Geography and Early History of South Asia

The Shape of the Land

and Climate and Resources.

Gondwanaland Landmass

• The Himalaya and Kush Mountains sprung up when the Gondwanaland Landmass collided with the mainland of Asia. This separated Asia and South Asia.

Northern Plains

• The plain is densely populated. Farmers raise rice, wheat, and jute.

The Deccan Plateau occupies nearly half of South Asia. Millions of tiny farms raise millet,

cotton, wheat and rice.

The Ghats (passes) Mountains fringe the Deccan Plateau. The Western Ghats slowed Europeans

as they invaded India.

Monsoons

Seasonal winds that dominate the climate of South Asia. They can cause floods, and they

regulate when farmers plant seeds.

Bangladesh is among the world’s poorest of nations. Flooding is common, and every 5-7

years cyclones sweep through from the Bay.

Over thousands of years, people have migrated to South Asia from Europe, Middle East and other

parts of Asia.

Geographic features have separated people into regional and local groups

India has 700 languages and dialects (a regional version of a language with its own words,

expressions, and pronunciations). Most widely spoken in India is Hindi (30%).