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 (paleolithic and Mesolithic),Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic).

3. Indus Valley Civilization:

Origin, date, extent, characteristics,decline, survival and significance, art andarchitecture.

4. Megalithic Cultures:

Distribution of pastoral and farming cul-tures outside the Indus, Development ofcommunity life, Settlements,Development of agriculture, Crafts,Pottery, and Iron industry.

5. Aryans and Vedic Period:

Expansions of Aryans in India.Vedic Period: Religious and philosophicliterature; Transformation from Rig Vedicperiod to the later Vedic period; Political,social and economical life; Significance ofthe Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy andVarna system.

6. Period of Mahajanapadas:

Formation of States (Mahajanapada) :Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth;Introduction of coinage; Spread ofJainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadhaand Nandas.Iranian and Macedonian invasions andtheir impact.

7. Mauryan Empire:

Foundation of the Mauryan Empire,Chandragupta, Kautilya andArthashastra; Ashoka; Concept ofDharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration;Economy; Art, architecture and sculp-ture; External contacts; Religion; Spreadof religion; Literature.Disintegration of the empire; Sungas andKanvas.

8. Post – Mauryan Period

(Indo-Greeks,Sakas, Kushanas, WesternKshatrapas): Contact with outside world; growth ofurban centres, economy, coinage, devel-opment of religions, Mahayana, socialconditions, art, architecture, culture, liter-ature and science.

9. Early State and Society in EasternIndia, Deccan and South India:

something , The Satavahanas, TamilStates of the Sangam Age;Administration, economy, land grants,coinage, trade guilds and urban centres;Buddhist centres; Sangam literature andculture; Art and architecture.

10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:

Polity and administration, Economic con-ditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Landgrants, Decline of urban centres, Indianfeudalism, Caste system, Position ofwomen, Education and educational insti-tutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila andVallabhi, Literature, scientific literature,art and architecture.

11. Regional States during Gupta Era:

The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas ofBadami; Polity and Administration, Tradeguilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnavaand Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti move-ment, Shankaracharya; Vedanta;Institutions of temple and temple archi-tecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas,Paramaras, Polity and administration;Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind;Alberuni, The Chalukyas of Kalyana,Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity andAdministration; local Govern-ment;Growth of art and architecture, religioussects, Institution of temple and Mathas,Agraharas, education and literature,economy and society.

12. Themes in Early Indian CulturalHistory

Languages and texts, major stages in theevolution of art and architecture, majorphilosophical thinkers and schools, ideasin Science and Mathematics.

13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:-

Polity: Major political developmentsin Northern India and the Peninsula,origin and the rise of Rajputs-The Cholas: administration, villageeconomy and society-“Indian Feudalism”-Agrarian economy and urban settle-ments- Trade and commerce- Society: the status of the Brahmanand the new social order-Condition of women-Indian science and technology

14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:-

Philosophy: Skankaracharya andVedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtad-vaita, Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa-Religion: Forms and features of reli-gion, Tamil devotional cult, growth ofBhakti, Islam and its arrival in India,Sufism-Literature: Literature in Sanskrit,growth of Tamil literature, literaturein the newly developing languages,Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’sIndia-Art and Architecture: Temple archi-tecture, sculpture, painting

15. The Thirteenth Century:

Establishment of the DelhiSultanate: The Ghurian invasions –factors behind Ghurian success -Economic, social and cultural conse-quences -Foundation of Delhi Sultanate andearly Turkish Sultans-Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmishand Balban

16. The Fourteenth Century:

“The Khalji Revolution”-Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and terri-torial expansion, agrarian and eco-nomic measures -Muhammad Tughluq: Major proj-ects, agrarian measures, bureaucra-cy of Muhammad Tughluq-Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures,achievements in civil engineeringand public works, decline of theSultanate, foreign contacts and IbnBattuta’s account

17. Society, Culture and Economy inthe Thirteenth and FourteenthCenturies:-

Society: composition of rural society,ruling classes, town dwellers,women, religious classes, caste andslavery under the Sultanate, Bhaktimovement, Sufi movement-Culture: Persian literature, literaturein the regional languages of NorthIndia, literature in the languages ofSouth India, Sultanate architectureand new structural forms, painting,evolution of a composite culture-Economy: Agricultural production,rise of urban economy and non-agri-cultural production, trade and com-merce

18. The Fifteenth and Early SixteenthCentury – Political Developmentsand Economy:-

Rise of Provincial Dynasties:Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin),Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids -The Vijayanagra Empire -Lodis -Mughal Empire, First phase: Baburand Humayun -The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’sadministration – Portuguese Colonial enterprise-Bhakti and Sufi Movements

19. The Fifteenth and early SixteenthCentury – Society and Culture: –

Regional cultural specificities -Literary traditions -Provincial architecture -Society, culture, literature and thearts in Vijayanagara Empire.

20. Akbar:

Conquests and consolidation of theEmpire -Establishment of Jagir and Mansabsystems – Rajput policy -Evolution of religious and social out-look, theory of Sulh-i-kul and reli-gious policy-Court patronage of art and technolo-gy

21. Mughal Empire in the SeventeenthCentury:

Major administrative policies ofJahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb -The Empire and the Zamindars -Religious policies of Jahangir,Shahjahan and Aurangzeb-Nature of the Mughal State -Late Seventeenth century crisis andthe revolts -The Ahom Kingdom -Shivaji and the early MarathaKingdom.

22. Economy and Society in theSixteenth and SeventeenthCenturies:

Population, agricultural production,craft production -Towns, commerce with Europethrough Dutch, English and Frenchcompanies : a trade revolution -Indian mercantile classes, banking,insurance and credit systems -Condition of peasants, condition ofwomen- Evolution of the Sikh community andthe 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 MughalEmpire -The regional principalities: Nizam’sDeccan, Bengal, Awadh -Maratha ascendancy under thePeshwas -The Maratha fiscal and financial sys-tem -Emergence of Afghan Power, Battleof Panipat:1761 -State of politics, culture and econo-my on the eve of the British conquest