Transport is the means by which people and goods move. In the early days, it took a great deal of time, to travel long distances. The four major means of transport are
(i) Roadways The most commonly used means of transport especially for short distances are roads. They can be metalled (pucca) and unmetalled (kutcha). The plains have a dense network of roads. Roads have also been built in terrains like deserts, forests and even high mountains.
(ii) Railways The railways carry heavy goods and people over long distances quickly and cheaply. The invention of the steam engine and the Industrial Revolution helped in speedy development of rail transport. Diesel and electric engines have largely replaced the steam engines.
(iii) Waterways They are the cheapest for carrying heavy and bulky goods over long distances. They are mainly of two types - inland waterways and sea routes. Navigable rivers and lakes are used as inland waterways. For example, the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system, the Great Lakes in North America and the river Nile in Africa. Sea routes and oceanic routes are mostly used for transporting merchandise and goods from one country to another. These routes are connected with the ports.
(iv) Airways This is the fastest way of transport developed in the early 20th century. It is also the most expensive due to high cost of fuels. Air traffic is adversely affected by bad weather like fog and storms. It is the only mode of transport to reach the most remote and distant areas especially where there are no roads and railways.

i) With the advent of information technology, the whole world is trapped in web network which makes it a global society. The advancement in the field of communication has brought about an information revolution in the world.
ii) Different modes of communication are used to provide information, to educate as well as to entertain. Through newspapers, radio and television, we can communicate with a large number of people. They are therefore called mass media. The satellites have made communication even faster. Satellites have helped in oil exploration, survey of forest, underground water, mineral wealth, weather forecast and disaster warning. Now, we can send electronic mails or e-mails through Internet. Wireless telephonic communications through cellular phones have become very popular today. Internet not only provides us with worldwide information and interaction but has also made our lives more comfortable. Now, we can reserve tickets for railways, airways and even cinemas and hotels sitting at home.

i) Settlements are places where people build their homes. Early human beings lived on trees and in caves. When they started to grow crops it became necessary to have a permanent home.
ii) The settlements grew near the river valleys as water was available and land was fertile. With the development of trade, commerce and manufacturing, human settlements became larger.
iii) Many civilisations grew along the banks of rivers such as Indus, Tigris, Nile and Hwang-He. Settlements can be permanent or temporary.
Types of Settlements Settlements which are occupied for a short time are called temporary settlements. The people living in deep forests, hot and cold deserts and mountains often dwell in such temporary settlements. They practice hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation and transhumance. However more and more settlements today are permanent settlements. In these settlements, people build homes to live in.

Merits: Roadways are the most commonly used means of transport for short distances. Roadways have also been built in terrains like deserts, forests, high mountains, etc. Demerits:
(i) We cannot send goods in bulk at a time like those in railways.
(ii) High maintenance of roads is required especially after rainy seasons and it is not as comfortable as railways or airways

(i) The invention of the steam engine and the Industrial Revolution helped in speedy development of rail transport.
(ii) Diesel and electric engines have largely replaced the steam engines.
(iii) Superfast trains have been introduced to make the journey faster.
(iv) The railway network is well-developed over the plain areas.
(v) Advanced technological skills have enabled laying of railway lines in difficult mountain terrains also.

(i) In the early times, human beings lived on trees and in caves.
(ii) When they started to grow crops it became necessary to have a permanent home.
(iii) The settlements grew near the river valleys as water was available and land was fertile.
(iv) Human settlements became larger with the development of trade, commerce and manufacturing. (v) Settlement flourished and civilisations developed near river valleys