Social science

• American War of Independence:

  • Causes include Mercantilist laws and influence of Thinkers
  • Consequences: Influence on later world history
  • First and Second Continental Congress played a significant role
• Revolution associated with the slogan "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity":

  • Identify the revolution
• Characteristics of Three Estates in French society:

  • Describe the characteristics
• Role played by the First and Second Continental Congresses in the formation of the United States of America:

  • Explain their role
• Causes of the Russian Revolution:

  • Describe the causes
• Colonial rule's impact on the natives of Latin America:

  • Analyze the impact
• Role played by Mao Zedong in making China a People's Republic:

  • Describe Mao Zedong's role
• Causes of the French Revolution:

  • Describe the causes including French Society and Thinkers' ideologies
• The Northern Mountain Ranges extend from the northwest of Kashmir to the eastern boundary of India and function as a great wall
• Divisions and peaks of the Northern mountain region:

  • Trans Himalayas: Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar
  • Himalayas: Himadri, Himachal, Siwaliks
  • Eastern Highlands: Patkai Bum, Naga hills, Garo, Khasi, Jaintia hills, Mizo hills
• Trans-Himalayas include Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar mountain ranges with an average height of 6000 metres. The highest peak in India, Mount K2 (8661m), is in the Karakoram range
• Peculiarities of Himalayas:

  • About 2400 kilometres in length
  • Many of the world's highest peaks are situated there
  • Extends over 5 lakh square kilometres
  • Comprises three parallel mountain ranges: Himadri, Himachal, Siwalik
• Characteristics of Himadri, Himachal, Siwalik:

  • Himadri: highest mountain range, Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers originate, peaks above 8000 metres
  • Himachal: average altitude of 3000 metres, hill stations like Shimla, Darjeeling
  • Siwalik: average altitude of 1220 metres, broad flat valleys known as Duns exist, rivers cut across the range
• Eastern Highlands:

  • Altitude of 500 to 3000 metres
  • Also known as Purvachal
  • Cherrapunji, receiving the highest rainfall in the world, is situated there
  • Covered by dense tropical rainforests
• Significance of the Northern Mountains:

  • Protect from foreign invasions
  • Block monsoon winds causing rainfall in North India
  • Prevent dry cold winds from the north during winter
  • Diverse flora and fauna emergence
  • Source region of rivers
  • Rich sources of fresh water
• Major Himalayan rivers:

  • Indus
  • Ganga
  • Brahmaputra
• Himalayan rivers and their origin:

  • Indus: Manasarovar lake in Tibet, tributaries include Jhelum, Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej, Beas
  • Ganga: Gaumugh caves in the Gangotri glacier, tributaries include Yamuna, Son, Ghaghra, Kosi, Gandak
  • Brahmaputra: Chemayungdung glacier in Tibet, tributaries include Tista, Manas, Subansiri, Luhith
• Characteristics of the Northern great plains:

  • Formed due to continuous deposition by rivers flowing down from the Himalayas
  • Extends over seven lakh square kilometres
  • Highly fertile alluvial soil
  • Known as the Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra plain
• Northern plains are called 'the granary of India' due to the availability of fertile soil and water for agriculture, cultivating crops like wheat, rice, maize, sugar cane, cotton, pulses
• Peninsular Plateau:

  • Made of hard crystalline rocks
  • Oldest and most extensive physical division of India
  • Extends about 15 lakh square kilometres
  • Includes varied topography like mountains, plateaus, valleys
  • Rich in diverse mineral deposits
  • Source region of many rivers
• Peninsular plateau is called the storehouse of minerals due to large deposits of minerals like iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite, limestone
• Types of soil in the Peninsular plateau:

  • Black soil: best suited for cotton cultivation
  • Red soil: formed by weathering of rocks, less fertile, red due to iron
  • Laterite soil: formed in regions with monsoon rains and hot seasons
• Peninsular rivers:

  • West flowing: Narmada, Tapti
  • East flowing: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri
• Peninsular rivers originate from the elevated regions of the peninsular plateau
• Major peninsular rivers:

  • Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapti
• Characteristics of Himalayan Rivers and Peninsular Rivers:

  • Himalayan Rivers: originate from Himalayan mountain ranges, extensive catchment area, high erosion, high irrigation potential, navigable
  • Peninsular Rivers: originate from mountain ranges in the peninsular plateau, smaller catchment area, less erosion, less irrigation potential, low navigation potential
• Comparison of Western coastal plain and Eastern coastal plain:

  • Western coastal plain: between Arabian Sea and Western Ghats, narrow, lakes and backwaters
  • Eastern coastal plain: between Bay of Bengal and Eastern Ghats, wide, deltas formed
• Alluvial soil is present throughout the coastal plain
• Major islands in India:

  • Lakshadweep islands: capital is Kavarathi
  • Andaman and Nicobar islands: capital is Port Blair
• Factors influencing the climate of India:

  • Latitude
  • Physiography
  • Nearness to sea
  • Altitude
  • Mountains
  • Winds
• Seasons in India:

  • Cold weather season (Winter)
  • Hot weather season (Summer)
  • South west monsoon season
  • Retreating monsoon season
• Months of cold weather in India: December, January, February
• Western disturbance is a low-pressure system causing winter rainfall in North plains, especially in Punjab, suitable for cultivation of rabi crops like wheat and barley
• Months of hot weather in India: March, April, May
• Southwest monsoon season months in India: June, July, August, September
• Southwest monsoon rain is known as 'Idavapathi' in Kerala
• Northeast monsoon rain is known as 'Thulavarsham' in Kerala
• Geographical factors favourable for the cultivation of diverse agricultural crops in India:

  • Diverse topography
  • Climate
  • Fertile soil
  • Transport
  • Irrigation facilities
• India has three distinct cropping seasons:

  1. Kharif:

  • Sowing period: June
  • Harvesting period: Early November
  • Main crops: Rice, Jute, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut

  2. Rabi:

  • Sowing period: November
  • Harvesting period: March
  • Main crops: Wheat, Pulses

  3. Zaid:

  • Sowing period: March
  • Harvesting period: June
  • Main crops: Fruits, Vegetables
• Food crops of India:

  • Rice, Wheat, Maize, Barley, Millets, Pulses