The influence of the geographical features of India on its history with special reference to the Himalayas and the Peninsular India: 

1. The Himalayas: (i) The Himalayas are the world ’s largest and the highest mountain ranges. These are approximately 2400 kilometers long.

(ii) Besides checking the invasions these ranges have also protected us from the cold winds coming from north. They also stop the monsoon winds from the seas which results in rainfall in the northern plains. 

(iii) However, there are some mountain passes which though difficult, have provided access to determined invaders, traders, missionaries. These have helped in developing cultural Asia, China and Tibet in ancient times.

(iv) The Himalayan ranges are broken in the north western direction. These broken ranges contain the major routes linking the Indian plains with Iran and central Asia through Afghanistan. These pass through the Gomal, Bolan and Khyber passes.

(v) The Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas, Hunas and other foreign tribes reached India following these routes.

(vi) Buddhism and other Indian elements were carried out to Afghanistan and central Asia through these mountain passes.

2. The Peninsular: (i) It includes the Deccan plateau and the coastal plains of South India. It is situated to the south of the Vindhya mountains. It is divided into three major regions which largely correspond to the modern states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

(ii) The northern Deccan plateau comprises of a part of Maharashtra. A number of Chalcolithic sites inhabited by people using copper and stone tools have been found in this region.

(iii) Karnataka includes the south - western Deccan. Due to availability of water and other resources, this region had been more suitable for human settlements than the northern part.

(iv) The Raichur doab has been known for its rice cultivation. It has been the bone of contention between different kingdoms. These regions were inhabitated right from the prehistoric times.

(v) The Western Ghats are cut by a series of passes at Junnar, Kanheri and Karle. These served as trade routes connecting the ports along the west coast. The Palghat pass at the southern end of the Western Ghats linked the west coast to the Kaveri valley and played an important role in the Indo-Roman trade in ancient period.

(vi) The people of the coastal plains region have depended more on the tank irrigation since the early times because in this region rivers are seasonal.

(vii) Kaveri delta has been the major region of human attraction because it provided opportunities for the cultivation of rice. This region witnessed the flourishing of the Sangam culture in the early historical period.

(viii) Arikamedu, Kaveripattinam and other ports gave impetus to the Indo-Roman trade in early centuries of Christian era.