1 The Indian Subcontinent and History
Exercise
1. Answer the following in one sentence.
(1) What is history?
History is a coherent account of the significant past events in the progress of human culture.
(2) Where do human settlements flourish?
Human settlements flourish wherever the means of living are plentiful.
(3) What do the people in the hilly region depend on for their food?
Ans. In hilly regions, people depend more on hunting and gathering for their food.
(4) Which is the earliest civilization in India?
Ans. The Harappan civilization is the earliest civilization in India.
2. Answer the following questions in short.
(1) What does human life depend on?
Ans. Human life in any region depends to a large extent on its geographical characteristics.
(2) What features of our surroundings form the means of our livelihood?
Ans. The climate, rainfall, agricultural produce, flora and fauna of the region where we live form the means of our livelihood.
(3) Which region is known as the Indian subcontinent?
Ans. The cities of Harappa and Mohen-jo-daro are in today’s Pakistan. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India together form the region known as South Asia. Considering the expanse and significance of India in this region, it is also known as the Indian subcontinent.
4. Explain the difference in the human life in the hilly regions and that on the plains.
Human life in hilly region | Human life in the plains |
1) Life in the hilly regions is more strenuous. | 1) Life in the plains is less strenuous. |
2) Not much fertile is available. | 2) Fertile land is available in plenty. |
3) Grains and vegetables are scarce. | 3) Grains and vegetables are sufficient measure. |
4) People depend more on hunting and gathering for their food. | 4) People depend on farming and growing their own food. |
5. Observe the physical map of India and answer the questions based on it.
(1) Which mountain ranges lie in the north of India?
Ans. The Hindukush and Himalayan rages lie to the north of India.
(2) Which are the routes to India from the northeast?
Ans. The trade route from China passed through Central Asia and reached Arabia. It is known as the ‘Silk Route’ or ‘Silk Road’.
(3) Where do the Ganga and Brahmaputra meet?
Ans. The Ganga and Brahmaputra meet in Sunderbans which is in Bangladesh.
(4) Name the islands to the east of the Indian peninsula.
Ans. Andaman and Nicobar are the Indian islands in the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian peninsula.
(5) In which part of India do we see the Thar Desert?
Ans. The Thar desert spreads across Rajasthan, Haryana and some parts of Gujarat.
Activity :
(1) Obtain information about the lakes or reservoirs in your locality.
(2) Show the following on a world map :
1. The Himalaya Mountain
2. The Silk Road
3. Arabia