1. South Asia

2. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, & Maldives make up the South Asia subcontinent. A subcontinent is a large landmass that is part of another continent but distinct from it.

3. India

4. India

5. Capital - New Delhi

7. 1.The Himalayas & the Karakoram form India’s northern border and separate South Asia from the rest of Asia.

8. HimalayasKarakoram

9. 2.The Himalayas is the world’s tallest range & Mt. Everest is the world’s tallest mountain. World’s second- highest peak is K2 and is located in the Karakoram.

10. Mt. Everest K2

11. 3.Civilization here developed in Indus River Valley.

12. Indus River

16. 4.World’s worst food disaster known as the Bengal Famine happened here in 1943 when the United Kingdom ruled India. About 4 million people died of starvation in that one year.

17. 5.Mohandas Gandhi led a nonviolent movement to free India from Britain’s rule. India won independence in 1947.

18. Mohandas Gandhi

19. 6.Following independence, India’s leaders focused on improving farm production. The green revolution was the effort to use modern technology and science to increase food production. As a result, India now raises most of the food that it needs.

20. 7.India is the world’s second-largest rice producer.

21. Rice in India (Planting)

22. Rice in India (Growing)

23. Rice in India (Harvesting)

24. 8.There are huge factories in India’s urban areas. Many Indian products are manufactured in cottage industries. Cottage industries are home- or village-based industries in which family members, including children, supply their own equipment to make goods like cotton cloth, silk, cloth, rugs, leather products, and metalware.

25. Factories Cottage Industries

26. 9.India is the world’s largest democracy led by a prime minister. India has 18 official languages.

27. Democracy

28. 10.Indira Gandhi was India’s female prime minister from 1966 to 1984. She helped the poor and extended voting rights.

29. Indira Gandhi

30. 11.Hinduism is the religion practiced by most people of India (80%). It organizes society into groups called castes based on a person’s ancestry. Diwali (Festival of Lights) is popular holiday.

31. Hinduism

32. 12.Rangoli – folk art used for special celebrations. Designs are drawn onto the ground, usually in chalk or colored powder & embellished with sand, rice, candles, or flower petals. The designs are allowed to blow away with the wind.

33. Rangoli

34. 13.Sikhs practice religion Sikhism and are found mostly in northern India. Sikhism combines beliefs from Hinduism and Islam. The belief is in one God. Believe in reincarnation, but do not have castes. Men do not cut their hair and often wear turbans over their hair. The Sikhs would like to form their own independent state. Vaisakhi celebrates Sikh New Year on April 14

35. Sikhism

36. Pakistan

37. Pakistan

38. Capital - Islamabad

39. 1.The Hindu Kush and Karakoram are in northern and western Pakistan. The Khyber Pass is located in the Hindu Kush.

40. Hindu Kush Karakoram

41. Khyber Pass

43. 2.Kashmir is a mostly Muslim territory on the border between Pakistan & India. Both countries want to control the region for its water resources. Dispute over Kashmir has sparked 3 wars between Pakistan & India.

44. Kashmir

45. Kashmir

46. Kashmir

47. 3.There have been many changes in government. Benazir Bhutto was elected the first female prime minister of an Islamic nation in 1988. She was assassinated in 2007.

48. Benazir Bhutto

49. Nepal

50. Nepal

51. Capital - Kathmandu

52. 1.Home to 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world. Mount Everest is here. These mountains have created a growing tourist industry.

53. Mount Everest Tourism

54. 2.The Sherpa are the people known for their skill in guiding mountain climbers.

55. Sherpa (Village)

56. 3.Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born here. He became known as the Buddha or “Enlightened One”.

57. Buddhism

58. Buddhism

59. Bangladesh

60. Bangladesh

61. Capital - Dhaka

62. 1.Lush, low plains cover most of the country. Most people earn their living by farming with few modern tools. They are unable to grow enough food to feed their people. Disastrous floods from cyclones (tropical storms) and monsoons (seasonal winds that bring heavy rains) can drown the crops and cause food shortages.

63. Farming