In this book you will read not just about the
kings and queens who lived in ancient India, and about their conquests and
policies.
You will also learn about hunters and
peasants, crafts people and traders. You will see how fire came to be used, and
iron tools were discovered; how wheat and rice began to be cultivated, and
villages and towns developed.
You will read about pilgrims and saints,
buildings and paintings, religions and beliefs.
Index
Chapter
1: WHAT, WHERE,
HOW AND WHEN? – Why to study history and how historians
gather evidences.
Chapter
2: FROM
HUNTING–GATHERING TO GROWING FOOD – Discusses about pre-historic
period.
Chapter
3: IN THE
EARLIEST CITIES – Discusses about Indus Valley Civilization.
This chapter is very important as frequent questions related to it are usually
asked in the examination.
Questions asked in this chapter are as
follows:
UPSC 2019: Which one of the following is not
a Harappan site?
(a) Chanhudarp
(b) Kot Djii
(c) Sohgaura
(d)Desalpur
Solution: (c)
UPSC 2013: Which of the following characterizes/ characterize the people of
Indus Civilization?
1. They
possessed great palaces and temples.
2. They
worshipped both male and female deities.
3. They employed
horse-drawn chariots in warfare.
Select the
correct statement/statements using the codes given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1,2 and 3
(d) None of the
statements given above is correct
Solution: (d)
Chapter
4: WHAT BOOKS
AND BURIALS TELL US – Discusses about the Vedas and Societal
Rituals.
UPSC 2012: The
religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of:
(a) Bhakti
(b) Image Worship and Yajnas
(c) Worship of Nature and Yajnas
(d) Worship of Nature and Bhakti
Solution: (c)
Chapter
6: NEW QUESTIONS
AND IDEAS -
Discusses how Buddhism, Jainism and Upanishads came into being and their impact
UPSC 2018: Which of the following kingdoms were associated
with the life of the Buddha?
1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha
Select
the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 3 and 4 only
Solution: (d)
Chapter
8: VITAL
VILLAGES, THRIVING TOWNS – Discusses about the development of villages
and cities
Chapter
9: TRADERS,
KINGS AND PILGRIMS -
Discusses about the administrative, social and economic policies of Ancient
times.
UPSC 2012: With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of
ancient India that played a very important role in the country’s economy, which
of the following statements is /are correct?
1. Every guild was registered with the
central authority of the State and the king was the chief administrative
authority on them.
2. The wages, rules of work, standards and
prices were fixed by the guild.
3. The guild had judicial powers over its
own members.
Select
the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) Only 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution: (d)
UPSC 2013: The Chinese
traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general
conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the
following statements is/are correct? (2013)
1.
The roads and river-routes were completely immune from
robbery.
2.
As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire,
water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of
a person.
3.
The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier
stations.
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below.
(a)
1 only
(b)
2 and 3 only
(c)
1 and 3 only
(d)
1, 2 and 3
Solution: (b)
Chapter
11: BUILDINGS,
PAINTINGS AND BOOKS – Discusses the art and architecture of the
Ancient India.