Subkontinents

Subcontinent is a geographic term used to describe a large landmass that forms a distinct subregion within a continent. The most widely recognized example is the Indian subcontinent, a peninsula extending south of the Himalayas that includes present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, with Afghanistan and parts of Myanmar sometimes included in broader definitions. The term is used in geography, history, and cultural studies to denote regions that share long-standing linguistic, historical, or ecological features that set them apart from neighboring areas.

Geographically, the Indian subcontinent is bounded by the Himalayan mountain range to the north, and by the river systems of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra. It is also demarcated by peninsular boundaries formed by the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal. Tectonically, it sits on the Indian Plate, which collided with the Eurasian Plate to uplift the Himalayas around 50 million years ago. The climate is strongly influenced by the monsoon, creating a distinct seasonal pattern that supports diverse ecosystems and intensive agriculture.

Historically and culturally, the subcontinent has hosted ancient civilizations and complex empires, contributing significantly to language, religion, art, and literature. In modern contexts, the term often contrasts the subcontinent with other parts of Asia. It is commonly associated with the territories of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh after the partition in 1947, along with Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, though definitions vary among scholars and writers.

Usage notes: the boundaries of a subcontinent are not fixed; the term is conventional and context-dependent. While the Indian subcontinent is the best-known example, some authors apply the idea more loosely to other large landmasses within continents.