Why is India seen as a subcontinent of Asia while Europe is considered a separate continent?

[AngelOfLight258]

I don't get it, both are essentially giant peninsulas on the Asian continent and the mountains that separate India from the rest of Asia are WAY higher than those that separate Europe from Asia. I know that Europe and Asia are sometimes lumped into the single continent of Eurasia but since Europe only has a fraction of the land area of Asia, wouldn't it make more sense to call Europe a subcontinent of Asia?

[genericname85]

India isn't a subcontinent. It's a country within the continent of Asia. The continents are separated as they are because of the tectonic development that shaped the face of the earth as we know it today.

https://youtu.be/OGdPqpzYD4o

As visible in this video, Europe used to be disconnected from Asia by an ocean. That's why Europe is a separate continent and India is not.

[genericname85]

Though it's a bit arbitrary as you could say the connecting land mass was just under water. That's why it's sometimes called Eurasia

[AngelOfLight258]

India was separate from Asia. When the two collided the Himalayan mountains were pushed up.

[KostasKouvalis]

It's not. It's only like that for cultural and political reasons. Geologists and geographers recognize it as only one continent, Eurasia.

And India is seen as a subcontinent because it's cut off from the rest of the continent by the Himalayas which form a tectonic boundary between India and the rest of Asia. And also because India's geography and climate is so diverse

[menina]

That probably doesn't happen due to historical and social reasons. Besides the climate, the people and lifestyle in Europe are completely different from Asian countries.
Also, Europeans want to stand out. They would never want to be associated to non-white people due to their racism and ideas of superiority.

[menina]

Thanks for the MHO.

[AsaKyo]

European men have the best cocks, that's why

[SnowedIn]

This is a great answer! 🤣

[NathanDavis]

it's not about geographical/government territory

as @CloudMassacre pointed it out, it has more to do with the actual continental/tectonic plates

[CloudMassacre]

I think it’s the plate tectonics that make the continents the shapes they are

[annabananna]

I never got it either

[Jennz6]

Isn’t that Asia Minor?

[ShyNaughtyGuy]

I also think in same way.

[Debbie14217]

wow no idea

[legalboxers]

topography