CHAPTER-4 : Geographical Setting
Ancient History of India
OLD NCERT
Short Notes or Revision Notes
The Landmass of Ancient India
Geological Formation
- Part of Gondwanaland, a supercontinent with Africa, South America, etc.
- Gondwanaland and Laurussia (North America, Europe, Asia) once formed Pangaea.
- Tectonic movements separated landmasses, creating peninsular India.
- Himalayan upliftment occurred in four phases, final one in Pleistocene (2 million – 12000 BCE).
Geographic Scope
- Similar in size to Europe (excluding Russia).
- Modern nation-states: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan.
Monsoons and Geography
Monsoon Seasons
- Southwest Monsoon (June-October): crucial for Kharif crops in North India.
- Northeast Monsoon (Mid-October to Mid-December): brings rain to coastal Tamil Nadu.
The Himalayas
- Northern boundary, protecting India from cold Siberian winds.
- Passes: Khyber, Bolan, Gomal (Hindu Kush extension)
Western Boundaries
- Sulaiman Mountains (southward continuation of Himalayas) with Bolan Pass.
- Kiirthar Ranges (Baluchistan) with Bolan Pass.
Regions of Ancient India
River Basins
- Indus and Western Gangetic Plains: wheat & barley
- Middle & Lower Gangetic Plains: rice (staple diet in Gujarat & South India)
Cultural Flourishing
- Indus Valley: Harappan Culture
- North-West Frontier Province & Punjab: Vedic Culture (later flourished in Western Gangetic Basin)
- Mid-Gangetic Basin: Post-Vedic Culture (iron use)
- Lower Gangetic Valley & North Bengal: Guptas Era
- Brahmaputra Valley (Assam): Early Medieval Times
Eastern Peninsula
- Kalinga: Coastal Orissa (Mahanadi to Godavari)
- Andhra Pradesh: Godavari to Krishna
- Kaveri Valley: South Pennar to Vaigai
Coastal Regions
- Coromandel Coast (East): Arikamedu, Mahabalipuram, Kaveripattanam
- Malabar Coast (West)
Deccan Plateau
- Maharashtra: Tapi/Damanganga to Bhima
- Karnataka: Bhima/Upper Krishna to Tungabhadra
- Kerala: Southernmost coastal area
- Thar Desert: West of Aravallis (Rajasthan)
- Gujarat: Northwestern Deccan (includes Kathiawar peninsula)
- Madhya Pradesh: South of Ganga-Yamuna Doab (Chambal, Son, Vindhya, Narmada)
- Eastern MP: Vindhyas
- Western MP (Malwa): Narmada Valley
Natural Resources and Cultural Divide
Natural Barriers
- Vindhya mountains: separated North (Indo-Aryan languages) and South (Dravidian languages) India.
Minerals
- Copper:
- Richest mines – Chhotanagpur plateau (Singhbhum district)
- Khetri mines (Rajasthan) – used by Harappans and later civilizations
- Used in Bihar for tools and bronzes (Pala era)
- Tin:
- Possible sources – Afghanistan, Gaya, Hazaribagh, Ranchi
- Iron: Abundance in Avanti (Ujjain) contributed to its rise (6th-5th centuries BCE)
- Lead:
- Andhra – large lead resources used for Satavahana coins (1st-2nd centuries CE)
- Possible source – Rajasthan towns
- Silver:
- Punch-marked coins (early coins)
- Mines – Kharagpur hills (Monghyr district)
- Gold:
- Kolar goldfields (Karnataka)
- Found as dust deposits (placers)
- Precious Stones: Pearls (Central India, Orissa, South India)
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