The North-East has its own common identity because of its special location. The Brahmaputra and Barak valleys are in the centre, and the other states are spread around them. Most of the surrounding states have hills, which makes the region special. Because of this natural setup, Assam became the central place that connects all North-Eastern states through transport. People lived in the Brahmaputra valley even in very old times. Written history starts from the 4th century, when the Barman rulers came to power. Many times, the rulers of nearby states accepted the rule of Assam’s strong kings or stayed friendly with them.
During the Ahom dynasty (1228–1826 A.D.), we see many examples of this relationship. The royal families of different kingdoms often married each other. In difficult times, the kingdoms helped each other with their armies. They also sent messengers to communicate and exchanged goods through barter. Because of this cooperation, the people of the region developed unity and togetherness. Most people in the North-East belong to the Mongoloid group, while the Khasis of Meghalaya belong to the Austric group.