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Ancient Indian History for UPSC Prelims

     I. Sources of Ancient Indian History

  1. Historical & Archaeological Sources
  2. Literary Sources
  3. Foreign Accounts and Travelogues
  4. Notion of History in Ancient India

    II. The Stone Age

  1. Evolution of Humans
  2. Important Hominid Species
  3. Paleolithic Age in India
  4. Mesolithic Age in India
  5. Neolithic Age in India
  6. Chalcolithic Age in India
  7. Megalithic Culture in South India

  III. Indus Valley Civilization

  1. Extent and Origin
  2. Important Indus Valley Sites
  3. Urban Planning and Drainage System
  4. Daily Life and Occupation
  5. Harappan Religious Beliefs
  6. Agriculture and Irrigation
  7. Trade and Commerce
  8. Crafts and Pottery
  9. Art and Architecture
  10. Decline of Harappan Culture

  IV. Vedic Period

  1. Various Theories on Origin of the Aryans
  2. Vedic Literature
  3. Polity in Early Vedic Period
  4. Polity in Later Vedic Period
  5. Society in Early Vedic Period
  6. Society in Later Vedic Period
  7. Economy in Early Vedic Period
  8. Economy in Later Vedic Period

   V. Rise of New Religions and Heterodox Religious Sects

  1. Emergence of Heterodox Religious Sects
  2. Jainism
  3. Buddhism
  4. Other Heterodox Sects (Ajivikas, Lokayatas, etc.)

  VI. Ancient Indian Republics

  1. Ancient Indian Republics
  2. Polity of Ancient Indian Republics

VII. Sixteen Mahajanapadas

  1. Emergence of 16 Mahajanapadas
  2. Administration Under Mahajanapadas

VIII. Magadha Empire

  1. Rise of Magadhan Empire
  2. Haryanka Dynasty (544–412 BC)
  3. Nanda Dynasty (344–322 BC)
  4. Pre-Mauryan Economy and Society
  5. Pre-Mauryan Administrative System
  6. Foreign Invasions in Pre-Maurya Period
  7. Alexander’s Campaign and Its Consequences

  IX. Mauryan Empire

  1. Origin of the Mauryans
  2. Sources of Mauryan History
  3. Rulers of Maurya Dynasty
  4. Mauryan Administration
  5. Maurya Society and Economy
  6. Mauryan Art and Architecture
  7. Ashoka’s Dhamma Policy
  8. Ashokan Edicts
  9. The Disintegration of Mauryan Empire

   X. Post-Mauryan Period

  1. Sungas Dynasty
  2. Kanvas Dynasty
  3. Satavahanas of Deccan
  4. Ishvaku Dynasty
  5. Chedis
  6. Indo-Greeks
  7. Kushan Empire
  8. Shakas and Satrap System
  9. Post-Mauryan Administration
  10. Post-Mauryan Economy and Society

  XI. The Sangam Age

  1. Three Sangam Kingdoms: Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas
  2. Sangam Literature
  3. Society and Economy in the Sangam Age
  4. Trade and Ports in Sangam Era
  5. Religion and Cultural Aspects of the Sangam Age
  6. The Kalabhra Interregnum

XII. The Gupta Age

  1. Rulers of Gupta Empire
  2. Gupta Administration
  3. Gupta Judiciary and Army
  4. Gupta Economy and Trade
  5. Gupta Society
  6. Development of Literature in Gupta Period
  7. Art and Architecture in Gupta Period
  8. Religious Policy of the Guptas
  9. Development in Science in Gupta Period
  10. Decline of the Gupta Empire

XIII. The Post-Gupta Era

  1. The Maukharis
  2. The Maitrakas
  3. The Hunas
  4. The Pushyabhutis
  5. The Senas of Bengal
  6. Empire of Harsha

XIV. The Rajput Kingdoms

  1. Origin of the Rajputs
  2. Political Structure and Administration
  3. Important Rajput Kingdoms
  4. Society During the Rajput Era
  5. Culture and Contributions of Rajputs
  6. Decline of the Rajput Kingdoms

XV. South India: Chola Empire

  1. Origin and Early History of the Cholas
  2. Imperial Cholas
  3. Chola Administration and Governance
  4. Chola Economy and Trade
  5. Chola Culture and Art
  6. Society During the Chola Era

XVI. Other Kingdoms of South India

  1. Andhra Dynasties
  2. The Kadambas of Banavasi
  3. Vakatakas
  4. The Chalukya Empire
    1. Chalukyas of Vatapi
    2. Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi
    3. Western Chalukyas of Kalyani
  5. Rashtrakuta Empire
  6. Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra
  7. The Kalachuris
  8. Yadavas of Devagiri
  9. Kakatiya Dynasty

Meaning of term Aryans

October 7, 2022 Ancient Indian History for UPSC Prelims
Meaning of term Aryans

The word ‘Aryan’ means noble. All Aryans belonged to more or less the same culture, if not to one race. A common language was the distinguishing feature, i.e., the Indo-European language. Originally the Aryans seem to have lived somewhere in the steppes stretching from southern Russia to Central Asia. Recent genetic studies have the potential to change this picture considerably and a broad consensus on the interpretation of these findings is yet to emerge.

  • Max Mueller translated the Vedas into the German language. According to him the original home of Aryans was Eurasia. On their way to India, the Aryans first appeared in Iran. The Iranian classical text Zend Avestha refers to Aryan Gods Indra, Varuna and Agni.
  • Mueller contributed to both Philology (study of comparative languages) and Indology (Indo-European languages).
  • The Kassite inscription talks about Lord Varuna as Aruna.
  • From Iran, the Aryans entered into Afghanistan. This was concluded from the Bagzkoi and Mittani inscriptions. The Aryans entered India by 1500 B.C. via Khyber and Bolan passes.

The Vedic civilisation is divided into two stages

  • Early Vedic (1500-1000 B.C.)
  • Later Vedic (1000-600 B.C.)
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