"South Asia consists of the countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka."
The study of the historical background of South Asia including its multiple territorial phases, geographic extent, political systems, cultural traditions and economic indicators.
Indus Valley Civilization: An ancient civilization that flourished in the Indus River Valley from around 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.
Vedic Period: An era of Indian history that ranges from 1750 BCE to 500 BCE, characterized by the composition of the Vedas, which are the oldest religious texts of Hinduism.
Mauryan Empire: A powerful empire that rose to prominence in the Indian subcontinent under the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
Gupta Empire: A golden period of Indian history that followed the collapse of the Mauryan dynasty, characterized by great achievements in art, architecture, and literature.
Mughal Empire: A Muslim dynasty that ruled over India from the 16th to the 18th century, and left a lasting legacy in India's political and cultural landscape.
British Raj: The period of colonial rule in India by the British from 1858 to 1947.
Indian Independence Movement: A series of nationalist efforts to gain independence from British colonial rule that led to India's independence in 1947.
Partition of India: The division of India and Pakistan along religious lines in 1947, which resulted in one of the largest migrations in human history.
Post-colonial India: The period that followed India's independence from British rule, characterized by economic growth, political turmoil, and social change.
India-Pakistan Relations: The complex and often strained relationship between India and Pakistan, shaped by shared history, cultural ties, and political differences.
Caste System: A hierarchical system of social stratification that pervades Indian society, and has been a defining feature of South Asian culture for centuries.
Religious Movements: The diverse religious and spiritual traditions that have shaped South Asian culture, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, and Christianity.
Women's Issues: The challenges faced by women in South Asia, including gender inequality, violence against women, and issues related to education, health, and employment.
Environment and Development: The relationship between economic development, environmental degradation, and sustainable development in South Asia.
Globalization and South Asia: The impact of globalization on South Asian economies, cultures, and political systems.
Ancient South Asian history: This type of history covers the period from the emergence of South Asian civilizations to the end of the Gupta Empire (320-550 CE). It encompasses the Harappan civilization, the Vedic period, the Mauryan Empire, and the Gupta Empire.
Medieval South Asian history: This type of history covers the period from the decline of the Gupta Empire to the emergence of modern South Asian states. It encompasses the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, and the rise of regional states.
Early Modern South Asian history: This type of history covers the period of European colonial rule in South Asia (1500s-1800), and the process of decolonization and the formation of independent South Asian countries in the mid-20th century.
Political history of South Asia: This type of history focuses on the political structures, institutions, and processes of South Asian countries, such as the development of democracy and the role of political parties.
Social history of South Asia: This type of history focuses on the social, cultural, and economic aspects of South Asian societies, such as gender, caste, religion, and class.
Environmental history of South Asia: This type of history focuses on the environmental changes and the management of natural resources in South Asia, such as the impact of climate change, deforestation, and water management.
Religious history of South Asia: This type of history focuses on the religious practices, beliefs, and institutions of South Asian societies, such as Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Buddhism.
South Asian diaspora studies: This type of history covers the experiences and contributions of South Asian communities living outside of South Asia, such as in the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
Art and architectural history of South Asia: This type of history focuses on the artistic and architectural traditions of South Asian societies, such as the Mughal art and architecture, the Rajput paintings, and the religious monuments of South Asia.
Science and technology history of South Asia: This type of history focuses on the scientific and technological advancements of South Asian societies, such as the contributions of Indian philosophers and mathematicians to the development of algebra and calculus.
"Topographically, it is dominated by the Indian subcontinent and defined largely by the Indian Ocean in the south, and the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Pamir mountains in the north."
"The Amu Darya, which rises north of the Hindu Kush, forms a part of the northwestern border."
"South Asia is bounded by Central Asia to the north, East Asia and Southeast Asia to the east, and West Asia to the west."
"The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic cooperation organization in the region which was established in 1985."
"The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) includes all eight nations comprising South Asia."
"The core countries of South Asia have a total area of 4.4 million km2 (1.7 million sq mi), which is 10% of the Asian continent."
"The population of the region, under the broader definition, is about 1.9 billion or about one-fourth of the world's population, making it both the most populous and the most densely populated geographical region in the world."
"In 2022, South Asia had the world's largest populations of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, and Zoroastrians."
"South Asia alone accounts for 90.47% of Hindus worldwide."
"South Asia alone accounts for 95.5% of Sikhs worldwide."
"South Asia alone accounts for 31% of Muslims worldwide."
"South Asia has about 35 million Christians."
"South Asia has about 25 million Buddhists."
"South Asia is defined in both geographical and ethnic-cultural terms."
"South Asia is defined largely by the Indian Ocean in the south."
"South Asia is defined largely by the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Pamir mountains in the north."
"The population of the region, under the broader definition, is about 1.9 billion or about one-fourth of the world's population."
"South Asia is the most populous geographical region in the world."
"The core countries of South Asia have a total area of 4.4 million km2 (1.7 million sq mi), which is 10% of the Asian continent."