Physical Geography
The Big Idea
The physical geography of the Indian Subcontinent features
unique physical features and a variety of climates and
resources.
Main Ideas
 Towering mountains, large rivers, and broad plains are the
key physical features of the Indian Subcontinent.
 The Indian Subcontinent has a great variety of climate
regions and resources.
Holt McDougal,
Main Idea 1:
Towering mountains, large rivers, and broad
plains are the key physical features of the
Indian Subcontinent.
•
A subcontinent is a large landmass that is smaller than a
continent.
•
The Indian Subcontinent is a triangular wedge of land that juts
out from the southernmost portion of Asia.
•
The Indian Subcontinent is also called South Asia.
•
The Indian Subcontinent is made up of seven countries:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka.
•
The Indian Subcontinent is one of the most distinctive
geographic regions in the world.
Holt McDougal,
Key Physical Features
Mountains
• Hindu Kush
mountains divide
the subcontinent
from Central Asia.
• The Eastern and
Western Ghats
separate India’s
east and west
coasts from the
country’s interior.
• The Himalayas run
along the northern
border and are
home to the
world’s highest
mountains.
Rivers and Plains
• The rivers flood
each year, leaving
fertile plains.
• India’s most
important river is
the Ganges.
• A delta is a
landform at the
mouth of a river.
• The Ganges Plain is
India’s farming
heartland.
• The Indus River
creates a fertile
plain known as the
Indus River Valley.
Holt McDougal,
Other Features
• The Deccan is a
large, hilly plateau
located to the
south of the
Ganges Plain.
• The Thar, or Great
Indian Desert, is
made up of rolling
sand dunes.
• The Tarai in
southern Nepal has
fertile farmland
and tropical
jungles.
Main Idea 2:
The Indian Subcontinent has a great variety
of climate regions and resources.
The Indian Subcontinent has four climate regions: the
highland climate, the subtropical climate, the tropical
climate, and the desert or steppe climate.
Monsoons have a huge influence on the weather and
climates in the subcontinent.
Agricultural and mineral resources are plentiful.
Holt McDougal,
Climate Regions
1.
Highland climate
–
Himalayas
–
Brings cool temperatures to much of Nepal and Bhutan
2.
Humid subtropical climate
–
Plains south of the Himalayas
–
Hot, humid summers with plenty of rainfall
3.
Tropical climate
–
Covers much of the subcontinent
–
Tropical savanna in central India and Sri Lanka
–
Humid tropical climate in southwest India, Sri Lanka, Maldives,
and Bangladesh
4.
Desert and steppe climate
–
Throughout southern and western India and most of Pakistan
–
Dry
Holt McDougal,
Monsoons
Monsoons are seasonal winds that bring either moist or
dry air to an area.
Summer monsoons bring heavy rains and fertile growing
conditions to many places on the Indian Subcontinent.
In the winter, the monsoons change direction. The winter
monsoons bring dry air from the north, and little rain falls
during this time of year.
Holt McDougal,
Natural Resources
Agricultural Resources
• Fertile soil
• Timber
• Livestock
Mineral Resources
• Iron ore – India
• Coal – India
• Natural gas reserves – Pakistan
• Gemstones – Sri Lanka
Holt McDougal,
History and Culture of India
The Big Idea
Ancient civilizations and powerful empires have shaped the
history and culture of India.
Main Ideas
• Advanced civilizations and powerful empires shaped the
early history of India.
• Powerful empires controlled India for hundreds of years.
• Independence from Great Britain led to the division of
India into several countries.
• Religion and the caste system are two important parts of
Indian culture.
Holt McDougal,
Main Idea 1:
Advanced civilizations and powerful empires
shaped the early history of India.
Ancient Civilizations
• Around 2300 BC the Harappan civilization began in the Indus River
Valley.
• The Ayrans, invaders from Central Asia, entered India around 1500
BC.
• Aryan culture helped shape the language, religion, and caste system
of India.
Early Empires
• By 223 BC the Mauryan Empire controled most of the Indian
Subcontinent.
• Emperor Asoka helped spread Buddhism in India.
• Indian trade and culture flourished during the Gupta Empire.
Holt McDougal,
Main Idea 2:
Powerful empires controlled India for
hundreds of years.
The Mughal Empire
The British Empire
• Babur establisheed the Mughal
Empire in northern India in
1526
• The British East India
Company established trade in
India in the early 1600s.
• Indian trade, culture, and
religion thrived under the rule
of Akbar the Great.
• By the mid-1800s the
company controlled more than
half of the Indian
Subcontinent.
• By 1700 the Mughal Empire
ruled almost all of the Indian
Subcontinent.
• India became a British
colony.
• Indian troops revolted against
the East India Company.
• The British government took
direct control of India in 1858.
• India and Pakistan gained
independence in 1947.
Holt McDougal,
Main Idea 3:
Independence from Great Britain led to the
division of India into several countries.
•
Indians began to question British rule and created the Indian
National Congress.
•
Mohandas Gandhi was the most important leader of the Indian
independence movement.
•
Great Britain finally agreed to make India independent, but
they feared that a civil war would erupt between India’s Hindu
and Muslim communities.
•
To avoid civil war, the British government agreed to the
partition, or division, of India into two separate countries:
India and Pakistan.
•
Sri Lanka and Maldives gained their independence from Great
Britain.
•
In 1971 East Pakistan broke away to form the country of
Bangladesh.
Holt McDougal,
Main Idea 4:
Religion and the caste system are two
important parts of Indian culture.
Religion
•
India is the birthplace of several major religions,
including Hinduism and Buddhism.
•
•
•
One of the world’s oldest religions
Hinduism—the dominant religion of India
Believe everything in the universe is part of a single
spirit called Brahman
Believe one’s ultimate goal is to reunite one’s soul with
Brahman
Believe in reincarnation
Hinduism
•
•
•
•
Buddhism
•
•
Began in northern India in the late 500s BC
Buddhism—a religion based on the teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha
Believe people can rise above their desire for material
goods and reach nirvana
Nirvana is a state of perfect peace.
Holt McDougal,
The Caste System
• The caste system divided Indian society into groups based
on a person’s birth or occupation.
• The caste system features four main classes, originally
based on occupations.
• Below the four main castes are the Dalits, members of
India’s lowest class.
• Many rules guided interaction between the classes.
Holt McDougal,
India Today
The Big Idea
India today features a blend of modern and traditional
culture, a rapidly growing population, and a developing
economy.
Main Ideas
• Daily life in India is centered around cities, villages, and
religion.
• Today India faces many challenges, including a growing
population and economic development.
Holt McDougal,
Main Idea 1:
Daily life in India is centered around cities,
villages, and religion.
Cities
Villages
• Two largest cities—
Mumbai
(Bombay) and
Kolkata
(Calcutta)
• Most Indians live in
rural areas.
• Plays a key role in
Indian daily life
• Most villagers work
as farmers and live
with an extended
family.
• Most practice
Hinduism.
• Bangalore and
Mumbai—
universities,
research centers,
and high-tech
businesses
• Most people
struggle to earn a
living in the cities.
• Paved roads and
electricity have
only recently
reached many
Indian villages.
Holt McDougal,
Religion
• Many follow other
religions (Islam,
Buddhism, etc.).
• Millions practice
Sikhism and
Jainism.
• Religious
celebrations are
important.
Main Idea 2:
Today India faces many challenges, including
a growing population and economic
development.
Population
• India is the world’s second most populous country.
• India’s huge population places a strain on India’s
environment and resources.
• Urbanization is taking place. Urbanization is the
increase in the percentage of people who live in cities.
Holt McDougal,
Government and the Economy
• India is the world’s largest democracy.
• India is one of the strongest nations in Asia.
• One of India’s largest industries is its
moviemaking industry—called Bollywood.
• Although India is one of the world’s top five
industrial countries, millions of Indians live in
poverty.
Holt McDougal,
Challenges for India
1. Poverty
• India’s government instituted a reform called the green
revolution, a program that encouraged farmers to adopt
modern agricultural methods.
• The government had succeeded in attracting many hightech businesses to India.
2. A growing population
3. Relationship with Pakistan
Holt McDougal,
India’s Neighbors
The Big Idea
Despite cultural differences, the countries that border India
share similar challenges.
Main Ideas
• Many different ethnic groups and religions influence the
culture of India’s neighbors.
• Rapid population growth, ethnic conflicts, and
environmental threats are major challenges to the region
today.
Holt McDougal,
Main Idea 1:
Many different ethnic groups and religions
influence the culture of India’s neighbors.
•
Five countries share the subcontinent with India:
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
•
These countries have significantly different cultures.
•
The people of these countries come from many different
ethnic groups.
•
A variety of religions exist on the Indian Subcontinent.
Holt McDougal,
People and Religions of the Indian
Subcontinent
People
• The Indian Subcontinent is
home to many different ethnic
groups.
• The Sherpas, an ethnic group
from the mountains of Nepal,
often serve as guides through
the Himalayas.
• Bhutan’s largest ethnic group
originally came from Tibet.
• Many of Sri Lanka’s Tamil
people came from India to
work the country’s huge
plantations.
Religions
• Pakistan: most practice
Islam; small portions of the
population follow Hinduism,
Christianity, and tribal
religions.
 Bangladesh: most practice
Islam; small portions of the
population follow Hinduism,
Christianity, and tribal
religions.
 Nepal: the dominant religion
is Hinduism, although
Buddhism is practiced in some
parts of the country.
• Bhutan: the dominant religion
is Buddhism.
• Sri Lanka: the dominant
religion is Buddhism.
Holt McDougal,
Main Idea 2:
Rapid population growth, ethnic conflicts,
and environmental threats are major
challenges to the region today.
Major Challenges for Pakistan
• Lack of government stability
• Rapid population growth
• Troubled relationship with India, especially over the territory of
Kashmir
• Terrorists within Pakistan’s borders
Holt McDougal,
Major Challenges for Bangladesh
• Over population
– One of the world’s most densely populated countries
– Dhaka (capital and largest city) – over 11.5 million
people
• Flooding
Holt McDougal,
Major Challenges for Nepal
• Rapid population growth
– Population has more than doubled in the last
30 years.
– Kathmandu (capital and largest city) – overcrowded and impoverished
• One of the world’s least-developed nations
• Deforestation
• Controlling tourism
Holt McDougal,
Major Challenges for Sri Lanka
• Conflict between Sri Lanka’s two largest ethnic groups:
the Tamil and the Sinhalese
• Tsunami in 2004
– Killed thousands of Sri Lankans
– Crippled Sri Lanka’s fishing and agricultural industries
Holt McDougal,
Bhutan Today
• Small mountain kingdom in the Himalayas
• Most people earn a living as farmers.
• Tourism is an important industry.
• Government limits the number of visitors in order to
protect the environment and Bhutan’s way of life.
Holt McDougal,