Introduction >> Q:1. What was the main difficulty that Alexander of Macedon faced in India?In spite of all his successes elsewhere which earned him the epithet of ‘Great’ Alexander was unable to penetrate into the heartland of India. The main problem faced by him and his army was that the terrain was completely unknown to them. There were no cartographers at that time so he met with uncertainty at every step. Q:2. What are the principal mountain ranges to the north of India?To the north-west part of India are the Hindu Kush, Sulaiman and Kirthar ranges, while to the north and north-east lie the Himalayan range. Q:3. Were the mountains in the north of India impregnable?The mountains did provide a shield against any large army, but there were passes which provided invaders with the opportunity of entering India. There were the Khyber, Gomal and Bolan passes in the north-west, while Nathula and Jelepla were the important passes in the north-east. Q:4. What prevented many of the northern Indian rulers from attacking the south?Rulers of the north of India (both in the ancient and medieval periods), hesitated to undertake the conquest of the south, primarily because crossing the Vindhyas and Satpura ranges with their armies proved to be a deterrent. They also realized the difficulty of maintaining control, and administrating the southern areas. Q:5. What is the significance of the Himalayas, so far as India is concerned?The Himalayas have provided certain advantages to India and her people. It has shielded Indian plains from the icy cold Arctic winds, it has served to deter large invasions, and it has provided a border zone between India and China and Central Asia. Q:6 What is the link between geographical factors and human habitat?The separate identities, cultures and habits of a community of people living in a particular region are largely influenced by geographical factors. People of desert areas have different food habits from those living in coastal areas. The difference in flora, fauna, and climates dictate how the culture, heritage and identity of any particular community develop. This shows that the study of history is further enriched if it is studied in tandem with geo-physical factors. Q:7. What is known as Gangaikondaicholapuram?Gangaikondaicholapuram was the name of the new capital that Rajendra Chola built after his return from Bengal. He chose this particular name in order to commemorate his bringing of holy water from the Ganges. Q:8. What was the significance of the passes in Indian history?These passes in the mountain ranges in the north of India were corridors of communication. Contacts with central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan, through the passes date back to the third millennium BC. There was a historical continuity of peoples entering northern India, like the Indo-Aryans, Greeks, Parthians, Sakas, Kushanas, Hunas and Turks. The most regular movements were those of herders and trading caravans. Q:9. Describe the Indus river system.The Indus rises beyond the Himalayas, flows north through a furrow in the mountains and then turns towards the south-west and enters the plains. The middle Indus is the area of confluence of the Indus, and its major tributaries- Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas- that flow from the northern Himalaya through the Punjab plains. The lower Indus culminates in the Delta. Q:10. Which main rivers form the Ganges river system?The names of some of the important rivers that join the Ganges on its long journey to the sea are, the Yamuna, Sarayu, Gomati, Ghagra Gandak, Bhagirathi and Brahmaputra.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 03:03:28 +0000
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