South Asia Study Guide

General Study Tips Prior to Review

  • Read each Chapter and Section as it is assigned for homework and complete the assessment at the end of the section. Read the section first, and then read the assessment questions. If you know the answer already from reading, write that down and then go back to check you were correct and answered the question completely. If you do not know the answer, look it up.
  • Re-read the chapter, this time highlighting or underlining the key ideas and terms
  • Outline the chapter on a separate piece of paper or as a file on your computer
  • Make flash cards for all the vocabulary words after reading every section and review those flash cards after you read each section as needed.
  • Use the textbooks online self tests for each chapter to check your knowledge (
  • Use the map quiz website (you can find some on my website or do a google search) to test your knowledge of the location of the different countries in this region. You can also use the blank maps on my website for this as well.

Chapter 28 Atlas – Introduction to South Asia

  • Describe the significant events and developments in the history of South Asia
  • Identify major physical characteristics of South Asia
  • Compare climate regions in South Asia
  • Describe characteristics of major ecosystems in South Asia
  • Discuss elements of culture in South Asia
  • Identify how the economy, technology, and the environment interact in South Asia
  • Discuss how a nation’s economy influences the development of its communications systems
  • Compare the communications statistics of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the United States
  • Go through the regional atlas and answer all the questions next to the pictures
  • Physical Characteristics (Himalayas, Indus River, Western Ghats)
  • Climates (Monsoons, Thar Desert, Annual Precipitation)
  • Ecosystems (Ibex Herd, Asian Elephants, Wetlands)
  • People and Cultures (Tradition and Convergence, Overpopulation, Urban Landscape)
  • Economics, Technology, and Environment (Bollywood, Economic Opportunities, Agriculture)

Chapter 29 – The Countries of South Asia

  • Describe the role Mohandas Gandhi played in India’s struggle for independence
  • Explain how religious conflict contributed to independence for Pakistan and Bangladesh
  • Analyze the role of religion in the lives of most Indians
  • Identify both the traditional and the modern aspects of village life in India
  • Discuss how urbanization has changed the character of India
  • Explain how India’s government is attempting to raise the country’s standard of living
  • Explain how limited rainfall affects Pakistanis
  • Describe how political and cultural issues have affected Afghanistan
  • Describe the difficulties facing the people and government of Bangladesh
  • Differentiate the cultures and landscapes of Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka

CountriesCities

AfghanistanAll Capital Cities!

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Bodies of WaterLandforms

Arabian SeaDecan Plateau

Bay of BengalEastern Ghats

BrahmaputraRiverGreater IndianDesert (Thar Desert)

GangesRiverHimalayas

Indian OceanHindu Kush

IndusRiverIndo-Gangetic Plain

Mouths of the GangesKarakoram Range

Narmada RiverWestern Ghats