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Topic
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Subtopics
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1. Sources
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Archaeological sources: Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments.
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Literary sources: Indigenous (Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature). Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese, and Arab writers.
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2. Pre-history and Proto-history
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Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (Paleolithic and Mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (Neolithic and Chalcolithic).
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3. Indus Valley Civilization
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Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival, and significance, art, and architecture.
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4. Megalithic Cultures
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Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, development of community life, settlements, agriculture, crafts, pottery, and iron industry.
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5. Aryans and Vedic Period
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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.
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6. Period of Mahajanapadas
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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.
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Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.
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7. Mauryan Empire
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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.
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Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.
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8. Post-Mauryan Period
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(Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas): Contact with the outside world; growth of urban centers, economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature, and science.
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9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan, and South India
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Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; administration, economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centers; Buddhist centers; Sangam literature and culture; art and architecture.
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10. Guptas, Vakatakas, and Vardhanas
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Polity and administration, economic conditions, coinage of the Guptas, land grants, decline of urban centers, Indian feudalism, caste system, position of women, education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, literature, scientific literature, art, and architecture.
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11. Regional States during Gupta Era
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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.
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12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History
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Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in science and mathematics.
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13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200
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Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs.
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The Cholas: administration, village economy and society “Indian Feudalism”.
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Agrarian economy and urban settlements.
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Trade and commerce.
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Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order.
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Condition of women. Indian science and technology.
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14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200
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Philosophy: Shankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and BrahmaMimansa.
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Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India, Sufism.
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Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan's Rajtarangini, Alberuni's India.
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Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting.
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15. The Thirteenth Century
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Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions - factors behind Ghurian success.
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Economic, social, and cultural consequences.
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Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans.
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Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban.
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16. The Fourteenth Century
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“The Khalji Revolution”.
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Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measure.
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Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq.
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Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta's account.
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17. Society, Culture, and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
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Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement.
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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.
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Economy: Agricultural Production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce.
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18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century
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Political Developments and Economy:
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Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat
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Malwa, Bahmanids.
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The Vijayanagara Empire.
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Lodis.
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Mughal Empire, first phase: Babur, Humayun.
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The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration.
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Portuguese colonial enterprise, Bhakti and Sufi Movements.
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19. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century- Society and culture:
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Regional cultures specificities.
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Literary traditions.
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Provincial architectural.
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Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.
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20. Akbar
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Conquests and consolidation of empire.
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Establishment of jagir and mansab systems.
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Rajput policy.
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Evolution of religious and social outlook. Theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy.
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Court patronage of art and technology.
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21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century
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Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb.
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The Empire and the Zamindars.
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Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb. Nature of the Mughal State.
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Late Seventeenth Century crisis and the revolts.
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The Ahom kingdom.
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Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.
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22. Economy and society, in the 16th and 17th Centuries
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Population Agricultural and craft production.
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Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English, and French companies: a trade revolution.
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Indian mercantile classes. Banking, insurance, and credit systems.
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Conditions of peasants, Condition of Women.
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Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth.
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23. Culture during Mughal Empire
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Persian histories and other literature.
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Hindi and religious literatures.
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Mughal architecture.
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Mughal painting.
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Provincial architecture and painting.
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Classical music.
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Science and technology.
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24. The Eighteenth Century
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Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire.
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The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh.
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Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas.
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The Maratha fiscal and financial system.
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Emergence of Afghan power Battle of Panipat, 1761.
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State of, political, cultural and economic, on eve of the British conquest.
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