3. Physical Features
Subcontinent
A large landmass that is smaller than a continent
Indian Subcontinent
Also called South Asia
Consists of 7 countries
Make up most unique geographic regions in the world
4. Mountains
Mt. ranges separate Indian
Subcontinent from Asia
Hindu Kush mts.
In the NW; separate from
Central Asia
Eastern & Western Ghats
Lower mts.; separate India’s
east & west coasts from
interior
Himalayas
Stretch 1,500 miles along
northern border
Formed by collision of 2
massive tectonic plates
Mt. Everest
Measures 29,035 feet
5. Rivers & Plains
Two major rivers systems
The Ganges & the Indus (originate in Himalayas)
Carry water from mts. & cause flooding which leaves rich soil deposits &
fertile plains
Ganges River
Most important
Northern India to Bangladesh and forms a delta w/ other rivers
Delta: a landform at the mouth of a river created by sediment deposits
Ganges Plains: farming heartland of India
Indus River
Created fertile plain (Indus River Valley)
Once home to earliest civilizations
6. Other Features
Deccan
South of Ganges Plains
Large, hilly plateau
Thar (or Great Indian Desert)
East of Indus Valley
Rolling sand dunes
Tarai
Southern Nepal
Fertile farmland & tropical jungles
7. Climate
Climate Regions
Vary depending on location
Himalayas’: highland climate; cool temps
The plains: humid subtropical climate; hot humid summers w/
plenty of rain
Tropical climates over most of subcontinent
Tropical savanna: warm temps year round; wet/dry seasons
Humid tropical: warms temps & heavy rain
Dry climates: desert & steppe climates
Monsoons: seasonal winds that bring either moist or dry air to an
area
June-October: summer monsoons; moist air from Indian Ocean;
heavy rains & flooding
Winter: winds change directions; dry air from north; little rain
8. Natural Resources
Fertile soil
Most important resource
Produce many crops: tea, rice, nuts, & jute (used to make
rope)
Timber & livestock also key
Mineral resources
Iron ore, coal, natural gas, & gemstones
10. Early Civilizations and Empires
1 of world’s oldest civilizations
Early civilizations greatly influenced history
11. Ancient Civilizations
Indus River Valley
Harappan civilization
2300-1700 B.C.
Declined in 1700 B.C. invaders, natural disaster, ?
Aryans
From Central Asia
Powerful warriors
Conquered & settled fertile plains along Indus & Ganges Rivers
Greatly influenced Indian culture
Language (Sanskrit) serves as basis of languages in South Asia
Aryans mixed w/ Indian already living in fertile plains
Religious beliefs & customs mixed (forming beginnings of
India’s social system & Hindu)
12. Early Empires
Powerful kingdoms emerged
Mauryan Empire
Dominated region in 320 B.C.
Rulers raised huge armies & conquered almost entire
subcontinent
Asoka (1 of greatest rulers) helped expand empire &
improve trade
Also encouraged acceptance of other religions
After his death power struggles & invasions destroyed Mauryan
Empire
13. Gupta Empire(AD 300s)
United much of north India
Under Gupta rulers trade & culture thrived
Scholars made advances in math, medicine, &
astronomy
Attacks & invaders from Asia weakened empire over
time
AD 550 India was once again divided
14. The Mughal Empire
600s
Muslims began raids in India
Some tried to take over Indian kingdoms
Turkish Muslims est. a powerful kingdom at Delhi
1500s
New Muslim invaders swept across subcontinent
Lead by Babur they conquered much of India an est. Mughal Empire
Babur grandson Akbar was 1 on India’s greatest rulers
Trade flourished (demand for spices & tea grew)
Empire grew rich
Culture also promoted
Promoted religious tolerance & encouraged peace in empire
Architecture also thrived
15. The British Empire
Early 1500s
England rose to power as Mughal Empire declined
1600s
English presence in India began
High demand for Indian goods (cotton & sugar)
East Indian Company (British trading Co.) granted trading rights by
Mughal rulers
East Indian Co.
At 1st small trading posts
Power & territory expanded w/ more British presence in India
Mid 1800s controlled more than half of the Indian
Subcontinent
India became a British colony
16. British rule
Angered & frightened many Indians
East India Co. controlled w/ army mostly made up of
Indian troops commanded by British officers
1857
Indian troops revolted
Violence across India followed
British gov’t crushed rebellion & took control of India
away from East India Co.
17. Independence & Division
Late 1800s
British rule ?
Indian National Congress created
Tried of being 2nd class citizens
Goal: gain more rights & opportunities
Demand for independence grew
Mohandas Gandhi
Important leader of independence movement
1920s-1930s strategy of nonviolent protest convinced
millions to support independence
18. Britain agrees to independence
Hindu & Muslim communities create tensions
Muslims feared having little say in new gov’t & wanted to become
separate nation
Avoiding Civil War
British gov’t agreed to partition of India
1947 2 independent countries formed
India: mostly Hindu
Pakistan & present day Bangladesh: mostly Muslim (10 million left
India)
Other countries followed
Sri Lanka & Maldives
1971 after bloody civil war that killed 1 million people East Pakistan
broke away and became Bangladesh
19. Religion
India is birthplace of several major religions
Hinduism
Dominant religion of India
Everything in the universe is part of a single spirit Brahman
Ultimate goal is to reunite soul with Brahman
Souls are reincarnated many times before this happens
Buddhism
A religious belief based on the teachings of Buddha
People can rise above their desire for material goods & reach nirvana
(a ste of perfect peace in which suffering and reincarnation end
20. Caste System
Divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s
birth or occupation
4 classes (originally based on occupation)
Dalits
Members of India’s lowest class
22. Daily Life
1 billion people
Many different ethnic groups, religions, & lifestyles
All help unite people of India
23. Cities
Very populated
Most work in factories & offices
Universities, research centers, & high-tech businesses
City-dwellers struggle to make living
Most live in shacks made of scrap wood or metal
No plumbing & little clean water
24. Villages
Most live in rural areas
70% of population
Most work as farmers & live w/ extended family
Recent addition of paved roads & electricity
25. Religion
Plays key role in daily life
Most practice Hinduism
Islam & Buddhism also practiced
Native religions of Sikhism & Jainism also practiced
Popular festival: Diwali
26. India’s Challenges
Population
Huge population places strain on environment & resources
(including food, housing, & schools)
Cities are particularly affected
Urbanization: the increase in the percentage of people who live in cities
Many moved to cities in search of jobs
Gov’t & Economy
Leaders have strengthened gov’t & economy
World’s largest democracy
Challenge is providing for growing population & resolving conflicts
w/ Pakistan (both have nuclear weapons)
Millions of Indians live in poverty
Green revolution: program that encouraged farmers to adopt
modern agricultural methods
Helped produce more food
28. Culture
Have different cultures than India
People
Many ethnic groups
Sherpas: ethnic group from the mts. of Nepal; guide through Himalayas
Bhutan’s largest ethnic group originally from Tibet
Sri Lanka’s Tamil people came from India to work on plantations
Religion
Pakistan & Bangladesh
Practice Islam & small group of Hinduism, Christianity, & tribal religions
Nepal
Hinduism & some Buddhism
Bhutan & Sri Lanka
Buddhism
29. Pakistan
Lacks govt’ stability
Suffered from rebellions & assassinations of gov’t leaders
since 1947
2001 General Pervez Musharraf came to power as military
coup
Rapid population growth
Struggles to manage resources & reduce poverty
Relations w/ India
Clashed over territory of Kashmir
Both control region; armed troops guard line of control that divides
east & west Kashmir
2001
Has aided U.S. in war on terrorism
30. Bangladesh
Small country (size of Wisconsin)
Population ½ the size of U.S.
1 of world’s most densely populated countries
2,850 people per square mile
Flooding is one of biggest challenges
Streams & rivers flood annually
Damage homes & farms
Destroys schools & roads as well
31. Nepal
Population growing rapidly
Has doubled in last 30 years
Poverty and unemployment are also high
One of world’s least developed nations
Faces environmental threats
More land needed to grow food to feed growing
population
Deforestation causes soil erosion & harms wildlife
Tourism also hurts environment (use resources & leave behind
trash)
32. Bhutan
Small mt. kingdom
Has been isolated
Outside influences limited
1900s king est. ties w/ Great Britain & India
Efforts to modernize resulted in new roads, schools, &
hospitals
Today continues to develop economically
Most are farmers (grow rice, potatoes, & corn)
Some raise livestock (yaks, pigs, & horses)
Industry is also important
Gov’t limits # of visitors to protect environment & way of
life
33. Sri Lanka
India has great influence
Tamil & Sinhalese 2 largest ethnic groups descended
from India settlers
Conflicts between ethnic groups divide country
Tamil want a separate state
2004 tsunami
Killed thousands and more than 500,000 people were
left homeless
Damaged fishing & agriculture industries