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History Optional

PAPER – I
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.

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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:

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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.

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

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14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:

-Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita,

Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa

-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

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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

– Literary traditions

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– Provincial architecture

– Provincial architecture- Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara

Empire.

– 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.

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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.

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-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.