OPENING ACTIVITYOPENING ACTIVITY

Indian Subcontinent Indian Subcontinent Geography (South Asia)Geography (South Asia)Instructions: Using page 161-170, find evidence in the Instructions: Using page 161-170, find evidence in the section to support each of the following generalizations.section to support each of the following generalizations.

A.A. The terrain of the Indian subcontinent varies widely.The terrain of the Indian subcontinent varies widely.B.B. The Himalayas and the Hindu Kush are important to The Himalayas and the Hindu Kush are important to

the subcontinentthe subcontinent’’s water supply.s water supply.C.C. Farming is an important way of life for millions of Farming is an important way of life for millions of

people on the subcontinent.people on the subcontinent.D.D. Geographic barriers influenced the development of Geographic barriers influenced the development of

different regional cultures on the subcontinent.different regional cultures on the subcontinent.E.E. Rivers play many vital roles in the life of South Asia.Rivers play many vital roles in the life of South Asia.

South South Asia/Indian Asia/Indian SubcontinentSubcontinent

SubcontinentSubcontinent separate part of continent: separate part of continent: a large area that a large area that

is an identifiably separate part of a continent is an identifiably separate part of a continent isolated by geographic featuresisolated by geographic features

India - 2nd to China in populationIndia - 2nd to China in population NationsNations

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, BhutanIndia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan Island Nations: Sri Lanka, Republic of MaldivesIsland Nations: Sri Lanka, Republic of Maldives

Transition: AfghanistanTransition: Afghanistan

• A A subcontinentsubcontinent is a large is a large landmass that is smaller than landmass that is smaller than a continent.a continent.

• The Indian subcontinent was The Indian subcontinent was formed when pieces of the formed when pieces of the landmass of Gondwanaland landmass of Gondwanaland collided with Laurasia.collided with Laurasia.• The ensuing collision created The ensuing collision created

the Himalaya and Hindu the Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains.Kush mountains.

• Although people were able to Although people were able to travel through passes in travel through passes in these mountains, its settlers these mountains, its settlers developed a unique culture.developed a unique culture.

The Indian SubcontinentThe Indian Subcontinent

How Indian Subcontient How Indian Subcontient FormedFormed

Continental-Continental ConvergenceContinental-Continental Convergence

a. The Terrain of the Indian a. The Terrain of the Indian subcontinent varies widely.subcontinent varies widely.

Northern Mountain:Northern Mountain: Himalayas (Mt. Everest), Hindu KushHimalayas (Mt. Everest), Hindu Kush Khyber Pass: mountain through Hindu Kush Khyber Pass: mountain through Hindu Kush

= traders & invaders= traders & invaders Kashmir : mountain valley – farming & Kashmir : mountain valley – farming &

herding - songherding - song Mineral resources – lacks oil for industryMineral resources – lacks oil for industry Rain shadow effectRain shadow effect

Rain ShadowRain Shadow

• The Himalaya Mountains The Himalaya Mountains stretch 1,500 miles from east to stretch 1,500 miles from east to west.west.

• Many of the worldMany of the world’’s highest s highest mountains are in the Himalayas.mountains are in the Himalayas.• At least 50 of the mountains are At least 50 of the mountains are

more than 5 miles high, more than 5 miles high, including including Mt. EverestMt. Everest..

• To the northwest of the continent To the northwest of the continent lie the lie the Hindu Kush MountainsHindu Kush Mountains..• Although smaller in area than Although smaller in area than

the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush are nearly as high and rugged.are nearly as high and rugged.

• The Arabic word The Arabic word kushkush means means ““death.death.””

Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains

• In between the northern In between the northern mountains lie many remote mountains lie many remote valleys.valleys.

• Through these valleys flow Through these valleys flow the headwaters of many of the headwaters of many of the subcontinentthe subcontinent’’s rivers.s rivers.

• People in these isolated People in these isolated valleys developed their own valleys developed their own ways of life.ways of life.

• In the In the Kashmir ValleyKashmir Valley, , goats produce a fine wool goats produce a fine wool called cashmere.called cashmere.

Mountain ValleysMountain Valleys

a. The Terrain of the Indian a. The Terrain of the Indian subcontinent varies widely.subcontinent varies widely.

Northern Plains/Indo-Gangetic PlainNorthern Plains/Indo-Gangetic Plain Pakistan to India to BangladeshPakistan to India to Bangladesh Rivers: Indus, Ganges, BrahmaputraRivers: Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra Farming=Densely populated Farming=Densely populated Thar Desert: western end of plains = nomadsThar Desert: western end of plains = nomads Mineral resources – lacks oil for industryMineral resources – lacks oil for industry

a. The Terrain of the Indian a. The Terrain of the Indian subcontinent varies widely.subcontinent varies widely.

Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau Surrounded by Ghats and Vindhya mountainsSurrounded by Ghats and Vindhya mountains Triangular, high, flat land, rivers, water harder Triangular, high, flat land, rivers, water harder

to findto find ½ of South Asia½ of South Asia Millions of tiny farms rely on monsoons Millions of tiny farms rely on monsoons

b. The Himalayas and the b. The Himalayas and the Hindu Kush are important to Hindu Kush are important to the subcontinentthe subcontinent’’s water s water supply.supply.

Melting snow is the source of streams Melting snow is the source of streams that feed river system that feed river system

c. Farming is an important c. Farming is an important way of life for millions of way of life for millions of people on the subcontinent.people on the subcontinent.

¾ are farmer¾ are farmer Indo-Gangetic Plain densely populatedIndo-Gangetic Plain densely populated Monsoons: Deccan Plateau relies on the monsoonsMonsoons: Deccan Plateau relies on the monsoons

Key to life, wet and dry (see handout)Key to life, wet and dry (see handout) Ganges River Delta (Bay of Bengal) Ganges River Delta (Bay of Bengal) Ganges, Ganges,

Brahmaputra, Meghna riversBrahmaputra, Meghna rivers BangladeshBangladesh

Densely populatedDensely populated Below sea levelBelow sea level Cyclones Cyclones

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• Some people consider Some people consider monsoon forecasts the most monsoon forecasts the most important weather predictions important weather predictions on earth.on earth.

• The The monsoonmonsoon is a seasonal is a seasonal wind that dominates the wind that dominates the climate of South Asia.climate of South Asia.

• The word The word monsoonmonsoon means means ““seasonseason”” in Arabic. in Arabic.

• Two monsoons define the Two monsoons define the seasons in South Asia: the seasons in South Asia: the wet monsoon wet monsoon of summer and of summer and the the dry monsoon dry monsoon of winter.of winter.

MonsoonsMonsoons

Bay of Bengal

• Because of the rich soil on the Because of the rich soil on the delta formed by the Ganges and delta formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, Bangladesh Brahmaputra Rivers, Bangladesh is one of the most densely is one of the most densely populated nations in the world.populated nations in the world.

• Because much of the land is Because much of the land is barely above sea level, seasonal barely above sea level, seasonal flooding is common.flooding is common.

• In addition, fierce tropical In addition, fierce tropical cyclonescyclones sweep in from the Bay sweep in from the Bay of Bengal every five to seven of Bengal every five to seven years.years.• These storms have a devastating These storms have a devastating

effect on the people in effect on the people in Bangladesh.Bangladesh.

Flooding and StormsFlooding and Storms

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d. Geographic barriers influenced the d. Geographic barriers influenced the development of different regional development of different regional cultures on the subcontinent.cultures on the subcontinent.

Mountains: separate and isolateMountains: separate and isolate Hindu Kush, Himalayas, Ghats, VindhyaHindu Kush, Himalayas, Ghats, Vindhya

Cultural diversityCultural diversity Separate people into regional and local groupsSeparate people into regional and local groups Food, clothingFood, clothing LanguageLanguage

India: 15 official languages, 700 dialects India: 15 official languages, 700 dialects Hindi: most widely spoken Hindi: most widely spoken EnglishEnglish

Religion: Religion: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism,

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

3 Migrations: 3 Migrations: 1. other parts of Asia, 2. Middle East, 3. Europe 1. other parts of Asia, 2. Middle East, 3. Europe

Cost of Living In IndiaCost of Living In India

• There are more than 80 recorded ways to wear a sari

• The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with the loose end of the drape to be worn over the shoulder, baring the midriff

• However, the sari can be draped in several different styles, though some styles do require a sari of a particular length or form

e. Rivers play many vital e. Rivers play many vital roles in the life of South roles in the life of South AsiaAsia

Essential to life = farming and religionEssential to life = farming and religion Ganges holiest river to HinduismGanges holiest river to Hinduism Supported earliest civilizations of the Supported earliest civilizations of the

regionregion Ganges River delta/Delta on the Bay of Ganges River delta/Delta on the Bay of

Bengal = fertile supports lifeBengal = fertile supports life