Described as the fertile crescent, India has thus been the source of inspiration for the world by virtue of her rich cultural heritage. The earliest name of India was ‘Bharatvarsha’. A few historians say that this name is derived from the Bhatara tribes that inhabited the land. But everybody knows that it is named after Bharata, the mighty son of king Dushyanta and his queen Sakuntala. Bharatavarsha (the land of Bharata), the ancient name of India, is also mentioned in the preamble of the constitution of India.
The name, India, is derived from two sources. The ancient Greeks called the river Sindhu as ‘Indus’. The Persians called it ‘Hindu’. So it came to be known as ‘Ind’ or ‘Hind’. The land of ‘Ind’ or ‘Hind’ has become known as India and Hindustan. The British gave wider usage to the name ‘India’.
Interestingly, India was also known as ‘Jambudvipa’. This name was in vogue in 3rd century B.C,. The ancient Indians had visualized the world as consisting of seven island- continents of which the core was ‘Jambu-dvipa’, supposedly the best of the lot. Today, this name has fallen into disuse, and one comes across it only in books and scriptures.
Environment and personality are two vital factors in the study of history. The physical features of a country determine its history. Richard Hakluyt has aptly described geography and chronology as the two eyes of history. The history of India has largely been shaped by its geography.