South Asia: Landforms and Resources

• Mountains and Plateaus. The Himalayas are part of South Asia, a region that includes seven countries—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
• Rivers, Deltas, and Plains.
• GREAT RIVERS.
• FERTILE PLAINS.
• Offshore Islands.
• Natural Resources.

Asia can be divided into five major physical regions: mountain systems; plateaus; plains, steppes, and deserts; freshwater environments; and saltwater environments. The Himalaya mountains extend for about 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles), separating the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia.

The climate is dominated by tropical rainforest climate that is common on all the islands and tropical monsoon climate that is common along Java’s coastal north. Tropical savanna climate can also be found in locations such as East Java and Central Java.

Although rice is still the region’s main crop, other commodities such as maize, coffee, cocoa as well as fruits and vegetables are also important.

Two notably important external influences came from China and India, but Southeast Asia accepted only those influences and practices that were suitable to their local cultures. Almost every country accepted Ramayana because it is easy to retell, understand, modify and apply to contemporary culture.

The Portuguese established several based on the Spice Islands in 1512 . Soon a bidding war ensued between the British, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese for control of these islands. After many clashes, the Dutch emerged victorious in 1663. The Dutch East India Company was then in control of the spice monopoly.

T/F: Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are very rare in Southeast Asia. An Indonesian volcano that erupted in 1883 and caused great loss of life. In what way are the natural resources of Indonesia and Malaysia similar? Both countries have large reserves of oil and natural gas.

The population of South Asia is about 1.891 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.

Moluccas

The Spice Islands (Malaku, or the Moluccas) are a small group of islands to the north-east of Indonesia, between Celebes and New Guinea. They include Halmahera (the largest), Seram, Buru, Ambon, Ternate, and Tidore and the Aru and Kai island groups.

The silk and spice trade, involving spices, incense, herbs, drugs and opium, made these Mediterranean city-states rich. Spices were among the most expensive and in-demand products of the Middle Ages, used in medicine as well as in the kitchen.

Saffron

cumin

saffron

The World’s Most Powerful Spices… and NBB’s unique Spice Blends…

• Cloves. The highest ORAC score!
• Sumac. A sour red or purple-tinged spice popular in Middle Eastern dishes.
• Oregano. The oil is noted to have antibacterial and antiviral properties.
• Rosemary. A sharp, earthy and almost floral flavor.
• Peppermint.
• Thyme.
• Chaga Mushroom.
• Cinnamon.

For many centuries the world’s most expensive spice was black pepper. As cultivation increased and black pepper became a household staple around the world its price subsequently dropped. Today, black pepper is one of the world’s most affordable spices.

The answer is: Yes, saffron really is more expensive than gold and also the most expensive spice in the world. Here, we’ll look at why saffron is the world’s most legendary, costly spice.

Cloves ($10 per pound) Because it’s obtained from florid buds of an exotic tree ‘Caryophyllus Aromaticus’ (related to myrtle and eucalyptus), it has an aromatic flavor that’s used in the making of perfumes and other fragrances.

12 of the world’s most expensive foods

1. Saffron.
2. Kobe beef.
3. Almas caviar.
4. The white truffle of Alba.
5. The Densuke watermelon.
6. The Yubari melon.
7. The Matsutake mushroom.
8. Knipschildt chocolate.

Eight of the world’s most expensive foods

1. Saffron. If your rice is luminous yellow, then the chances are it’s been sharing a saucepan with saffron.
2. Caviar. Caviar is the pickled roe of the sturgeon fish, and considered one of the world’s great delicacies.
3. Oysters.
4. White Truffle.
5. Iberico ham.
6. Wagyu beef.
7. Kopi Luwak coffee.
8. Foie gras.