Transcript What is a peninsula?

• 10/9 Focus:
– Geographic conditions in the Indus River
Valley allowed for the development of
civilization on the Indian subcontinent
– Seasonal monsoons were and continue to be
an important factor in the life of people on
the Indian subcontinent
• Do Now:
– What is a peninsula?
River Valley Civilizations
The Indus Valley
Geography of South Asia
(Indian Subcontinent)
• The Indus Valley
civilization
developed around
2,500 B.C. in the
western part of
South Asia
Indian Subcontinent
• Landmass that includes the
modern day nations of:
– India
– Pakistan
– Bangladesh
• Separated from Asia by
large mountain ranges in
the North
– Himalayas
– Hindu Kush
– Karakoram
Indian Subcontinent
• Southern half
is large
peninsula
• Peninsula
– Landmass with
water on three
sides
Geographic Regions
• Three distinct
geographic regions
– Mountains in the
north
– Deccan Plateau
– Northern Plains
Mountains
• Kept climate
subtropical
• Limited contact
with other groups
• Ways through the
Mts.
– Khyber Pass
• Mountain pass in
the Hindu Kush
• Allowed movement
into the Indus
Valley
– Thar Desert
•
Khyber Pass is still an important way through the mountains today
Deccan Plateau
• Plateau
– Raised, flat
area of land
• Dry, Arid region
in the center of
the subcontinent
Northern Plains
• Three rivers pass
through this area
– Indus
– Ganges
– Brahmaputra
• Silt from flooding
made the soil fertile
• Civilizations
developed here
Monsoons
• Seasonal winds
• Summer
– Heavy rains,
warm air
• Winter
– Cool, Dry air
Monsoons
• Brought rain
needed for crops
• Led to flooding of
rivers and creation
of fertile silt
Environmental Challenges
• Floods along the
Indus unpredictable
• river can change
course
• Rainfall
unpredictable; could
have droughts or
floods