
Problems come when you have that many citizens.
Poverty
Many of South Asia’s people live in poverty.
Caste System
System of social classes that is a cornerstone of Hinduism
You are restricted to your own social class your entire life.
With good Karma, you will move up in social classes in your other lifetimes.
Government is concerned with how this does not allow for personal betterment
The untouchable, or bottom caste, was done away with by the govt. but it is still part of life.