South Asia

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This article is about the geopolitical region in Asia. For geophysical treatments, see Indian subcontinent.
Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir).
Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir).

South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is a southern geopolitical region of the Asian continent comprising territories on and in proximity to the Indian subcontinent. It is surrounded by (from west to east) Western Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Asia, and Southeastern Asia.

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[edit] Definitions and usage

UN Subregion of South Asia.
UN Subregion of South Asia.

South Asia consists of the following countries and territories:

The U.N. further includes two countries as part of Southern Asia:[1]

Also sometimes included (for assumed cultural reasons):

The term Indian subcontinent aptly describe those regions which geophysically lie on the Indian Plate, bordered on the north by the Eurasian Plate. Geopolitically, however, South Asia or Southern Asia subsumes the Indian subcontinent: it also includes territories found external to the Indian Plate and in proximity to it. Afghanistan, for instance, is sometimes grouped in this region due to sociopolitical and ethnic (Pashtun) ties to neighbouring Pakistan, whilst Pakistan especially the regions west of the Indus are sometimes described as being in Central Asia, due to historical connections. A good proportion of the Pakistani land mass is not on the Indian plate, but on the fringes of the Iranian plateau.

Subcontinental border
Subcontinental border

When being used to refer to people ethnically or racially, the term "South Asian" usually refers specifically to the Caucasoid people that make up the majority of the population of South Asia (especially the Indian Subcontinent). People who are of Mongoloid appearance are usually referred to as ethnically and racially East Asian, even if their place of residence or origin is located in an area best geographically described as South Asia.[dubious — see talk page] When used in this sense, "South Asian" excludes Persians.

[edit] Demography and history

Map of South Asia in native languages.
Map of South Asia in native languages.
Further information: History of South Asia  and Ethnic groups of South Asia

The peoples of the region possess several distinguishing features that set them apart anthropologically from the rest of Asia; the dominant peoples and cultures are Indo-Aryan and Dravidian, and have a great affinity with the Iranian Plateau and the Caucasus. Persian, Arab and Turkish cultural traditions from the west also form an integral part of Islamic South Asian culture, but have been radically adapted to form a Muslim culture distinct from what is found in the Middle East e.g. pilgrimage to dargahs.

South Asia ranks among the world's most densely-populated regions. About 1.6 billion people live there – about one-fifth of all the people in the world. The region's population density of 305 persons per square kilometre is more than seven times the world average.

The region has a long history. Ancient civilizations developed in the Dwaraka region and the Indus River Valley. The region was at its most prosperous before the 18th century, when the Mughal Empire held sway in the north; European colonialism led to its expansion in the region, by Portugal and Holland, and later Britain and to a lesser degree France. Most of the region gained independence from Europe by the late 1940s.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings, United Nations website
  2. ^ Tibet is located on the Tibetan Plateau which is in Central Asia http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9117343/Tibet
  3. ^ Center for South Asia Studies: University of California, Berkeley [1]
  4. ^ Center for South Asia Outreach UW-Madison [2]
  5. ^ South Asia Language Resource Center: The University of Chicago [3]
  6. ^ AIIS Advanced Language Programs in India [4]

[edit] See also

[edit] Other subregions in Asia

[edit] External links

     Geography of South Asia     
Himalaya | Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats | Aravalli Range | The Nilgiris | Vindhya Range | Satpura Range | Garo Hills | Shivalik Hills | Khasi Hills | Annamalai Hills | Cardamom Hills | Sulaiman Mountains | Karakoram | Hindu Kush | Chittagong Hill Tracts | Deccan Plateau | Thar Desert | Makran | Chota Nagpur | Naga Hills | Mysore Plateau | Ladakh Plateau
Indo-Gangetic plain | Indus River Delta | Ganga basin | Ganges Delta | Atolls of Maldives | Coromandel Coast | Konkan | Lakshadweep | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Sundarbans | Rann of Kutch | Protected areas of Tamil Nadu |
Main India | Pakistan | Nepal | Bhutan | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | The Maldives | Portal:Himalaya region


v • d • e
Countries of South Asia

Bangladesh · Bhutan · India · Maldives · Nepal · Pakistan · Sri Lanka

Sometimes included:  Afghanistan • Iran • Myanmar

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