Page 68 - SST Class 06

trade in other commodities with the passage of conquered the North-west Frontier Province,
time. Sindh and some parts of Punjab. This opened a
trade route for Indian traders right into the Persian
Some Indian princes too sailed to these south-east
Asian countries and set up their kingdoms. The empire. It benefited India greatly as the ideas were
exchanged between the two civilisations.
kingdom of Kamboja (Cambodia) was one such.
The kingdom of Yavadwipa (Java) was also set up
by an Indian prince. Sri Vijay (Sumatra) was also a
Hindu kingdom. As a result, the Indian culture
spread to a number of countries in this region,
such as Brahmadesh (Myanmar), Suvarnadvipa
(Java, Sumatra and Bali together), Champa
(Vietnam) etc. The Angkor Vat Temple in
Cambodia is dedicated to Vishnu and is a fine
example of the prevalence of Indian culture there.
Similarly, the Barobudur Stupa in Java is a
Buddhist stupa and is the largest in the world. We
can see a large number of temples and Buddhist
monasteries in these countries.
Trade routes of ancient India

Just Think!

Have such interactions with foreign land
contributed towards shaping the vast cultural
diversity in India?

Quiz Time

Angkor Vat Temple in Cambodia Barobudur Stupa in Java Fill in the blanks :
India and the North-West 1. The ____________ has been a favoured route of
Indian traders.
India has maintained relations with the north-west
countries since times immemorial. It is believed 2. The Sangam literature is an important source to
that the Aryans came from this side. Afghanistan know about the ____________ times.
has been a part of the Indian empire a number of 3. Sanghamitra is the daughter of ____________.
times. India has maintained relations with the 4. The Barobudur stupa in Java is a
countries in Central and West Asia. The Silk Route ____________.
has been a favoured route of Indian traders.
5. The people of the Indus Valley Civilisation had
F ind Outind Out trade relations with ____________ and
____________.

What is growing of silk called? India and the West

The people of the Indus Valley Civilisation had India had maintained trade relations with Greece
trade relations with Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and and other countries around the Mediterranean
Egypt. Many seals, beads and other articles of the Sea. However, when Alexander the Great invaded
Indus Valley Civilisation have been found there. India in 326 BC, the contact became direct and
India came in contact with Persia in about fifth- the Indian traders started to go right into Greek
sixth centuries BC when Darius I ruled Persia and and Roman empires. Ashoka too had sent his
Contemporary Social Science-6
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