The northern plain lies just south of the Himalayas. This fertile region is watered by mighty rivers: the Indus, which gives India its name, the Ganges (GAN jeez), and the Brahmaputra (brah muh POO truh). These rivers and their tributaries carry melting snow from the mountains to the plains, making agriculture possible. To the people of the Indian subcontinent, rivers are sacred, especially the Ganges. An Indian name for river is lokmata, or “mother of the people.”

The Deccan is a triangular plateau, or raised area of level land, that juts into the Indian Ocean. The Deccan generally lacks the melting snows that feed the rivers of the north and provide water for irrigation. As a result, much of the region is arid, agriculturally unproductive, and sparsely populated.

India's third region, the coastal plains, are separated from the Deccan by low-lying mountain ranges, the Eastern and Western Ghats. Rivers and heavy seasonal rains provide water for farmers. From very early times, coastal people used the seas for fishing and as highways for trade.

Life-Giving Monsoons

Today, as in the past, a defining feature of life in the Indian subcontinent is the monsoon, a seasonal wind that is part of the global wind pattern. In October, the winter monsoon blows from the northeast, bringing hot dry air that withers crops. During May and June of each year, the wet summer monsoon blows from the southwest. These winds pick up moisture over the Indian Ocean and drench the land with daily downpours.

The monsoon has shaped Indian life. Each year, people welcome the rains that are desperately needed to water the crops. If the rains are late, famine and starvation may occur. However, if the rains are too heavy, rushing rivers will unleash deadly floods.

Cultural Diversity

India's great size and diverse landscapes made it hard to unite. Many groups of people, with differing languages and traditions, settled in different parts of India. At times, ambitious rulers conquered much of the subcontinent, creating great empires. Despite their conquests, the diversity of customs and traditions remained.

Analyze Maps

The Indian subcontinent has a diverse range of geographic features. Where did most people in ancient India settle? Why?

Table of Contents