question_answer

India's strategic location on the head of the Indian Ocean has helped her in establishing land and maritime contacts with the outside world in the ancient and medieval times. Explain.

Answer:

India occupies a strategic location at the head of the Indian ocean. It is favourably situated on the worlds highway of trade both to the east and the west. The oceanic routes pass through the Indian ocean. India is connected with Europe, North and South America through both the sea routes - The Suez and the Cape of Good Hope.

(a) The Peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean, helping India to establish close contact with Africa and West Asia.

(b) India's contact with eastern and western countries have continued through the ages. In the Medieval times the ideas of "Upanishads", and the "Ramayana", the stories of "Panchatantra", the Indian numerals and the decimal system could reach far and wide. Buddhism travelled from India to China, Tibet, Japan and Korean peninsula. The Turks, the Arabs, the Greeks and the Iranians contributed to the Indian architectural heritage. Spices, cotton, silk, muslin and many other products were sent from India to many other parts of the world.