Class 6 Social Science Notes Chapter 3 Exploring Society India and Beyond

Landforms and Life

Humans and Landforms:

• Humans, like most mammals, primarily live on land.
• Land varies significantly in form and features across different regions.
• Example Journey: Traveling from Chhota Nagpur (Jharkhand) to Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) and then to Almora (Uttarakhand) exposes one to diverse landscapes.

Landforms:

• Definition: Physical features on Earth’s surface.
• Formation: Shape over millions of years.
• Categories:

• Mountains
• Plateaus
• Plains

Climate and Flora/Fauna:

• Each landform has distinct climates.
• Supports diverse flora and fauna.

Human Adaptation:

• Humans adapt to various landforms.
• Population distribution varies depending on landform types.

Mountains Characteristics:

• Higher than surrounding land.
• Broad base, steep slopes, and narrow summit.
• Snow Coverage:

• High altitudes: Snow may be permanent.
• Lower altitudes: Snow melts in summer, feeding rivers.

Hills:

• Lower, less steep, and rounded tops compared to mountains.

Mountain Ranges:

• Groups of mountains often stretching for thousands of kilometers.
• Examples:

• Himalayas (Asia)
• Alps (Europe)
• Andes (South America)

Notable Peaks:

• Mount Everest: Between Tibet (China) and Nepal, highest peak of the Himalayas.
• Kanchenjunga: Between Nepal and Sikkim, second highest in the Himalayas.
• Mount Aconcagua: Highest peak of the Andes (South America).
• Mount Kilimanjaro: Isolated mountain in eastern Africa.
• Mont Blanc: Highest mountain of the Alps (Western Europe).
• Anamudi (Anai Peak): Highest mountain in South India (Kerala).

Mountain Age:

Young Mountains:

• Tall and sharp peaks.
• Example: Himalayas.

Old Mountains:

• Shorter, more rounded.
• Example: Aravalli Range.
• Affected by erosion.

Continued Upliftment:

• Some mountains, like the Himalayas, are still growing in height.

Mountain Environment Montane Forest:

• Characteristics:

• Common in mountain slopes.
• Dominated by conifer trees.

• Tree Types:

• Pines
• Firs
• Spruce
• Deodar

• Tree Features:

• Tall and cone-shaped.
• Thin, pointed leaves.

• Higher Altitudes:

• Trees give way to:
• Grasses
• Mosses
• Lichen

Kālidāsa’s Poem:

• Poem: Kumārasambhava.
• Invocation:

• Himalayas described as the “Lord of mountains”.
• Imagery:

• Stretches from western to eastern oceans.
• Wind carries spray from the Gangā River.
• Effects:

• Shakes deodar trees.
• Opens peacocks’ tail feathers.
• Cools mountain people post-deer hunting.

Discussion Points:

• Identify western and eastern oceans on Fig. 5.2.
• Explore reasons for mentioning Gangā.

Fauna in Mountain Environments:

• Species:
  • Golden Eagle
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Canadian Lynx
  • Snow Leopard
  • Ibex
  • Himalayan Tahr
  • Mountain Hare
  • Yak
  • Grey Fox
  • Black Bear

Life in the Mountains

• Terrain:
  • Typically rugged and rough.
  • Features steep slopes.

• Agriculture:
  • Regular Farming:
    • Limited to some valleys due to rugged terrain.
  • Terrace Farming:
    • Practiced by cutting steps into slopes (Fig. 3.5).

• Occupations:
  • Herding:
    • Often preferred over agriculture in mountainous regions.
• Tourism:
  • Attractions:
    • Crisp mountain air.
    • Scenic beauty.
    • Sports: Skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding.
    • Pilgrimages to holy sites.
  • Challenges:
    • Excessive tourism can pressure fragile mountain environments.
    • Balancing tourism with environmental preservation is crucial.

Sacred Mountains

• General Reverence:
  • Many traditional communities around the world consider mountains sacred and worship them.
• Mount Everest:
  • Height: 8,849 meters (highest mountain in the world).
  • Names:
    • Tibetan: ‘Chomolungma’ meaning ‘Mother Goddess of the World’.
    • Nepali: ‘Sagarmatha’ meaning ‘Goddess of the Sky’.
• Mount Kailash:
  • Location: Tibet.
  • Sacred To:
    • Hinduism
    • Buddhism
    • Jainism
    • Bon (ancient Tibetan religion)
• Reverence:
  • Seen in India and globally.
  • Associated with sacred practices and beliefs.

Plateaus

• Definition:
  • A plateau is a landform with an elevated flat surface.
  • Surrounded by steep slopes on some sides.
• Age:
  • Can be classified as young or old in geological terms.
• Examples:
  • Tibetan Plateau:
    • Largest and highest plateau in the world.
  • Deccan Plateau:
    • Another significant plateau.
• Height:
  • Ranges from a few hundred meters to several thousand meters.
• Mineral Richness:
  • Rich in mineral deposits.
  • Known as ‘storehouses of minerals’.
  • Mining:
    • Major activity on plateaus.
    • East African Plateau: Famous for gold and diamond mining.
    • Chhota Nagpur Plateau (India): Known for iron, coal, and manganese reserves.
• Plateau Environment:
  • Soil:
    • Rocky soil, less fertile than plains.
    • Exception: Lava plateaus, often have rich black soil.
• Waterfalls:
  • Victoria Falls: Zambezi River, southern Africa.
  • Hundru Falls: Subarnarekha River, Chhota Nagpur Plateau.
  • Jog Falls: Sharavati River, Western Ghats.
  • Nohkalikai Falls: Drops 340 meters from Cherrapunji Plateau, Meghalaya.

Plains

• Definition:
  • Landforms with extensive flat or gently undulating surfaces.
  • Generally free of large hills or deep valleys.
  • Typically not more than 300 meters above sea level.
• Floodplains:
  • Formed by rivers from mountain ranges.
  • Collect sediments (rock, sand, silt) from rivers.
  • Soil Fertility:
    • Fertile due to deposited sediments.
    • Ideal for agriculture.
  • Economic Importance:
    • Major area for crop cultivation.
    • Supports diverse flora and fauna.

Life in the Plains

• Historical Significance:
  • Early Civilizations:
    • Developed around rivers in fertile plains thousands of years ago.
  • Current Population:
    • A significant portion of the world’s population lives in plains.
• Gangetic Plain:
  • Population:
    • About 40 crore people, more than one-fourth of India’s population.
  • Occupations:
    • Major activities include river fishing and agriculture.
    • Crops:
      • Food Crops: Rice, wheat, maize, barley, millets.
      • Fibre Crops: Cotton, jute, hemp.
  • Agricultural Practices:
    • Traditionally rainfed (watered by rainfall).
    • Modern agriculture has shifted to irrigation through canals or groundwater.
    • Challenges:
      • Irrigation has led to groundwater depletion.
      • High population and pollution issues.
• Cultural and Economic Importance of Rivers:
  • Cultural Value:
    • Rivers are often considered sacred, especially their sources and confluences.
    • India hosts numerous festivals, ceremonies, and rituals at river sites.
  • Economic Activities:
    • River Navigation: Facilitates trade and economic activities.
    • Historically used for travel and transportation.
    • Current Usage: In places like the Ganga, boats are still used for transportation (Fig. 3.10).

Deserts

• Definition:
  • Large, dry expanses with minimal precipitation.
  • Unique flora and fauna adapted to harsh conditions.
• Types of Deserts:
  • Hot Deserts:
    • Example: Sahara Desert (Africa), Thar Desert (Indian Subcontinent).
  • Cold Deserts:
    • Example: Gobi Desert (Asia).
    • Some experts also classify Antarctica as a desert.
• Human Adaptation:
  • Cultural Traditions:
    • Communities in deserts, like the Thar Desert in India, have rich cultural traditions, including folk songs and legends.

Tiṇais of Ancient Tamil Sangam Poetry

• Concept:
  • Five landscapes associated with specific deities, lifestyles, and emotions.
• Tiṇai Landscapes and Main Occupations:
  1. Kuriñji:
     • Landscape: Mountainous regions.
     • Occupation: Hunting and gathering.
  2. Mullai:
     • Landscape: Grassland and forests.
     • Occupation: Cattle rearing.
  3. Marudam:
     • Landscape: Fertile agricultural plains.
     • Occupation: Farming.
  4. Neydal:
     • Landscape: Coastal regions.
     • Occupation: Fishing and seafaring.
  5. Pālai:
     • Landscape: Arid, desert-like regions.
     • Occupation: Journeying and fighting.
• Significance:
  • Reflects a deep awareness of diverse regions and their characteristics.
  • Illustrates the connection between humanity and the natural environment.

Summary

• Landform Classification:
  • Main Types: Mountains, plateaus, plains.
  • Characteristics: Each landform has unique physical features and environments.
  • Impact on Human Life:
    • Different landforms present various challenges and opportunities.
    • Significant influence on culture and activities throughout history.