Ancient History - Syllabus

Ancient History

Pre Historic Period 

• Periodization of Indian Pre History

• Sources of Pre History

• Palaeolithic Or Old Stone Age

• Mesolithic Or Middle Stone Age

• Neolithic Age Or New Stone Age

• Chalcolithic Age

• Major Chalcolithic Cultures

• Early Iron Age Geographical Distribution and Characteristics

Indus Valley Civilization

• IVC Geography and Archaeological Findings

  • Major cities

  • Town Planning

• IVC Society and Culture

  • Script and Language

  • Crafts

  • Religions

  • Seals and Images

• IVC Economy

  • Harappan Trade

  • Agriculture

  • Domestication of animals

  • Weights and Measures

• Decline of Harappan Culture

Rig Vedic Period

• Sources for Reconstructing Vedic Society and Culture

• Geography of the Rig Vedic Period – Area of Settlement

• Political Organisation and Evolution of Monarchy

• Social Organization

• Economy

• Religious Practices and Culture

Later Vedic Period

• Geography of the later Vedic Phases – Area of Settlement

• Political System

• Social Organisation and Varna System

• Economy

• Religious Practices and Culture

Jainism

• Birth and Life of Mahavira (540- 468 B.C.)

• Teachings of Mahavira

• Organisation and Sects of Jainism

• Literature of Jainism

• Councils, Spread and Royal Patrons

Buddhism

• Birth and Life of Buddha (563-483 BC)

• Teachings of Buddha

• Organisation and Sects of Buddhism

• Literature of Buddhism

• Councils, Spread of and Royal Patronage

• Causes for the Decline

Mahajanapadas Period

• Republics and Monarchies

• 16 Mahajanapadas

• Magadha

• Key Dynasties

  • Haryanka dynasty

  • Shishunaga Dynasty

  • Nanda Dynasty

• Persian Invasions

• Alexander’s Invasion

• Society and Rise of urban centres

• Economy

• System of Administration

Mauryan Empire

• Sources: Inscriptions and Sites and Literary Sources (The Arthasastra)

• Rulers and Political History of the Mauryas

  • Chandragupta and Bindusara

  • Megasthenes

  • Asoka and His Successors

• Asoka’s Inscriptions and Sites

• Asokan Reign

• Asoka and Buddhism

• Asoka Policy of Dhamma

• Mauryan Administration

• Foreign Relations

• Decline of the Mauryas

Post-Mauryan India

• Society: Evolution of Jatis

• Satavahanas

• Sungas and Kanvas

• Sakas

• Kushanas

• Kanishka

Gupta Period

• Sources of Gupta Rule

• Rulers and Political history of Guptas Chronology

• Foreign Travellers Visit – Fahien’s Visit

• Gupta Administration

• Other Important Dynasties

• Society Religion and Culture

• Urban centres in Gupta period

• Economy

• Science and Technology

• Literature

• Later Guptas

• Other Important Dynasties

Harshavardhana Period

• Harsha Military Conquests

• Harsha and Buddhism

• Administration

• Society and Culture

• Economy

Sangam Period (South Indian Dynasties)

• Sangam Literature

• South Indian Dynasties

  • Cholas

  • Cheras

  • Pandyas

• Sangam Polity, Society and Culture

• Economy of Sangam Period

• Foreign Dynasties

• Commercial Contacts with the Outside World

• Schools of Art