1. SOUTH ASIA Chapter 7 section 1: Geography and early history of South Asia

2. South Asia  Aka Indian subcontinent  Eight independent nations  Three distinct landforms shape the major geographic regions of South Asia  Northern mountains, northern plains, Deccan Plateau http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan

3. The two major mountains ranges: Himalayas and Hindu Kush These mountains create a massive wall that separates the Indian subcontinent from the interior of Asia Mountains in South Asia

4. Importance of mountains  Create barriers  Great river systems have their sources fed by the melting snows from the mountains  High valleys are used for farming

5. Northern Plains  Indo-Gangetic Plain  This plain benefits from the three rivers that flow through this area: Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra  Highly-populated  Indus River  Principal river in Pakistan  Ganges River  Begins in ice cave  Most holy river  Thar Desert  Nomadic herders

6. Deccan Plateau South Asia is a huge, triangular region which includes varied landforms, from mountains to low-lying deltas.  Lies south of the great plains  Occupies nearly half of South Asia  Farming  Bordered on three sides by mountains

7. Vindhya Mountains VIND yuh  North of the Deccan Plateau  Separates the plateau from the Indo- Gangetic Plain  Read story on page 164 in textbook  Mark the boundary between northern and southern India

8. Western Ghat Moutains Located in the East and West Named for the many passes that cut through the mountains Western Ghats prevented Europeans from moving into the interior Eastern Ghats are disconnected. Europeans invaded through the valleys Ghat Mountains