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South Asia is a subregion of Asia
comprising the modern states of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. It covers about
4,480,000 km˛, or 10 percent of the continent and is also
known as the Indian subcontinent. Parts or the whole of
Afghanistan is sometimes considered part of South Asia.
Subregions of South Asia include:
Himalayan States - Northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh
Indian Ocean Island Nations - Sri Lanka, the Maldives
Southern India, Pakistan
South Asia ranks among the world's most crowded places. About
1 1/3 billion people live there—about a third of all Asians
and a fifth of all the people in the world. The region's
population density of 305 persons per km˛ is more than seven
times the world average.
The region has a long history. Ancient civilisations developed
in the Indus River Valley. The region was at its most prosperous
before the 17th century, when the Mughal Empire held sway in the
north; European colonialism lead to a new conquering of the
region, by Portugal and Holland, and later Britain and to a
lesser degree France. Most of the region gained independence
from Europe in the late 1940s.
The concept of "South Asia" is useful in helping refer to the
countries of the region as a group. Together with the term
("The Subcontinent"), the descriptor can be useful when
discussing issues that affect the common history, culture, etc.
of the countries. Citizens of South Asian countries besides
India can sometimes be offended by the use of "India" or
"Indian" in relation to them or their national, and some times
even historial and cultural, origins.
(Taken from
Wikipedia Encyclopedia)
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