FOCUS QUESTION:
IN WHAT WAYS IS SOUTH ASIA'S LOCATION IMPORTANT TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE REGION?

• A region's location helps influence its role in world history and world affairs.
• South Asia, a subcontinent the size of Europe, can be viewed as a geographic ecumen - a single habitat with natural and political boundaries.

Materials

• Reading 1: Explring India's Diversity :Geography and Map Study
• Map Study 1
• Map Study 2
• Map Study 3
• Map Study 4
  

Performance Objectives

• Students will locate and identify the characteristics of the region's geography.
• Students will discuss how location and physical characteristics have influenced intra- regional and inter-regional contacts.
• Students will hypothesize the importance of location as a geographic theme and determine if South Asia's location makes it important.

Teacher Background

The South Asia subcontinent is a region as vast in size as Europe. The major nations of the region include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. However, the region is dominated by the largest nation of the subcontinent, India. Me Himalayas and the Hindu Kush present a high mountain wall along the northern boundary, a mountain wall which has frequently isolated the subcontinent and had a major impact on the culture of the region. South of the mountains, the peninsular subcontinent is flanked by the Bay of Bengal on the east, the Arabian Sea on the west and the Indian Ocean on the south. Narrow coastal plains rise to the great plateau of India. The Himalayas are the source of the river system of the north - the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra which are the great water storehouse of the subcontinent. The Thar Desert, southwest of the rich Indo- Gangetic Plain, constitutes a large part of the state of Rajastan. Both the Eastern and the Western Ghats (hills) frame the Deccan Plateau, an area of agricultural productivity and and scrublands. The vegetation of the subcontinent is dependent upon the rainfall. 70% of the total working population are engaged in agriculture, primarily the subsistence type. Mineral resources are available but unevenly distributed.

With the exception of high mountain altitudes, the region is largely tropical and sub-tropical, bisected by the Tropic of Cancer. Rice, wheat, maize (corn), sugar, tea, coffee and cotton are among the chief crops of the subcontinent as well as jute and sesame seeds. The farmers have a single growing season and the success or failure of agriculture is dependent upon the monsoon.

Springboard

The United States has been blessed by its geographic location and by its beautiful natural geography.

• What is the most interesting geographic characteristic of your neighborhood?
• What geographic reasons explain why so many people live in N.Y.C.?
• How does an understanding of geography help us better understand the history and the culture of the nation?

Procedure

1. Just as an understanding of our geography gives us important insights into the history and the culture of the region, it is important to look at the geography of South Asia to develop an understanding of the region.

Distribute Reading 1: Exploring India's Diversity: Geography and Map Study and Map Study 1: The Physical Divisions of India
(Teacher's Note: In each case, it would be useful if transparencies are made of these maps and an overhead projector is used during the lesson. In addition, it may be necessary to create an additional :fact" sheet just listing all the unfamiliar names to use in conjunction with Reading 1.)

Allow students to work individually or in small groups of three or four. Students will read the fact sheet and complete the exercise. Teacher will review answers with class.

• Based upon this map, where would you want to live in India?
• Which area is most similar to where you live?
• How does an examination of India's physical geography help us understand the region?
• How have the Himalayas influenced Indian history?
• How does this help you understand the region? Explain your answer?
• What other geographic characteristic do you consider significant in developing your understanding of South Asia?

2. Let us add some additional geographic information to help us.
Distribute Map Study 2, Map Study 3 and Map Study 4.

• What additional information does each of these maps give us about the region?
• How can this information help us better understand South Asia?
• Based upon what we have discussed, to what degree do the physical characteristics influence intra-regional and inter- regional contacts.
  
  Students should support their answers by referring directly to the maps and the fact sheet.

Summary / Application

Some geographers view the United States, Canada and Mexico as a single geographic habitat.

Write an editorial: Is Geography India's Greatest Enemy or Greatest Ally ?

Expanding the Activities

1.Give the students the assignment of writing a short story about South Asia, incorporating the physical characteristics in the setting.

2.Use the different maps for group work rather than a whole class activity.