During the medieval era (400–1450 CE), trade flourished in the Indian Ocean basin. The rise of theUmayyad(661–750 CE) andAbbasid(750–1258) caliphates on the Arabian Peninsula provided a powerful western node for the trade routes. In addition, Islam valued merchants—the Prophet Muhammad h...
Celtis australis remains are usually present in Palaeolithic sites of the Mediterranean Basin. However, their uncharred state of preservation and the absence of wood charcoal remains of this species raise some doubts regarding the contemporaneity of the remains and the deposit wherein they were found...
in the ancient epic theMahabharata. As applied to the present Indian state of Punjab, however, it is a misnomer: since thepartition of Indiain 1947, only two of those rivers, the Sutlej and the Beas, lie within Punjab’s territory, while the Ravi flows only along part of its western ...
both age and character. In the interior regions, extending across the stable landmass of theIndian subcontinent(a fragment of the ancient supercontinentGondwana), are found some of the oldest rocks of Earth’s crust, while along the seaboard are deltaicalluvialdeposits and ridges of windblown sand...
Madhya Pradesh contains the source of some of the most important rivers in the Indian peninsula: theNarmada, theTapti(Tapi), theMahanadi, and theWainganga(a tributary of theGodavari). TheChambalforms the state’s northern border withRajasthanandUttar Pradesh. Other rivers include tributaries of ...
located on theKarnataka Plateau. The transfer of additional territories to the state in 1953 and 1956 united theKannada-speaking peoples, gave the state an outlet to the sea, and greatly extended its boundaries. The state took its present name, a Kannada word meaning “lofty land,” in 1973...
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India that constitutes a mountainous area in the extreme northeastern part of the country. Known as the North East Frontier Agency during the British colonial era, the area was part of Assam until it was made an Indian uni
silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. It was the capital of the kingdom of Kashi during the time of theBuddha(6th centurybce), who gave his first sermon nearby atSarnath. Varanasi remained a centre of religious, educational, and artistic activities as attested by the celebrated...
Bihar, state of eastern India. Bihar occupied an important position in the early history of India. For centuries it was the principal seat of imperial powers and the main focus of Indian culture and civilization. Its capital is Patna. Learn more about th
Chhattisgarh, state of east-central India. It is bounded by the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand to the north and northeast, Odisha to the east, Telangana to the south, and Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to the west. Its capital is Raipur. Le