History is the study of past events. It helps us to understand those processes that enabled the early humans to successfully conquer their environment and develop the present day civilizations. It is not just a study of battles and kings as is normally understood by some. It is an analysis of society, economy and cultural trends over a long period as reflected in available sources.
Index
1. Understanding Indian History
2. The Geographical Setting and Pre-Historic Cultures Of India
3. The Harappan Civilization
4. The Vedic Age (1500bc–600bc)
5. From Janapadas to Empire
6. Post Mauryan Developments
7. The Guptas and Their Successors (A.D.300–750)
8. India Between AD 750–1200
Through this book, you will be able to:
• understand historical construction of India’s ancient past and know about various types of source material used by ancient historians;
• establish the relationship between geographical features and the historical developments in different regions;
• define the terms prehistory, prehistoric cultures, and microliths;
• distinguish between the lower, middle and upper Palaeolithic age on the basis of the tools used;
• explain the Mesolithic age as a phase of transition on the basis of climate and the tools used;
• explain the Neolithic age and its chief characteristics;
• differentiate between Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods and learn about the Prehistoric Art;
• explain the origin and extent of the Harappan civilization;
• describe the Harappan town-planning, Harappan social and economic life and the Harappan religious beliefs;
• explain economic condition and settlement pattern of these Chalcolithic communities;
• learn about the Vedic texts and the nature of their contents;
• locate the regions inhabited by the Early Vedic (1500BC–1000BC) and the Later Vedic people (1000BC–600BC);
• identify the changes which appeared in the economic, social, religious and political structures and institutions of the Vedic people over a period extending from 1000 BC to 600 BC;
• analyse the doctrine, patronage, spread and impact of Buddhism and Jainism;
• trace the growth of Indian polity from smaller states to empires and list the sixteen Mahajanapadas;
• examine the role of Ashoka in the consolidation of the empire through his policy of Dhamma;
• recognise the main features– administration, economy, society and art under the Mauryas;
• the different political regions which came into focus after the decline of the Mauryan Empire the groups of foreigners who came from Central Asia and got settled here;
• the growth of trade between the Roman world and India and its impact;
• important features of various schools of art and sculptures which emerged during 200 BC–300 AD;
• the early history of south India and the significance of the Sangam literature;
• explain the rise of the Gupta empire and the political achievements of its rulers;
• describe the emergence of regional kingdoms after the decline of the Guptas;
• learn about the consolidation of Brahmanical tradition and the emergence of Pauranic religion;
• identify the various regional kingdoms which emerged during AD 750 and AD 1200;
• assess the significance of India’s contact with Southeast Asia during 8th and 12th centuries;