The Geography of the Puranas c11.s4.17

c11.s4.17

The Purāṇic janapadas of the Eastern Country very nearly coincided with the regions mentioned above. This is natural since in the early history of the settlement of this area, population distribution was mainly controlled by natural features such as large rivers, thick forests, inhospitable swamps and hills. Centres of population, which formed the nuclei of the later jana padas were bound to occur at suitable spots in the lowlands where there was the least danger of floods, but where the natural features provided facilities for defence and communication.