Ancient History Prelims Booster Consolidated PDF 14224663 2023 04
Ancient History Prelims Booster Consolidated PDF 14224663 2023 04
• Bronze age
• origin- difficult to explain
• older than Chalcolithic culture
• 1921- Harappa
Origin, Home, • spread southwards and eastwards
Identity ◦ N- Jammu (Manda)
◦ S- Narmada estuary (Daimabad, Pune)
◦ W- Makran coast of Baluchistan (Sutkangedor)
◦ E- Meerut (Alamgirpur)
• 1500 Harappan sites in subcontinent
• wheat, rice (relatively rare), millet, barley, rai, peas, sesamum (तीळ),
Crops mustard,cotton (maize- not known)
Script
• Harappan invented art of writing
◦ 4000 specimens of writing on stone seals and other objects
• reading- not possible- so, their contribution to literature can't be judged
• inscriptions- recorded on seal. few words
• pictographic script/ Logo-syllabic script
• right to left ( sometimes follows a boustrophedonic style)
Pottery
Arts • use of potter's wheel
• designs of trees and circles
• fish scale, Pipal leaf, Peacock
Seals
• greatest artistic creation
• 2000+ found
• short inscription with pictures of-
◦ one horned bull, buffalo, tiger, rhino, goat, elephant
Images
• made of metal
• women dancer made of bronze
◦ except necklace she is naked
• Steatite statue-
◦ wearing ornamented robe over left shoulder under right arm
◦ short locks at the back of head- kept tidy by woven fillet
Arts
Terracotta figurines
• Terracotta- fire-baked earthen clay
• toys/ objects of worship
• bird, dog, sheep, cattle, monkey
• men < women
• unsophisticated artistic work
• barter system
• cultural homogeneity
• no central authority
Polity • no of debates, coz- labour mobilization => existence of political s/s (centre-
state like polity)
Administration • Absent
• homogeneous society
• 2 main groups- rich (more pots) & poor
• Games played- chess, dice (oppo side sum= 7)
• Harappans did not believe in burying precious things with dead
Society
(NCERT*)
• burials have pottery, ornaments, jewellery, Cu mirrors & beads =>
belief in afterlife (New TN Board)
NAME REGION
Malwa culture W. MP
Ahar RJ
Mohenjo-daro Pakistan
◦ ritual bathing
• Granary
• drainage system*
◦ equipped with manholes
• piece of woven cotton
• warehouses*
Bhirrana HR • Oldest Harappan site*
• City w/o citadel
Chanhu-daro Pakistan
• bead making factory
• use of rice
• horse- doubtful terracotta figurine
• only place of dockyard*
• Persian seal
Lothal* Gujarat
• twin burials
• citadel was not walled off
• source of Carnelian*
• India + Portugal---> Museam
• town divided into 3 parts- upper, middle, lower
• stadium
Dholavira Gujarat • reservoir- water storage
• an inscription comprising 10 large-sized signs of
Harappan script
Nageshwar & Balakot (near the coast)- specialized centres for making shell objects like-
bangles, ladles & inlay
Society
◦ craft villages- carpenters
◦ border villages- countryside merged
into forests
• legal and judicial system- originated
• civil and criminal law based on Varna s/s
• criminal offence- punishments- revenge
form
4 varnas: 4 varnas:
1. brahmanas 1. brahmanas
Social
2. kshatriyas 2. kshatriyas
division
3. vaishyas 3. vaishyas
4. shudras 4. shudras
Tax
• Bali- 1/6th of the produce as tax
(collected by royal agents)
SPREAD OF JAINISM:
SPECIAL FEATURES OF BUDDHISM AND
• Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 BC)
ITS SPREAD:
• didn't recognize soul/ atman ◦ Karnataka king, spent last years of life as
Jaina
◦ => revolution of history of Indian ◦ Bhadrabahu was his spiritual teacher
religions
(#PYQ-CAPF)
• Women also admitted to sangha • Great famine in Magadha (200 years after
• more liberal and democratic than Mahavira death)
Brahminism
• Budhha fight evil by goodness and ◦ lasted for 12 years
hatred by love
◦ so, movement to South (leader-
Bhadrabahu)
• Pali language
Religion
• 3 main elements of Buddhism- Budhha, ◦ those stayed in Magadha (leader-
Sthalabahu)
Sangha, Dhamma
• Magadha, Koshala, Kaushambi* ▪ conflicts among them, so councilcalled
@Pataliputra
(#PYQ)
• Mauryan king- Ashoka ▪ boycotted by south. So now onwards-
▪ southerns- digambaras
◦ spread it to- C and W Asia, Sri Lanka ▪ Magadhans- shvetambaras
• Patimokkha--> code of conduct for
• 5th C BC- establishments ofbasadis (Jaina
monasteries; repetition every fortnightly
monastic establishments) in KA
assembly/ Uposath (assembly of
• 4th C BC- Kalinga (king- Kharavela)
Theravada)
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
• Malwa. GJ, RJ
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
End/ decline
◦ 1 CAD- idol worship
◦ offerings
◦ monasteries- revenue collection (Nalanda- 200
villages)
◦ monasteries- became corrupt
◦ new form- Vajrayana
◦ women- object of lust
• Persecution of Buddhists
◦ Brahmana ruler- Pushyamitra Shunga
◦ Huna king- Mihirakula (Shivaworshipper)
• South India- Shaivites and Vaishnavites conflicts
with Buddhists
• showed keen awareness about problems of people
• traders- wealthy
• sharp social and economic inequalities
• Budhha- to remove poverty in the world
◦ farmers- grains • 1st serious attempt fight
◦ traders- wealth against Varna s/s
◦ labourers- wages • Prakrit- growth and
• new changes in material life literature
Importance
• opened the doors for women and shudras ◦ many religious
• sanctity of animal life- languages developed
◦ text- Suttanipata- declares cattle to be givers out of it-
of food, beauty and happiness Shauraseni-->
• new awareness in the field of intellect and culture Marathi
• new type of rationalism in people • growth of Kannada
• Buddhist monasteries- residential universities
◦ Nalanda, Vikramashila (Bihar), Valabhi (GJ)
• 1st human statue worship- Budhha
• arts- Sanchi, Bharhut, Gandhara art
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
Agriculture
• Kushans- promoted agriculture
• irrigation evidences- Afghanistan and central Asia
Science & Technology
• Indian Astronomy & Astrology (Greek influence)
• term- horoscope was derived from the term horashastra (Astrology in
Sanskrit)
• Greek term Dramcha came to be known as dramma
Crafts and
• medicine, botany, chemistry
Technology
◦ Charakasamhita- names of plants & herbs
◦ Oshadhi= aushadhi
• trousers+ long boots
• practice of leather making
• glass making
INVADERS ABOUT
• Greeks- 1st to cross Hindukush, ruled Bactria
• reason- weakness of Seleucid empire (side- Iran: Parthia)
• came upto Ayodhya, Pataliputra
• failed to establish united rule in India
• Menader (Milinda)
THE INDO-
◦ most famous ruler
GREEKS
◦ capital- Sakala (modern- Sialkot, PB)
◦ converted to Buddhism by Nagarjuna/ Nagasena
▪ Milind Panho or Questions of Milinda
• large no of coins- gold
• introduced feature of Hellenistic art in NWFP
• Gandhara art
• they were also called- Yavanas*
• controlled > part than Greek
• = Afghans + Turks
• 5 branches
1. Afghanistan
2. Punjab (Taxila)
3. Mathura
4. W India
5. Deccan
• Ujjain king fought against Shakas
1. called himself- Vikramaditya (India-14, most famous- Chandragupta
II)
THE SHAKAS 2. era- Vikrama Samavat (58 BC)
• silver coins
Rudradaman I
• most famous
• ruled- Sindh, GJ, Konkan, Narmada valley, Malwa, Kathiawar
• important: repaired Sudarshan lake (semi-arid zone of Kathiawar)
◦ it was built by local governor during Maurya ruler
◦ earlier it was repaired during Ashoka time by great master Tushasp
◦ also repaired during Gupta rule (Skandagupta) by his governor
Parnadatta; Chakrapalit
• great Sanskrit lover
PRELIMS
• BOOSTER
issued 1st by
ever Bookstawa
long inscription in( Youtube
chaste Channel
Sanskrit )
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
INVADERS ABOUT
• from Iran
• < part than Greeks, Shakas, Parthians
THE PARTHIANS Gondophernes
• most famous
• St. Thomas- came to India to propagate Christianity (died in Chennai)
• also called- Yuechis or Torcharians (Yuechi- tribe)
• 2 successive dynasties
KADPHISES
• 2 kings
1. Kadphises I- issued coins S of Hindukush, minted Cu in imitation of
Roman coins (Khujala Kadphises- conquered Afghanistan)
2. Kadphises II- issued gold money, spread kingdom East of Indus
(Wima Kadphises)
THE KUSHANAS KANISHKA
• 1st to issue gold coins- high degree metallic purity than in Gupta age
• Mathura- coins, inscriptions, constructions and sculpture pieces
◦ 2nd capital in India (1st- Purushapura/ Peshawar)
• most famous ruler
• importance
◦ started era in 78 AD- Shaka era
◦ patronage to Buddhism (Kanishka- Mahayanist)
▪ 4th Buddhist council- Kashmir (Mahayanadoctrines finalized)
Origin, Home,
▪ line 14- SG capturing king of Kota family
Identity
▪ line 21- SG violently destroying several kings of Aryavarta & surrounding
all forest kings
▪ line 22- rules offering him tribute, obeying his orders & performing
obeisance before him
• Napoleon of India
CHANDRAGUPTA II (380-412)
• extended empire by marriage alliance & conquest (his daughter Prabhavati
married withVakataka king- Rudrasena II)
• exploits: glorified in iron pillar inscription near Qutb Minar, Delhi
• adopted title- Vikramaditya (most famous Vikramaditya)
• Fa-hein visited India during his reign
Skandagupta (455-467)
• also called- the saviour of India (coz- successfully fought battle against
Hunas) [Bhitaripillar inscription]
• title- Vikramaditya
• issued 5 types of gold coins- archer, king & queen, chhatra, lion-slayer,
horseman
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel
• issued 4 types of silver coins- garuda, bull, altar, madhyadesha)
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
Administrati
◦ theft & adultery- criminal laws
on
◦ property disputes- civil laws
• bureaucracy not as elaborate as Mauryas
◦ imp officer- kumaramatyas
• s/s of provincial & local admin
• empire--> divisions--> districts--> vithis--> villages
◦ divisions= bhuktis: under uparika
◦ districts= vishayas: under vishayapati
◦ village headman- imp*
• major part of the empire was held by the feudatory chiefs
• charters were marked with Garuda seal
• religious functionaries- land grants free of taxes
• Brahmana supremacy- huge wealth, land grants (mentioned in- Narada smriti
law book ofNarads [5 CAD])
• caste--> sub-castes (so no. of foreigners assimilated into Indian society)
• Shudras position improved
◦ allowed to listen- Ramayanas, Mahabharatas, Puranas (women allowed to
Society do the same)
◦ could worship new God- Krishna
◦ economic status changed
• untouchables increased in no- especially Chandalas
• women freedom: lower varna > higher varna (higher- complete dependence on
men for
PRELIMS livelihood) by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
BOOSTER
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
PARTICULARS PALLAVAS
• decline of Sangam age---> Kalabhra rule for 250 yrs---> Pallavas
• kingdom @Tondaimandalam; capital- Kanchipuram
• rule- continued till Tondaimandalam was captured & annexed by imperial
Cholas (in the beginning of 10th C)
• theories of origin
Origin ◦ =Parthians, foreigners who ruled W India
◦ branch of Brahmin royal dynasty of Vakatakas
◦ descendants of Chola prince & Naga prince whose native was the island of
Manipallavam
• most accepted view: natives of Tondaimandalam
• identical with Pulindas mentioned in Ashokan inscription
PARTICULARS PALLAVAS
• 1st line: 250 AD- 350 AD (Prakrit charters)
◦ Sivaskandavarman
◦ Vijayaskandavarman
• 2nd line: 350 AD- 550 AD (Sanskrit charters)
◦ Vishnugopa- defeated by Samudragupta during his S India expedition
• 3rd line: 575 AD- fall in 9th C (Sanskrit+Tamil charters)
◦ Simhavishnu- 1st ruler
▪ destroyed Kalabhras & firmly established Pallava rule in Tondaimanadalam
▪ defeated Cholas; territory up to Kaveri
Mahendravarman I (600-630)
• Pallava-Chalukya conflict began
• follower of Jainism (earlier), later converted to Shaivism by Saiva saint
Thirunavukkarasar alias Appar
• built Shiva temple @Tiruvadi
• titles: (Mandagapattu inscription)
◦ Gunabhara
◦ Satyasandha
◦ Chettakari- builder of temples
Political ◦ Chitrakarapuli- paintings (tiger among artists)
History ◦ Vichitrachitta- Mandagappattu inscription (cave temples)---> constructed temple
for Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva w/o use of bricks, timber, metal & mortar
◦ Mattavilasa
• author of Mattavilasa Prahasanam (Sanskrit)
• music expert- Kudumianmalai music inscription
• irrigation tanks @Mahendravadi & Mamandoor
Narasimhavarman I (630-668)
• = Mamalla--> great wrestler
• Battle of Manimangalam near Kanchi (defeated Pulakesin II)
• army general- Paranjoti (destroyed Vatapi)
• title- Vatapikonda
• naval expedition to Sri Lanka--> restored throne to his friend & Sri Lankan prince
Manavarma
• Hiuen Tsang visit
◦ described Kanchi
◦ Kanchi people- great learners, ghatikas
• founder of Mamallapuram
• monolithic rathas erected
PARTICULARS PALLAVAS
Mahendravarman II
Parameswarvarman I
Narasimhavarman II or Rajsimha (695-722)
• peaceful, more interested in art & architecture
• Shore temple@Mamallapuram
• Kailasnath temple@Kanchipuram
• court- Dandin (Sanskrit scholar)
Political History
• sent embassies to China; maritime trade flourished
• titles- Sankarabhakta, Vadhyavidyadhar & Agamapriya
Parameswarvarman II
Nandivarman II---> Uthiramerur Chaturvedi Mangalam
Aparajita
• last Pallava ruler
• defeated by Chola king Aditya I
• well organized
• state--> Kottams
• king= fountain of justice
• army
Administration • land grants to (below 2- exempted from tax)
1. temples: Devadhana
2. Brahmans: Brahmadeya
• irrigation tanks @Mahendravadi & Mamandoor [during Mahendravarman I]
• village assemblies- sabhas
• caste s/s became rigid (high positions to Brahmins, temples-
responsibility)
• rise of Shaivism & Vaishnavism (coz- Bhakti Movement)--> temples
Society
◦ Shaiva Nayanmars
◦ Vaishnava Alwars
• decline of Buddhism & Jainism
Ghatika @Kanchi
•founder of Kadamba dynasty: Mayurasarman- studied Vedas
Education •Dinganga- Buddhist writer came to study Vedas
•Dharmapala studied here (later became Head of Nalanda U)
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel
•Bharavi- great Sanskrit scholar (time of Simhavishnu) )
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
PARTICULARS PALLAVAS
• Mahendravarman I- Mattavilasa prahasanam (Sanskrit)
• #Nayanmars- Devaram (NSD)*** (#PYQ)
• #Alwars- Nalayradivyaprabandam (AVN)*** (#PYQ)
Literature
• Perundevnar (patron- Nandivarman II)- translated Mahabharata as
Bharathavenba in Tamil
• unknown author- Nandikkalambagam
• great age of temple building
• beginning of Dravidian style
• cave temples---> monolithic rathas---> structural temples
4 stages of development of temple architecture
• Stage 1
◦ intro of rock-cut temples by Mahendravarman I
◦ places- Mandagappattu,.....
• Stage 2
◦ monolithic rathas & mandapas (@Mamallapuram) (#PYQ)
◦ 5 rathas- Panchapanadava rathas
◦ most popular mandapas- Mahishasuramardhini M, Trimurthi M, Varaha M
• Stage 3
◦ intro of structural temples by Narsimhavarman II/ Rajasimha
Art &
◦ use of soft sand rocks
Architecture
◦ Kailasanath temple @Kanchi--> greatest architectural master-piece of
Pallava art (#PYQ)
◦ Shore temple @Mamallapuram (#PYQ)
• Stage 4
◦ structural temples by later Pallavas
◦ Vaikundaperumal T, Muktheeswara T, Matagenswara T---> @Kanchipuram
Sculpture
• #Descent of Ganges/ Penance of Arjuna @Mahabalipuram---> fresco
painting in stone (#PYQ-CAPF)
Fine Arts
• Mamandur inscription- vocal music
• Kudumianmalai inscription- musical notes & instruments
• dance, drama
• Sittannavasal paintings
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel
• Dakshincharita- commentary (during Mahendravarman I) )
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
PARTICULARS CHOLAS
History of Cholas- fall naturally into 4 periods
• early Cholas of Sangam Literature
• interrengnum b/w the fall of Sangam Cholas
• rise of medieval Cholas under Vijayalaya
• Chalukyan Chola dynasty of Kulothunga Chola I
Origin/ About • Sangam decline--> Cholas became feudatories in Uraiyur
• called imperial Cholas- coz: also extended to Sri Lanka & Malay
peninsula
• 9th C prominent
• capital- Tanjore
• founder- Vijayalaya
Vijayalaya
• founder
• captured Tanjore from Muttaraiyars
• built Durga T
Aditya
• ended Pallavas by defeating Aparajita
• annexed Tondaimandalam
Parantaka I
• defeated Pandyas & ruler of Ceylon
• got defeated from Rashtrakutas in the Battle of Takkolam
• temple builder
• provided Vimana of Nataraja T @Chidambaram with golden roof
Political History (#PYQ)
(VAP Raja Raje • 2 Uttiramerur inscriptions- village admin
Ku2 Raje) Rajaraja I
• defeated Chera ruler Bhaskararavivarman in naval battle of
Kandalusarai
• defeated Pandya ruler Amarbhujanga
• annexed Sri Lanka [only half] (Mahinda V- fled away); capital
shifted:Anuradhapura---> Polanaruva (Shiva T)
• titles- Mummidi Chola, Jayankonda, Sivapadasekara
• follower of Shaivism
• completed construction of Rajarajeswara/ Brihadeswara T
@Tanjore (#PYQ)
• helped in construction of Buddhist monestry@Nagapattinam [Sailendra
PRELIMSKing-BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
Maravijayottungavarman]
PRELIMS BOOSTER by Bookstawa ( Youtube Channel )
PARTICULARS CHOLAS
Rajendra I
• same as father- policy of aggressive conquest & expansion
• after defeating Mahipala I of Bengal, he founded the city of
Gangaikondacholapuram+ construction of Rajeswaram T
• excavated irrigation tank called Cholagangam
• titles- Mudikondan, Gangaikondan, Kadaramkondan, Pandita Cholan
Political History
• gave his daughter Ammangadevi to Vengi Chalukyas
(VAP Raja Raje
• completely annexed Ceylon (#PYQ)
Ku2 Raje)
Kulottunga I
Kulottunga III
Rajendra III
• last Chola king
• defeated by Jatavarman Sundarapandya II
• Chola country absorbed into Pandya Empire
Central govt
•King- top
•big capital cities- Tanjore, Gangaikondacholapuram
•large royal courts & extensive grants to temples
•royal tours
•elaborate admin machinery
•officials- perundanam, sirudanam
Revenue
•Puravuvarithinaikkalam- land revenue dept
Administration
•ur nattam- residential portion of village (+ temple lands: exempted from
taxes)
•tolls & customs on goods; professional taxes; duties on ceremonial
occasions- marriage; judicial fines
•Kulottunga I- became famous by abolishing tolls & earned title- Sungam
Tavirtta Cholan
PARTICULARS CHOLAS
Military Admin
•Kaikkolaperumpadai- royal troops
•Velaikkarar- personal troops to defend the king
•Kadagams- army & military cantonments
•naval achievements- climax
•BoB---> Chola lake(#PYQ)
Provincial Admin
•Empire---> Mandalams---> Valanadus & Nadus
•mandalams- under royal princes or officers
Administration
•valanadu- under periyanttar
•nadu- under nattar
•town= nagaram---> under admin of council called nagarattar
Village Assemblies
•sabhas & its committees
•2 Uttiramerur inscriptions- village admin (during- Parantaka- I)
•qualifications & disqualifications
•Kudavolai system
•6 variyams---> samvatsara, eri, thotta, pancha, pon*
• caste s/s
• Brahmins & Kshatriyas- special privileges
• 2 major divisions among caste: Valangai & Idangai
• sati; devadasi s/s- emerged
Society &
• Shaivism & Vaishnavism
Economy
• agri + industry
• peruvazhis = trunk road
• Arabian horses were imported
• commerce with- China, Sumatra, Java, Arabia
PARTICULARS CHOLAS
• inscriptions @ Ennayiram, Thirumukkudal, Thirubhuvanai---> details of
colleges
• Sivakasintamani- by Thiruthakkadevar & Kundalakesi (10th C)
• Ramayana- by Kamban
• Periyapuranam/ Tiruttondarpuranam- by Sekkilar (2- master piece)
• Kalingattupparani- by Jayankondar (description of Kalinga war fought by
Education & Kulotunga I)
Literature • Moovarula- by Ottakuthar
• Nalavenba- by Pugalendi
• Tamil grammar
◦ Kalladam- by Kalladanar
◦ Yapperungalam- by Amirthasagar
◦ Nannul- by Pavanandhi
◦ Virasoliyam- by Buddhamitra
• Dravidian style---> perfection
• Chief feature- VIMANA (#PYQ)
• Brihadeshwara/ Pragadeeswara T @Tanjore- built by Rajaraja I
(master piece) (#PYQ)
Art & ◦ vimana, ardhamandapa, mahamandapa, nandimandapa
Architecture • Shiva T @Gangaikondacholapuram- built by Rajendra I
• Airavathesvara T (Tanjore dist)
• Kampahareswara T (Tribhuvana)
• bronzes- famous
• Chola paintings- walls of Narthamalai & Tanjore
VAKATAKAS
• b/w: 3rd & 5th C
• extent: S edges of Malwa & GJ in N to Tungabhadra in S; Arabian Sea in W to CG in E
• most imp successors of Satavahanas in Deccan
• contemporaneous to Guptas in N India
• Shaivite rulers
• capital- Nagardhan
• elephant god
• animal rearing- main occupation
• rock-cut Buddhist Viharas & Chaityas of Ajanta caves were built under patronage of
Vakataka emperor Harisena