Question

How have the geographical features influenced the history of India

Answer 1

Explanation:

Geography of India is probably the biggest factor behind its history. THE HIMALAYAS AND HIMALAYAN RIVERS - the 2,400 kilometres long Himalayan range was created as a result of collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian Plate that took place around 50 million years ago.

Answer 2

Answer:

The geography of India greatly influenced the location of early settlements on the subcontinent.

Both the Indus and the Ganges rivers carried rich silt from the mountains to the plains. When the rivers flooded, the silt spread over the plains and made the soil in the river valleys fertile for farming.

Regional differences and related separate identities greatly fostered by geography, have stood in the way of the rise of durable pan Indian states in Indian history.

Never was the whole subcontinent a single political unit.

Himalayas

The Himalayas in the North and northwest and the Indian ocean in the south create a superficial view of isolation of the country from the subcontinent.

However the most difficult terrain does not impede the movement of ideas and influences between the people. Cultural influences have been exchanged across the frontiers and there have been maritime contacts with the west, West Asia and South east asia from the earlier times.

The Himalayas protect Indian subcontinent from cold winds blowing from Siberia to central Asia.

The Himalayas also protect against external invasions but the passes Khyber, Gomal, Khurram and Bolan allow easy access.

The Greeks, Huns, Parthian’s, Turks and Sakas entered the subcontinent through these. Alexander came through the Swat valley. These passes allowed trade as well as cultural contacts between India and central Asia.

In the east the Himalayas have thick forests and heavy rains and thus many regions of the Himalayas are isolated from rest.

Plains

Many urban centres are located at the confluence of rivers and river banks. Most important urban centre is Delhi on the western side of Gangetic plain.

The plain is a source of temptation and attraction to foreign invaders due to its fertility and productive wealth. Important battles were fought to conquer these plains especially the Ganga Yamuna doab was the most coveted and contested battle.

Kurukshetra and Panipat were most common battles grounds.

The rivers in these regions are arteries of commerce and communication.