( Long answer questions:)
Discuss how India's geography has had an important role in shaping its history.
Answers
Earliest settlers in India came about In paleolithic age. The life of that time was quite simple. They needed just a few things to live, i.e, Food, a roof on their head and some kind of material to cover themselves. Since they did not yet have that much knowledge to build huts, they found regions that were mountainous so that they can find a cave and live in it. They generally avoided forests as living place because their tools were not mature enough to cut the trees and clear the area. In addition to providing caves, the mountain rocks became the source of their tools. At the time they used the stone ‘Quartzite’.
As their tools matured with the time, there ability to cut forest, grow food also increased. The next desirable place to set themselves up was supposed to be a river bank which could provide them with water to agriculture as well as other things. Plains were preferred to live on instead of Mountains because easier way of living. Metals were discovered in the Age of Metal and stone age changed into Copper Age. The copper was found in Northern India and thus the settlements were found there. In this way Indus Valley Civilization came to be with the desired geographical features.
Indus Valley Civilization stretched from modern Northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and Northwest India. This whole settlement was along the river Indus and that helped this civilization immensely. The soil along the banks was alluvial which helped in agriculture. Copper could be found here and the river path helped in trade inside the civilization as well as outside of it.
Because of the Himalayas along the boundaries of India on the east side our North, no invaders could come to India through that way. It protected India from foreign invasion for a long time. India was protected in South from the ocean on all sides.
Aryans later migrated from Central Asia to India to find a good settlement for themselves. They crossed Hindu Kush mountains and found a good civilization here. The resources were plenty, the people were not as much warriors and it looked perfect to Aryans. They soon won against the Indus people and made themselves home here. Later when the Indus supposedly flooded, the settlement moved to Gangetic Valley. It was concentrated in North-East of India.
The Khyber pass in Northwest India had brought many invasions to India. This geographical feature of India had influenced the history of India more than most. All the people who came through this pass had mingled with our culture and made India one of the most diverse countries.
The long history of India is infact too long to be told here in this answer. But the features that influenced India are thus explained when it comes to political matters.
Economically, the trade routes through Central Asia made India successful. It traded with Persia and Iran. Indian wares were popular for their quality and were in high demands. It also led to more foreign invasions as all heard about the fabulous resources of this country and wanted it for themselves.
The ocean around us was also helpful in the trade. India traded with China, Sri Lanka, far off Southern kingdoms, Sumatra, Java and Roman Empire too. We also can’t forget the Europeans that the ocean has brought to us through that medium.
Thus we can see that Geography has played a huge role in what we are now. One of the reason that Geography is an important subject to know the proper history of India.
Hope this helps :D
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