The history of the people is very much conditioned by the geography and environment of the region. The geography and environmental conditions of an area include climate, soil types, water resources and other stable features. This determines the settlement method, population spread, food products, human behavior and eating habits of the region. The Indian subcontinent has been gifted with different regions with their distinctive geographical features, which have greatly influenced the course of its history. In ancient times, the Indian subcontinent geographically included present-day India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. The subcontinent can be broadly divided into the following main regions based on geographical diversity. These are:
(1) Himalayas
(2) River plains of
North India
()) Peninsula India
The Himalayas :
The Himalayas are the
largest and highest mountain range in the world. This is about 2,400 kilometers
long. (Map 2.1). These ranges not only checked the invasion, but also protected
us from the cold winds coming from the north. They block monsoon winds from the
sea causing rains in the northern plains. However, there are some mountain
ranges that, despite being difficult, provide access for certain invaders,
merchants, missionaries. This has helped to establish cultural contacts with
Central Asia, China and Tibet in ancient times. The broken Himalayan range in
the northwest is the main route connecting Iran and Central Asia through
Afghanistan to the Indian plains. This passes through Gomal, Bolan and Khyber
Pass. The Greeks, Saka, Kushna, Huna and other foreign tribes reached India
following these routes. Similarly, Buddhism and other Indian elements were
carried through these mountain ranges to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The River Plains of North India :
The Himalayas also provide India with three river systems dominated by the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra. These rivers fertilized their respective territories and attracted both settlers and invaders. The plains of the Indus include the regions of Punjab and Sindh. Irrigated by the tributaries of the Indus River, they form a vast fertile plain that makes the region a breadbasket of the subcontinent. It is so called because this region is very important for wheat cultivation. Since ancient times, the strategic location and prosperity of the Punjab region has attracted foreign invaders. The Indus region includes the Lower Indus Valley and Delta. It is the Indus plains that first saw the development of an urbanized culture known as the Harappan culture in the subcontinent. The Gangetic basin receives more rainfall and is more humid than the Indus region. The Gangetic plains are divided into upper, central and lower three sub-regions. The plains above the river Ganga cover the western and southern parts of Uttar Pradesh. The region has been witnessing active cultural development since ancient times. There was a population of Aryans in the later Vedic period, during which time they studied agriculture. The plains of the Central Ganges, which are more fertile and receive more rainfall, include eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It is the region where Kosala, Kasi and Magadha like Mahajanpadas (regional states) were founded in the 6th century BC. India's two major religions, Jainism and Buddhism, were also born here.
The lower Gangetic plains form the Bengal region. Its northern part is irrigated by the Brahmaputra. Excessive rainfall in the area also created ganse forests and alluvial soils which initially made settlement development difficult. But its coastal areas served as important channels of contact with other regions of the subcontinent and South-East Asian countries. Tamralipti or Tamluk was an important seaport of the region which played a significant role in commercial activities. Eastern India generally refers to the coastal plains formed by the Mahanadi and other currents. The fertile coastal plains of the region helped in the development of agriculture, society and culture. He came in contact with the Gangetic culture from the time of Nando and Maurya (4th century BC).
Around 1000. Orissa began to develop its distinct linguistic and cultural identity. West India refers to the territories of the modern states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is known for its black soil which is good for cotton cultivation. The Thar Desert of Rajasthan, surrounded by semi-arid regions, was not as fertile as the Gangetic plains. As a result, the area was not very conducive to farming. However, later AD. In the th century, with the emergence of the irrigation system in the form of Persians. Wheel (Rehat), many settlements emerged here. Rajasthan also has Rajput clans. The fertile plains of Sabarmati, Mahi, Narmada and Tapti rivers brought prosperity to Gujarat. The very long coastline helped Gujarat to connect with other countries through its ports. The most important beaches in the region are Brigukacha or Bharuch.
The Peninsular India :
Peninsular India includes the Deccan Plateau and the coastal plains of South India. This plateau is located south of the Vindhya mountain. It is divided into three main regions corresponding to the modern states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The North Deccan Plateau covers a part of Maharashtra. The area is inhabited by a number of variable colithic sites inhabited by people using copper and stone tools. Karnataka is included in the southwest of the Deccan. With access to water and other resources, the area has been more suitable for human settlements than the northern part. The Raichur Doab is known as the 'Rice Bowl' of South India for growing rice. It has been the bone of contention between different kingdoms. These regions have been inhabited since prehistoric times. The plateau region also has mountainous terrain in the western and eastern ghats. The Western Ghats rise rapidly from the west coast and enter the plateau to the east. They are cut by the serial passes of Junior, Kanheri and Carla. These served as trade routes connecting the ports on the west coast.
At the southern end of the Western Ghats is the Palghat Pass, which joins the Cauvery Valley on the west bank and played an important role in Indo-Roman trade in ancient times. The Eastern Ghats melt more slowly on the coastal plains and plains. The coastal plain is bounded by the states of Tamil Nadu to the east and to the west by the states of Kerala. Rivers in Tamil Nadu are seasonal. As a result, the people of the region are more dependent on tank irrigation from the earliest times. However, the Kaveri Delta has been an important area of human attraction. It provides an opportunity for rice cultivation and has witnessed the development of Sangam culture in the early historical period. In the first centuries of the Christian era, ports such as Erikmedu and Kaveripattinam promoted Indo-Roman trade. It has developed a distinct linguistic and cultural identity in the Tamil region.
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