This name “India” was acquired and already established from the name of the largest river, which was located in the north-west of this country. At that time, the Indians called it “Sindhu”, the Persians called it “Hindu”, and the ancient Greeks called it “Indos”. And later in Europe, it received the name “India”, which has survived to this day. Among the Indians, this name for the country was not generally accepted. If we talk about the location of the country, then India is located in South Asia, more precisely on the Deccan Peninsula, where it is adjacent to it from the northern part of the mainland. And already in the north it is limited by the Himalayas - a unique mountain chain in the world that has the highest system of mountain ranges. In the east, the mountain peak decreases, but there are impassable mountains that separate India itself from the countries surrounding the Indo-Chinese Peninsula, and in the west there are spurs of the Himalayas and other mountain ranges. Meanwhile, the Deccan Peninsula, which flows into the Indian Ocean, forms the Arabian Sea on the western part and the Bay of Bengal on the eastern part. But at the same time, the geographical isolation that India had prevented people from communicating with the entire external environment. It also interfered with the formation of navigation. But all this did not seem to be an obstacle to the Indian people; even in these circumstances, they tried not to be shielded from communication and communication with their neighbors. If we look at geography, then India consisted of two main parts: It was the southern part, which was peninsular, and the northern part was mainland. However, on their border there are rocks, which in turn consist of extensive ridges, the largest of which is considered to be Mount Vindhya, which has an elevation of 1100 m, and has a total area that reaches 1000 km, and runs from the west to East. Most of the Vindhya Mountain is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The area of ​​this mountain was the main barrier regarding communication between the southern and northern parts. South India itself is characterized by a peninsula, which is similar in shape to an irregular triangle, with its apex directed to the south. The main part of this peninsula is occupied by the Deccan Plateau. At the same time, the Deccan Plateau itself has a slight slope that leads from west to east, this is the main factor why all the large rivers of South India mainly flow to the east. But still main part This peninsula is relatively dry. At the same time, the rivers of South India have an individual water order.
Northern India is divided by deserts called Thar.
In the western part of Northern India there is Punjab - this is the valley of the Indus River and five large rivers that flow into the Indus.
In the eastern part of Northern India there is the Ganges River valley. IN given time This part of India has practically no forests, but, nevertheless, in ancient times it was covered with saturated forests. The Ganges has a very humid climate, which in turn affects rice, jute and sugarcane, which cannot be grown here without the use of artificial drainage. But, if you move a little forward to the western part, then there is less atmospheric precipitation and, accordingly, artificial drainage is extremely necessary here.
 

The most ancient civilization of the Indus Valley (the so-called “Harappa/Mohenjo-Daro civilization”).

The most established and ancient Chalcolithic settlements have been found so far in the only place, which is located on the western edge of the Indus Valley. At least, if we compare the climate in North-West India that took place in the 4th-3rd millennia BC. uh, compared to now it was more important.
In the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. e, agriculture was widespread in these places, which later became their main activity, but at the same time, cattle breeding also played an important role in their life. For farming, they preferred river valleys, which were periodically flooded by rain. The creation and improvement of new tools gradually opened the way to these valleys. The Indus Valley was the first to be developed. In the Indus, over time, pockets began to appear in relation to their formed agricultural civilization, and the formation of a productive force here seemed more convenient. In the new environment, property and, consequently, inequality between society appeared, which became the reason for the dissolution of the primitive communal system, and then its erection into a state.
Numerous excavations that took place in the Indus Valley indicated that in the III-II millennia BC. uh, there was a bright and standard civilization.
In the 20s of the twentieth century. urban-type settlements were found, which in turn had many similar features.
These settlements had their own culture, which was called “Harappa”. Excavations were also carried out in Mohenjo-Daro, which was considered the province of Sind, which gave excellent results.
The development of the Harappan culture should be dated to the end of the 3rd millennium BC. e. The past stages of development of this culture are unknown.

India, in terms of the size of its territory and the number of its population, already in the distant past, just as now, belonged to one of the largest countries in Asia. The sharp edges created by nature itself cut it off from the outside world and made it difficult to communicate with other countries and peoples. In the south, southwest and southeast it is washed by vast expanses of water of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. In the north it is closed by the greatest and highest mountain range in the world - the Himalayas. Mountain barriers, although not so insurmountable, are quite powerful, separating India in the west from Iran and in the east from Indochina.

India was largely provided with natural resources necessary for human life, and had relatively little need for imported products. The flora and fauna of the country were exceptionally rich and diverse. In addition to wheat and barley, rice began to be grown here in ancient times, which first came from India to Western Asia, Africa and Europe. Of the other cultivated plants with which more western countries owed their acquaintance to India, it should be noted sugar cane and cotton, not to mention spices.

India had inexhaustible sources of all kinds of valuable raw materials (stone, metallurgical ores, timber). All this provided the opportunity for largely independent economic development, which excluded the penetration of other tribes and nationalities, as well as foreign trade (mainly through Iran and Central Asia).

The most ancient agricultural zones of India were the basins of two great rivers: the Indus with its five tributaries (the Five Rivers - Punjab), which gave the country its name, and the Ganges, which also receives a number of tributaries. Later developed agriculture in the southern part of the country, on the Dekhan Peninsula.

Irrigated agriculture began to flourish early in the Indus and upper Ganges valleys. In other places, farmers depended on precipitation. Of particular importance for the country are the summer monsoons, which bring large amounts of moisture from the southwest.

Population

The oldest Indian literary monuments, as well as the testimonies of ancient authors, have preserved memories of an exceptionally dense population ancient india. This country surpassed Egypt and Western Asia in terms of population, and only China could compete with it in this regard.

The ethnic composition of the inhabitants of India in ancient times was extremely diverse. In the south, dark-skinned tribes belonging to the Australasian-Negroid race predominated. The most ancient inhabitants of the country spoke Dravidian, and partly even earlier, pre-Dravidian languages ​​(Munda language, etc.), currently spoken only in some areas. In the 2nd millennium BC. Tribes speaking the languages ​​of the Indo-European family of peoples begin to spread in India. Based on these languages, it was developed literary language– Sanskrit (meaning “purified”). Unlike him spoken languages were called prakrits.

These later ethnic groups, settlers from the northwest, called themselves Aryans. This ethnic name later acquired the meaning “noble,” since the conquerors looked down on the conquered local population and claimed superiority. However, there is no need to talk about the advantages of this or that group. Everything depended on the conditions of development at a given historical moment.

It is no secret that people and nature of Ancient India have always been connected with each other. This influence is reflected in culture, art and religion. India is a country of untold riches and amazing secrets that scientists have yet to discover.

Nature

Hindustan is a huge peninsula located in the south of Asia, which is, as it were, separated from the surrounding world by the Himalayas - a majestic mountain range on one side and Indian Ocean- on the other. Only a few passages in gorges and valleys connect this country with other peoples and neighboring states. The Deccan plateau occupies almost its entire central part. Scientists are sure that it was here that the civilization of Ancient India originated.

The great rivers Indus and Ganges originate somewhere in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas. The waters of the latter are considered sacred by the inhabitants of the country. As for the climate, it is very humid and hot, so most of India is covered with jungle. These impenetrable forests are home to tigers, panthers, monkeys, elephants, many types of poisonous snakes and other animals.

Local occupations

It is no secret that scientists have always been interested in the nature of Ancient India and the people who inhabited this territory since time immemorial. The main occupation of the local people was considered settled agriculture. Most often, settlements arose along the banks of rivers, since here were the most fertile soils, suitable for the cultivation of wheat, rice, barley and vegetables. In addition, from sugar cane, which grew in abundance in this swampy area, the inhabitants made a sweet powder. This product was the oldest sugar in the world.

The Indians also grew cotton in their fields. The finest yarn was made from it, which was then turned into comfortable and lightweight fabrics. They were perfectly suited for this hot climate. In the north of the country, where precipitation was less frequent, ancient people built complex irrigation systems similar to those in Egypt.

The Indians were also involved in gathering. They knew both useful and harmful properties most of the flowers and plants they know. Therefore, we figured out which of them could simply be eaten, and which ones could be used to make spices or incense. The rich nature of India is so diverse that it gave the inhabitants plants that were not found anywhere else, and they, in turn, learned to cultivate them and use them. maximum benefit for yourself. A little later, a wide variety of spices and incense attracted many merchants from different countries.

Civilization

Ancient India with its extraordinary culture existed already in the 3rd millennium BC. The civilizations of such major cities as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro also date back to around this time, where people knew how to build two- and even three-story houses using baked bricks. At the beginning of the 20th century, British archaeologists managed to find the ruins of these ancient settlements.

Mohenjo-Daro turned out to be especially amazing. As scientists have suggested, this city was built over more than one century. Its territory covered an area of ​​250 hectares. Researchers found straight streets with tall buildings here. Some of them rose more than seven meters. Presumably, these were buildings of several floors, where there were no windows or any decorations. However, in the living quarters there were rooms for ablutions, into which water was supplied from special wells.

The streets in this city were located in such a way that they ran from north to south, as well as from east to west. Their width reached ten meters, and this allowed scientists to assume that its inhabitants were already using carts on wheels. In the center of ancient Mohenjo-Daro, a building was built with a huge pool. Scientists have still not been able to accurately determine its purpose, but they have put forward the version that it is a city temple erected in honor of the god of water. Not far from it there was a market, spacious craft workshops and granaries. The city center was surrounded by a powerful fortress wall, where, most likely, they were hiding local residents when they were in danger.

Art

Besides amazing layout cities and extraordinary buildings, during large-scale excavations that began in 1921, a large number of various religious and household items used by their inhabitants were also found. From them one can judge the high development of applied and jewelry art of Ancient India. The seals discovered at Mohenjo-Daro were decorated beautiful carving, which indicates some similarity between the two cultures: the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia from the times of Akkad and Sumer. Most likely, these two civilizations were connected by trade relations.

Pottery found on site ancient city, are very diverse. The polished and shiny vessels were covered with ornaments, where images of plants and animals were harmoniously combined. Most often these were containers covered in red paint with black drawings applied to them. Multi-colored ceramics were very rare. Regarding fine arts Ancient India of the period from the end of the 2nd to the middle of the 1st millennium BC, then it was not preserved at all.

Scientific achievements

Scientists of Ancient India were able to achieve great success in various branches of knowledge and, in particular, in mathematics. Here, for the first time, the decimal number system appeared, which involved the use of zero. This is what all of humanity still uses. Around the 3rd-2nd millennia BC during the civilization of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, according to modern scientists, Indians already knew how to count in tens. Those numbers that we use to this day are usually called Arabic. In fact, they were originally called Indian.

The most famous mathematician of Ancient India, who lived in the Gupta era, which is the 4th-6th centuries, is Aryabhata. He was able to systematize the decimal system and formulate rules for solving linear and indefinite equations, extracting cubic and square roots and much more. The Indian believed that the number π was 3.1416.

Another proof that people and nature of ancient India are inextricably linked is Ayurveda or the science of life. It is impossible to determine exactly what period of history it belongs to. The depth of knowledge that the ancient Indian sages possessed is simply amazing! Many modern scientists rightfully consider Ayurveda to be the ancestor of almost all medical areas. And this is not surprising. It formed the basis of Arabic, Tibetan and Chinese medicine. Ayurveda incorporates basic knowledge of biology, physics, chemistry, natural history and cosmology.

Mysteries of Ancient India: Qutub Minar

20 km from old Delhi in the fortified city of Lal Kot stands the mysterious metal pole. This is the Qutub Minar, made of an unknown alloy. Researchers are still at a loss, and some of them are inclined to think that it is of alien origin. The column is about 1600 years old, but for 15 centuries it has not rusted. It seems that the ancient craftsmen were able to create chemically pure iron, which is difficult to obtain even in our time, having the most modern technologies. All Ancient world and India in particular are full of extraordinary mysteries that scientists have not yet been able to unravel.

Reasons for the decline

It is believed that the disappearance of the Harappan civilization is associated with the arrival of the northwestern Aryan tribes to these lands in 1800 BC. These were warlike nomadic conquerors who raised cattle and ate mainly dairy products. The Aryans first began to destroy large cities. Over time, the surviving buildings began to fall into disrepair, and new houses were built from old bricks.

Another version of scientists regarding the nature and people of Ancient India is that not only the enemy invasion of the Aryans contributed to the disappearance of the Harappan civilization, but also a significant deterioration of the environment. They do not exclude such a reason as a sharp change in the level sea ​​water, which could lead to numerous floods, and then to the emergence of various epidemics caused by terrible diseases.

Social structure

One of the many features of Ancient India is the division of people into castes. This stratification of society occurred around the 1st millennium BC. Its emergence was determined by both religious views and the political system. With the arrival of the Aryans, almost the entire local population began to be classified as a lower caste.

At the highest level were the brahmans - priests who ruled religious cults and did not engage in heavy physical labor. They lived solely on the sacrifices of believers. One step lower was the caste of Kshatriyas - warriors, with whom the Brahmans did not always get along, since they often could not share power among themselves. Next came the Vaishyas - shepherds and peasants. Below were the sudras who did only the dirtiest work.

Consequences of delamination

The society of Ancient India was structured in such a way that the caste affiliation of people was inherited. For example, the children of Brahmins, growing up, became priests, and the children of Kshatriyas became exclusively warriors. Such division only hindered the further development of society and the country as a whole, since many talented people could not realize themselves and were doomed to live in eternal poverty.

One of the most popular Asian countries for tourists is India. It attracts people with its original culture, the greatness of the ancient architectural structures and the lush beauty of nature. But the most important thing why many people go there on vacation is the climate of India. It is so diverse in different parts country, which allows you to choose entertainment to suit your taste at any time of the year: sunbathing on a sunny beach or skiing at a mountain resort.

If tourists travel to India to see the sights, it is advisable to choose a time so that the heat or rain does not interfere. Peculiarities geographical location countries influence its climate. You can choose your vacation spot depending on what temperature you prefer. Heat, sunny beaches and cool mountain air, and rains, hurricanes - this is all India.

Geographical location

The climate of this country is so diverse due to its location. India stretches from north to south for 3000 kilometers, and from west to east - 2000. The elevation difference is about 9000 meters. The country occupies almost the entire huge Hindustan peninsula, washed by the warm waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

The climate of India is very diverse. Four types can be distinguished: dry tropical, wet tropical, subequatorial monsoon and alpine. And while the beach season begins in the south, real winter sets in in the mountains, and the temperature drops below zero. There are areas where almost all year round it rains, while in others the plants suffer from drought.

Nature and climate of India

The country is located in the subequatorial zone, but it is much warmer there than in other places in this zone. How can this be explained? In the north, the country is shielded from the cold Asian winds by the Himalayas, and in the northwest, a large area is occupied by the Thar Desert, which attracts warm, humid monsoons. They determine the characteristics of India's climate. Monsoons bring rain and heat to the country. On the territory of India is Cherrapunji, where more than 12,000 millimeters of precipitation falls per year. And in the north-west of the country, for about 10 months there is not a drop of rain. Some eastern states are also suffering from drought. And if in the south of the country it is very hot - the temperature rises to 40 degrees, then in the mountains there are places of eternal glaciation: the Zaskar and Karakorum ranges. And the climate of coastal zones is influenced by warm waters Indian Ocean.

Seasons in India

In most of the country, three seasons can be roughly distinguished: winter, which lasts from November to February, summer, which lasts from March to June, and the rainy season. This division is conditional, because the monsoons have little effect on the eastern coast of India, and there is no rain in the Thar Desert. Winter in the usual meaning of the word occurs only in the north of the country, in the mountainous regions. There the temperature sometimes drops to minus 3 degrees. And on the southern coast at this time it is beach season, and migratory birds fly here from northern countries.

Rainy season

This is the most interesting feature, which the climate of India has. Monsoons coming from the Arabian Sea bring heavy rain to most of the country. At this time, about 80% of the annual precipitation falls. First, the rains begin in the west of the country. Already in May, Goa and Bombay experience the influence of the monsoons. Gradually, the rainy area moves east, and by the month of July, the peak season is observed in most parts of the country. Hurricanes may occur along the coast, but they are not as destructive as in other countries near India. There is slightly less rainfall on the east coast, and the rainiest place is where the rainy season lasts until November. In most parts of India, dry weather sets in already in September-October.

The monsoon season brings relief from the heat to most parts of the country. And, despite the fact that at this time there are often floods and the sky is overcast, farmers are looking forward to this season. Thanks to the rains, lush Indian vegetation grows rapidly, resulting in good harvests, and in cities all dust and dirt are washed away. But monsoons do not bring rain to all parts of the country. In the foothills of the Himalayas, India's climate is reminiscent of Europe, with frosty winters. And in the northern state of Punjab there is almost no rain, so droughts are frequent there.

What is winter like in India?

From October onwards, dry and clear weather sets in over most of the country. After the rains it becomes relatively cool, although in some areas, for example on the coast, the heat is +30-35°, and the sea at this time warms up to +27°. The climate of India in winter is not very diverse: dry, warm and clear. Only in some areas it rains until December. Therefore, at this time there is a large influx of tourists.

In addition to the sunny beaches and warm sea water, they are attracted by the beauty of the lush vegetation in the national parks of India and the unusual festivals that take place here in large numbers from November to March. This is the harvest, and the festival of colors, and the festival of lights, and even farewell to winter at the end of January. Christians celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ, and Hindus celebrate the birth of their deity - Ganesh Chaturthi. In addition, winter opens the season at the mountain resorts of the Himalayas, and lovers winter species sportsmen can relax there.

Indian heat

Most of the country is warm all year round. If you consider the climate of India by month, you can understand that this is one of the hottest countries in the world. Summer there begins in March, and in most states it is already unbearably hot within a month. April-May is the peak high temperature, in some places it rises to +45°. And since at this time it is also very dry, this weather is very exhausting. It is especially difficult for people in major cities, where dust is added to the heat. Therefore, for a long time, wealthy Indians at this time left for the northern mountainous regions, where the temperature is always comfortable and rarely rises to +30° at the hottest time.

When is the best time to visit India?

This country is beautiful at any time of the year, and every tourist can find a place that he will like with its weather. Depending on what interests you: relaxing on the beach, visiting attractions or observing nature, you need to choose the place and time of your trip. General recommendations for everyone it is not to visit Central and South India from April to July as it is very hot during this time.

If you want to sunbathe and don't like getting wet, don't come during the rainy season; the worst months are June and July, when there is the most rainfall. The Himalayas should not be visited in winter - from November to March, because many areas are difficult to access due to snow on the passes. The best time The period for holidays in India is from September to March. Almost all areas of the country at this time have a comfortable temperature - + 20-25 ° - and clear weather. Therefore, when planning a trip to these regions, it is advisable to get acquainted with the weather conditions in different areas and find out what the climate is like in India by month.

Temperatures in different parts of the country

• The greatest temperature differences occur in the mountainous regions of India. In winter, the thermometer there can show minus 1-3°, and high in the mountains - up to minus 20°. From June to August - the most warm time in the mountains, and the temperature ranges from +14 to +30°. Usually +20-25°.
• In the northern states, the coldest time is in January, when the thermometer shows +15°. In summer the heat is about +30° and above.
• The temperature difference is least felt in Central and Southern India, where it is always warm. In winter, during the coldest time, the temperature is comfortable there: +20-25°. From March to June it is very hot - +35-45°, sometimes the thermometer shows up to +48°. During the rainy season it is a little cooler - +25-30°.

India has always attracted tourists from all over the world. This is due not only to the beautiful nature, the variety of ancient buildings and the unique culture of the people. The most important thing that tourists like is the favorable location of the country and its pleasant climate throughout the year. India, in any month, can provide travelers with the opportunity to relax the way they want.