1. South Asia Unit Introduction

2. Introduction Although virtually surrounded by mountains, South Asia is home to ancient cultures influenced by other parts of Asia Harappan Aryans Moguls (Mongols)

3. South Asian religions South Asia is the origin of three different religions Hinduism Buddhism Sikhism The region is also home to 3 of the 4 largest Muslim populations

4. Hinduism An uniquely South Asian religion, Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world. Hinduism contains many different Gods, all representing facets of the unity of the universe, or one God, Brahman

5. Buddhism Buddhism formed in northeastern India in the 6th century B.C. based on the teachings of its founder Siddhartha Gautama – The Buddha Over the following centuries, it diffused throughout much of Asia.

6. Sikhism The Sikh religion originated in the Indian region of Punjab during the late 1400s. About 23 million people now practice Sikhism worldwide.

7. Islam Islam spread to South Asia centuries ago. Today, about 97% of Pakistan's 180 million people are Muslims.

8. Mountains – Himalaya As the Indian subcontinent moves slowly and steadily into Asia, it pushes up the highest mountains in the world The 1,500-mile (2,414-km) long Himalaya, which have individual peaks that reach more than 5 miles (8 km) high. Contains the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest

9. Mountains – Karakoram Range The Karakoram mountain range extends over some 80,000 square miles (207,000 sq. km) It contains Earth's second- highest peak, K2.

10. Major rivers Major rivers drain the region from their source high in the Himalaya in the north to the floodplains in the south. These rivers carry fertile soil used to grow food for the region’s large population.

11. Ganges River The Ganges River is one of Hinduism's most sacred sites. Hindus believe that scattering the ashes of the deceased on the Ganges aids the soul in the next life.

12. Ganges River South Asia's powerful Brahmaputra River carries rich soil throughout the region. However, the river can also cause destructive flooding. In 2012, some 1.7 million people were forced from their homes because of flooding along the Brahmaputra.

13. Monsoon – Seasonal winds Strong winds traveling across warm seas bring the wet season to South Asia, providing rain vitally needed by the region’s farms but also causing flooding in low-lying areas. These same winds blow out to sea during the winter months, leading to a prolonged dry season.