Ancient India History Notes

Ancient India History is an important part of the UPSC civil services syllabus. Ancient Indian history helps us to understand the chronology of cultural and Societal development of the Indian Subcontinent and the roots of current aesthetic as well as cultural values of Indian Society. The purpose of studying Ancient India History Notes is to instil a broad historical perspective in the student and to introduce him or her to national and international heritage. It also aids in comprehending the major stages in the evolution of human civilization, as well as socio-economic, political, and cultural changes that are not only significant in world history but also have an impact on current India. Every year at least 5 – 6 questions are asked from this section in the IAS prelims. Ancient India History syllabus is also useful for GS1 in mains exam, Also it is a crucial part of History optional subject.

The ancient history of India is very long and starts from 2500 BCE. It is a very broad topic and to make it easier to understand, we have divided the Ancient History of India into several small sub-topics. The candidates can find topic-wise study notes on the Ancient History of India here.

Sources of Ancient Indian History

• Ancient History
• Timeline of Indian history

(a) Archeological Sources of Ancient India

• Sources of Ancient History

1.Historical Remains

• Tools of the Ancient Period
• Mounds of the Ancient Period
• Stone Temples of South India

2.Pottery

• Indian Pottery

3.Metal Artefacts

• Metal Artefacts of the Ancient Period

4.Coinage

• Ancient Coins
• Ancient Metal coins
• Punch Marked Coins
• Maurya Period Coins
• Post Mauryan Period Coins
• Indo-Greek Coins
• Kushana Period coins
• Coins By Satavahanas
• Gupta Period Coins
• Post-Gupta Period Coins

5.Inscriptions

• Ancient Inscriptions
• Ashoka Inscription/ Edicts
• Seals of Harappan Civilization
• Copper Plate Inscription
• Allahabad Inscription
• Stone pillars Inscription
• Rocks Inscription
• Temple Wall Inscriptions of Ancient India

(b) Literary Sources of Ancient India

• Literary Sources of Ancient India

1.Vedic Literature

• Vedas
• Rig Veda
• Sama Veda
• Yajur Veda
• Atharva Veda
• Epics
• Ramayan
• Mahabharat
• Puranas
• Upanishad
• Aryanakas
• Brahamanas
• Vedangas
• Srautasutras
• Grihyasutras
• Sulvasutras

2.Law Books

• Dharmashastras
• Arthashastra

3.Important Literary Works of Ancient India

• Important Literary Works of Ancient India
• Kalidasa
• Malavikagnimitram
• Vikramorvasiyam
• Raghuvamsa
• Kumarasambhava
• Ritusamhara
• Meghaduta
• Vishakhadatta
• Mudrarakṣhasa
• Shudraka
• Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart)
• Vinavasavadatta
• A Bhana (short one-act monologue)
• Harisena
• Bhasa
• Bharavi
• Kiratarjuniya
• Magha
• Sisupala
• Dandin
• Sankyakarika
• Vatsyayana
• Nyaya Sutra Bhashya
• Kamasutra

4.Buddhist Literature

• Buddhism Texts
• Buddhist Literature
• Vinaya Pitaka
• Sutta Pitaka
• Digha Nikaya
• Majjhima Nikaya
• Samyutta Nikaya
• Anguttara Nikaya
• Khuddaka Nikaya
• Abhidamma Pitaka
• Divyavadana
• Dipavamsa
• Mahavamsa
• Milinda Panha

5.Jain Literature

• Jainism Texts
• Jain Literature
• Agam or Canonical Literature (Agam Sutras)
• Non‑agam Literature

6.Sangam Literature

• Sangam Literature
• Sangam Age

7.Foreign Accounts of Ancient India

• Foreign Accounts of Ancient Travelers
• Chinese - Foreign Accounts of Ancient Travelers
• Fa-Hien
• Hiuen Tsang
• Greek & Roman Ancient Foreign Accounts about India
• Megasthenes
• Ptolemy
• Pliny

8.Languages in Ancient India

• Language in Ancient India
• Sanskrit
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Prakrit
• Pali

Prehistoric Period

• Prehistoric Period
• Palaeolithic Period (Old Stone Age) 500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE
• Mesolithic Period (Late Stone Age) 10,000 BCE – 6000 BCE
• Neolithic Period (New Stone Age) 6000 BCE – 1000 BCE
• Chalcolithic Period (Stone Copper Age) 3000 BCE – 500 BCE
• Iron Age: 1500 BCE – 200 BCE
• Pre-historic Paintings

Indus Valley Civilisation

(a) Indus Valley Civilisation

• Indus Valley Civilisation
• Indus Valley Civilization Facts
• Phases of IVC

(b) Important Sites of IVC

• Harappa
• Mohenjodaro
• Kalibangan
• Lothal
• Dholavira
• Ropar
• Banawali
• Chanhudaro
• Surkotada
• Daimabad
• Rangpur

(c) Town Planning and Structures of Harappa Civilisation

• Town Planning & Structures of Harappa Civilization

(d) Political Organisation During Indus Valley Civilisation

• Political Organisation During Indus Valley Civilization

(e) Society and Culture

• Society and Culture of Indus Valley Civilization
• Caste System During Indus Valley Civilization
• Religious Practises of Indus Valley Civilization
• Pashupati Mahadev (Proto Siva)
• Mother Goddess
• Idol Worship During the Indus Valley Civilization
• Mesopotamian Seals
• Indus Valley Art
• Script and Languages During Indus Valley Civilization
• Harappan Art and Architecture

(f) Economy During Indus Valley Civilisation

• Crafts During Indus Valley Civilization
• Economy During Indus Valley Civilization
• Agriculture During Indus Valley Civilization

(g) Decline of Indus Valley Civilisation

• Decline of Indus Valley Civilisation

Vedic Age

(a) Early Vedic Age

• Early Vedic Period or Rig Vedic Period (1500 BC – 1000 BC)
• Aryan Tribe
• Rig Vedic Gods
• Aryans Religion
• Early Vedic Economy
• Varna System During Early Vedic Period

(b) Later Vedic Age

• Later Vedic Age
• Varna System

(c) Vedic Literature

• Vedas
• Types of Vedas
• Rig Veda
• Sama Veda
• Yajur Veda
• Atharva Veda
• Upanishad
• Aryanakas
• Brahamanas
• Vedangas

The Age of Mahajanpadas

• Pre Mauryan Age
• The Mahajanapadas
• 16 Mahajanapadas
• Mahajanapadas Economy
• Mahajanapadas Society
• Mahajanapadas Administration
• Mahajanapadas Army
• Punch Marked Coins

Rise and Growth of Buddhism

(a) Rise of Buddhism

• Buddhism - Causes and Origin
• Birth and Life of Buddha (563-483 BC)

(b) Basic Tenets of Buddhism

• Noble Truths or Ariya-Sachchani
• Eightfold Path or Astangika Marg.
• Triratnas
• Panchshil of Buddha

(c) Literature of Buddhism

• Literature of Buddhism
• Vinaya Pitaka- Sutta Vibhanga, Khandaka, Parivara
• Sutta Pitaka - Digha Nikaya, Majjhima Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya, Anguttara Nikaya, Khuddaka Nikaya
• Abhidamma Pitaka
• Yamaka
• Tripitaka
• Divyavadana
• Dipavamsa
• Mahavamsa
• Milind Panha

(d) Schools of Buddhism

• Buddhism Through the Different Monastic Ordination Traditions
• Schools of Buddhism
• Mahayana
• Hinayana
• Theravada
• Vajrayana
• Zen

(e) Buddhist Councils

• Buddhist Councils

(f) Important Buddhist Writers

• Important Buddhist Writers
• Buddhist Scholars
• Asvaghosha
• Nagarjuna
• Vasubandhu
• Buddhaghosa
• Dharmakirti

(g) Important Bodhisattvas

• Bodhisatvas - Manjushri, Padmapani, Vajrapani, Kshitigarbha, Akashgarbha, Samantabhadra, Sarvanivarana, Maitreya
• Manjushri
• Padmapani
• Vajrapani
• Samantabhadra
• Maitreya

(h) Royal Patronage

• Royal Patronage for Buddism - Bimbisara, Ashoka, Kanishka

(i) Decline of Buddism

• Reason: Spread & Popularity of Buddhism
• Significance of Buddhism
• Causes for the Decline of Buddhism

Rise and Growth of Jainism

(a) Rise of Jainism

• Jainism - Cause of Origin
• Birth and Life of Mahavira (540- 468 B.C.)

(b) Basic Tenets of Jainism

• Doctrine & Teachings of Mahavira
• Triratna
• Three Jewels of Jainism
• Jain Doctrines - Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha, Brahmacharya

(c) Jains Sects

• Jain Sects/ School
• Digambaras
• Terapantha
• Swetambaras
• Sthanakvasi
• Terapanthi

(d) Jain Councils

• Jain Councils
• First Jain Council

(e) Jain Literature

• Literature of Jainism
• Canonical Literature

(f) Jain Architecture

• Jain Architecture
• Layana/Gumphas (Caves)
• Jain Statues
• Jain Tirthankaras
• 72 Jinalaya

(g) Royal Patronage to Jainism

• Royal Patrons of Jainism from North India and South India
• Kadamba dynasty
• Ganga dynasty
• Amoghavarsha
• Kumarapala (Chalukya dynasty)
• Royal Patrons of Jainism from North India

(h) Decline of Jainism

• Significance of Jainism
• Causes for the Decline
• Similarities between Buddhism and Jainism
• Differences between Buddhism and Jainism

(i) Other Heterodox Sects

• Other Heterodox Sects

Magadhan Empire

• Magadha Empire
• Reason of Rising of Magadha

(a) Political Dynasties and administration

• Haryanka Dynasty
• Bimbisara (558 BC – 491 BC)
• Ajatasatru (492 BC – 460 BC)
• Shishunaga Dynasty
• Sisunaga
• Kalasoka
• Nanda Dynasty
• Mahapadma Nanda
• Dhana Nanda
• System of Administration

(b) Society and Economy

• Structure of Society and Politics
• Economy and Trade

(c) Decline of Magadha

• Growth and Decline of Magadha

(d) Foreign Invasions During Ancient India

• Foreign Invasion During Ancient India

Mauryan Age(321 BC to 185 BC)

(a) Sources of Study of Mauryan Empire

• Sources of Study of Maurayan Empire
• Literary Sources
• Arthashastra
• Mudrarakṣhasa
• Megasthenes
• Indica

(b) Political and Administrative History

• Mauryan Age
• Mauryan Dynasty
• Ashoka
• Ashoka and Buddhism
• Ashoka's Administration and Economy
• Ashoka's Dhamma
• Ashoka inscription
• Kalinga war
• Pillar Edicts of Ashoka
• Growth of the Mauryan Age
• Administration During the Mauryan Period
• Significance of Mauryan Empire

(c) Economy During Mauryan Period

• Economy During Mauryan Period

(d) Mauryan Art and Architecture

• Mauryan Art and Architecture
• Mauryan Pillars
• Mauryan Sculpture
• Sanchi Stupa

(e) Decline of Mauryan Empire

• Decline of Mauryan Empire

(f) Cental Asian Contacts During Mauryan Period

• Central Asian Contacts During Mauryan Period

Post Mauryan Period(200BC to 300 AD)

(a) Important Powers During Post Mauryan Period

1.The Shakas

• The Shakas
• Rudradaman I (Reign 130 AD – 150 AD)

2.The Kushanas

• The Kushanas
• Kushan Empire
• Vima Kadphises ((95 C.E-127C.E)
• The Kanishka(127 CE-150 CE)

3.Satavahana

• Satavahana Dynasty
• Simuka
• Satakarni I (70- 60 BC)
• Hala
• Gautamiputra Satakarni(106 – 130 AD)
• Vashishthiputra Pulumayi (c. 130 – 154 CE)

4.Indo-Greek

5.Shungas

6.Kanvas

(b) Post Mauryan Art and Architecture

• Post Mauryan Art
• Chaityas
• Viharas
• Satavahanas Art and Architecture
• Schools of Art in Ancient India - Mathura, Sarnath and Gandhara Schools
• Mathura School of Art
• Sarnath School of Art
• Gandhara School of Art
• Amravati School of Art

Gupta Age(400AD to 600AD)

(a) Political Dynasties and Administration

• Gupta Age
• Gupta Empire/Rulers
• Sri Gupta(240 AD to 280 AD)
• Ghatotkacha
• Chandragupta I (319 AD to 334 AD)
• Samudragupta (335/336 – 375 CE)
• Chandragupta II (380-412 AD
• Kumaragupta I (413 AD to 455 AD)
• Skandagupta (455 AD – 467 AD)
• Vishnugupta (540 AD – 550 AD)
• Gupta Administration

(b) Society and Economy

• Trade and Agriculture During Gupta Period
• Social Development During Gupta Period
• Religion & Culture During Gupta Period

(c) Gupta Art and Architecture

• Gupta Architecture
• Ajanta and Ellora caves
• Bagh Caves
• Mahrauli Inscription / Garuda Pillar
• Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prasasti)
• Origin of Bhagvatism

(d) Period of Harshavardhan Dynasty

• Harshavardhana Dyanasty(606 CE – 647 CE)
• Administration During Harshavardhana period
• Fa-Hien

(e) Development of Science and Technology in Ancient India

• Science and Technology in Ancient India

1. Development in Astronomy

• Astronomy During Ancient Time
• Aryabhatta (5th Century)
• Contribution of Aryabhata
• Varahamihira (6th Century)
• Baudhayana (800 BCE)
• Brahmagupta (598-668 CE)
• Bhaskaracharya

2. Development in Mathematics

• Indian Mathematicians and their Contributions

3. Development in Medicine

• Medicine during Ancient India
• Sushruta
• Charaka

(f) Foreign Travellers During the Gupta Age

• Fa-Hien
• Hiuen Tsang

Development of Dynasties in South India

(a) Sangam Age

• SANGAM PERIOD (3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD
• Sangam Age
• Sangam Literature
• Madurai
• Kapadapuram
• Thenmadurai
• Silappadikaram
• Manimekalai
• Jivaka Chintamani
• Valaiyapati
• Kundalakesi.

(b) South Indian Dynasties During Ancient Period

• South Indian Dynasties During Ancient Period

1.Cholas

• Cholas
• Karikala

2.Cheras

• Cheras
• Chera Dynasty
• Cheran Senguttuvan
• Chera Administration

3.Pandyas

• Pandyas
• Pandya Kingdom

(c) Chalukya Dynasty

1.Political History of Chalukya

• Chalukya Dynasty (6th century-12th century)
• Badami Chalukyas
• Eastern Chalukyas
• Western Chalukyas
• Administration and Society of Chalukyas

2.Art and Architecture

• Chalukya Architecture
• Mural Paintings During Chalukyas Period
• Vesara Style
• Aihole Temples
• Badami Temples
• Pattadakkal Temples
• Rock-cut Temples.
• Virupaksha Temple
• Sangameshwara Temple
• Art and Architecture of Chalukyas

3.Decline of Chalukya

• Decline of Chalukyas

(d) Pallava Dynasty

1. Political History of Pallavas

• Pallava Dynasty (275CE-897CE)
• Pallavas (275C.E - 897C.E)
• Political History of Pallava Dynasty
• Extent of the Pallava Dynasty
• Rulers of the Pallava Empire
• Sivaskanda Varman (4th century AD)
• Simhavarman/Simhavishnu (575 AD – 600 AD)
• Mahendravarman (600 AD – 630 AD)
• Narasimhavarman I (630 AD – 668 AD)

2.Art and Architecture

• Major Literary Works of Pallava Dynasty
• Art & Architecture of Pallava Dynasty
• Madurai During Pallava Dynasty

3.Decline of pallavas

• Decline of Pallavas

(e) Ikshvaku Dynasty

• Ikshvaku Dyanasty(225-340 AD)

Early Medieval Time

(a) Pala Dynasty

• Pala Dynasty
• Gopala (Reign: 750 – 770 AD)
• Dharmapala (Reign: 770 – 810 AD)
• Decline of Pala Dynasty

(b) Chandela Dynasty

• Chandela Dynasty(10th-13th Century)
• Vidhydhara
• Parmal

(c) Imperial Chola

• Imperial Chola
• Age of Rajaraja and Rajendra l
• Administration During Chola Period

Ancient India(Theme wise)

• Ancient Languages - Sanskrit, Pakrit, Pali
• Science and Technology in Ancient India
• Astronomy During Ancient Time
• Indian Mathematicians and Their Contributions
• Medicine During Ancient India
• The Indian Notational System
• Ancient Literature
• Indian Schools of Ancient Philosophy
• Ancient Scripts of India
• Important Ancient Inscriptions and Edicts
• Famous Universities of Ancient India
• Cultural Development
• Social Change
• Social Classes
• Difference between Caste and Class