SAS - South Asia Module Overview

South Asia

Image of Nepal

Introduction

Asia is a continent so vast that it is best understood when divided into smaller regions. In this module we will study South Asia, which is often called a subcontinent. It encompasses the region below the rugged Himalayan Mountains and includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The record setting mountains, seasonal monsoon winds, and the religions that formed in this region make it unique among physical and cultural landscapes.

 

Essential Questions

  • How does physical geography influence human settlement?
  • How has culture influenced the development or formation of countries?  
  • How have resources influenced modern conflicts?

 

Key Terms

  • Atolls - a ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral.
  • Caste System - hereditary social groups into which Hindu society is traditionally divided.
  • Diaspora - the dispersion of any people from their original homeland.
  • Ghats - short mountain ranges.
  • Himalayas - a mountain range in South Asia where India's three major rivers originate.
  • Hinduism - the dominant religion or way of life in South Asia. It is a polytheistic religion that has a caste system.
  • Hindus - the people who practice the Hindu faith.
  • Infrastructure - the physical buildings, roads, and utilities of a country.
  • Indus and Ganges Rivers - major rivers in South Asia that originate in the Himalayas.
  • Karma - a principle of causality, by which a person's intent or actions influence the future of that individual.
  • Kashmir - a disputed territory between India and Pakistan.
  • Mohandas Gandhi - an advocate of nonviolent resistance, who led the Indian independence movement in the early and mid-20th century.
  • Monsoons - the seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia which bring heavy rainfall in the summer.
  • Partition of India - the split of the British Empire of India into the sovereign states of Pakistan and India in 1947.
  • Reincarnation - the religious belief that after death the soul comes back in another form or body.
  • Sherpa - a group of people living in the Himalayas in Nepal who often serve as mountain-climbing guides.
  • Siddhartha Gautama - a prince who became the Buddha and whose teachings Buddhism is based on.
  • Sikhism - is a monotheistic system of religious belief. Spiritual purity is achieved through prayer and service. They are against the caste system and believe in the equality of humanity.
  • Subcontinent - a large, relatively self-contained landmass forming a subdivision of a continent.
  • Urbanization - the process by which cities grow.

 

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.