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SYLLABUS (DETAILED WITH EVERY TOPICS)
SECTION A -ANCIENT INDIA
1. SOURCES:
- Archaeological sources:
- Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments
- Literary sources: Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature.
- Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.
2. PRE-HISTORY AND PROTO-HISTORY:
Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (Palaeolithic and Mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (Neolithic and chalcolithic).
3. INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION:
- Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture.
4. MEGALITHIC CULTURES:
Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements,Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.
5. ARYANS AND VEDIC PERIOD:
Expansions of Aryans in India.
Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; Political, social and economic life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system.
6. PERIOD OF MAHAJANAPADAS:
Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes;Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas.
Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.
7. MAURYAN EMPIRE:
Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of Dharma;Edicts; Polity, Administration; Economy; Art, architecture and sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature.
Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.
8. POST – MAURYAN PERIOD (INDO-GREEKS, SAKAS, KUSHANAS, WESTERN KSHATRAPAS):
Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana,social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.
9. EARLY STATE AND SOCIETY IN EASTERN INDIA, DECCAN AND SOUTH INDIA:
Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, economy, land grants, coinage,trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and architecture.
10. GUPTAS, VAKATAKAS AND VARDHANAS:
Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres,Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda,Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.
11. REGIONAL STATES DURING GUPTA ERA:
The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and administration; Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity and Administration;local Government; Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas,education and literature, economy and society.
12. THEMES IN EARLY INDIAN CULTURAL HISTORY:
Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.
SECTION B MEDIEVAL INDIA
13. EARLY MEDIEVAL INDIA, 750-1200:
Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs – The Cholas: administration, village economy and society
“Indian Feudalism”
Agrarian economy and urban settlements
Trade and commerce
Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order
Condition of women
Indian science and technology
14. CULTURAL TRADITIONS IN INDIA, 750-1200:
Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma-Mimamsa
Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India,
Sufism- Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India
Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting
15. THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY:
Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success
Economic, social and cultural consequences
Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans
Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban
16. THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY:
“The Khalji Revolution”
Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territtorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures
Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq
Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account
17. SOCIETY, CULTURE AND ECONOMY IN THE THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CENTURIES:
- Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement
- Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, literature in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture
- Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce
18. THE FIFTEENTH AND EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY – POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ECONOMY:
- Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids
- The Vijayanagra Empire
- Lodis
- Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun
- The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration
- Portuguese Colonial enterprise
- Bhakti and Sufi Movements
19. THE FIFTEENTH AND EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY – SOCIETY AND CULTURE:
- Regional cultural specificities
- Literary traditions
- Provincial architecture
- Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.
20. AKBAR:
- Conquests and consolidation of the Empire
- Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems
- Rajput policy
- Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy
- Court patronage of art and technology
21. MUGHAL EMPIRE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY:
- Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
- The Empire and the Zamindars
- Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
- Nature of the Mughal State
- Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts
- The Ahom Kingdom
- Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.
22. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES:
- Population, agricultural production, craft production
- Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies: a trade revolution
- Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems
- Condition of peasants, condition of women
- Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth
23. CULTURE IN THE MUGHAL EMPIRE:
- Persian histories and other literature
- Hindi and other religious literature
- Mughal architecture
- Mughal painting
- Provincial architecture and painting – Classical music
- Science and technology
24. THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY:
- Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire
- The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh
- Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas
- The Maratha fiscal and financial system
- Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761
- State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest