Indian History

Ancient History
• In Ancient India, four ancient ages are as follows:-
1) Paleolithic Age
2) Mesolithic Age
3) Neolithic Age
4) Chalcolithic Age

1) Paleolithic Age:
• In this period, people survived on hunting World
animals and birds. They used sharp weapons of
stone for hunting. The Paleolithic Period was also
characterized by the manufacture of small
sculptures (e.g., carved stone statuettes of women,
clay figurines of animals etc.)
• The Palaeolithic Age In India is divided into three
phases:
• First phase may be placed broadly between
600,000 and 150,000 BC
• Second between 150,000 and 35,000 BC
• Third between 35,000 and 10,000 BC.
2) Mesolithic Age:
• Mesolithic, also called Middle Stone Age, is an ancient
cultural stage that existed between the Paleolithic (Old
Stone Age), with its chipped stone tools, and the
Neolithic (New Stone Age), with its polished stone
tools.
• In India, this age spanned from 9,000 B.C. to 4,000
B.C., and is characterized by the appearance of
Microliths (small bladed stone tools).

3) Neolithic Age:
• In this age, it contributed social and technological
development. Weapons further developed.
• Wheel was invented in this age.
• The idea of Neolithic Revolution refers to the origin of
agriculture, animal domestication and a settled
way of life.
4) Chalcolithic Age:
• The term Chalcolithic means “copper” and “stone” or
Copper Age; it is also known as the Eneolithic or
Aeneolithic. They used copper and stone for
making tools.
• In India, it spanned around 2000 BC to 700 BC.
• The people practiced agriculture and they were
used to worship mother goddess and the bull.
• Developing area: - Art and Craft, Agriculture,
Domestication of Animals, Pottery etc.
• Various Culture – Ahar Culture, Kayatha Culture,
Malwa Culture, Jorwe Culture, Ochre Coloured
Pottery culture, Painted Grey Ware (PGW) etc.
• Indus Valley Civilisation:-
• It is one of the oldest civilisations of the world. It flourished
along the banks of Indus river. The important sites of Indus
Valley Civilisation are Mohenjodaro and Harappa.

1) Mohenjodaro:
• Town planning, drainage system, houses, streets etc.
developed in this period. It is divided two parts, i.e. Upper part
or Citadel and Lower part.
• Great Bath used for religious purpose.

2) Harappa:
• Harappa was familiar with Bronze Age people and they were
fond of ornaments and dressing up.
• Earth and Mahadeva were their main deity.
• Barter system was prevalent in this period.
• The Harappan culture flourished till about 1800 B.C.
• Features – Division in Society, Clothing, Food Habits,
Religion, Script and Languages, Burial practices etc.
• Vedic Period:
• The Period between 1500 to 600 BCE is called the Vedic age as its reconstruction has been
made from Vedic text as the primary source. In this period, the Aryans came to India. This
period is called Vedic because the four Vedas were composed during this time. Those are:-

• Rigveda is the oldest religious text. It contains the prayers of God and Gayatri
mantra.
• Samaveda deals with the music.
• Yajur veda has the procedures for the performance of sacrifices.
• Atharvaveda deals with medicines.
• Agriculture and cattle rearing were the main occupation of this period.
• Women had a respectable place in the society.
• Priority – Religion and Education

• Important terms:-
• Godhuli - Time
• Gavyuti- Distance
• Gotra - Kinship
• Gana - Lineage
• Grama- Village
• Gauri- Buffalo
• Gojit- Winner of Cow or a Hero Sabha
• Goghna - Guest fed on cattle
• Jainism and Buddhism:
▫ Jainism:
• There were 24 Tirthankaras in Jainism . Rishabhadeva was the first
Tirthankara and Mahavira being the 24th.
• Mahavira was born in 540 BC in Kundagram near Vaishali.
Mahavira rejected the authority of the vedas and did not believe in
existence of God. He believed in universal brotherhood
(equality) and non – belief in caste system.
•
▫ Buddhism:
• Buddhism was founded by Gautam Buddha who was born in 563
BC at Lumbini (Sakya tribe of Kapilvastu).
• His father Suddhodana was a Saka ruler and his mother Mahamaya
of Kosalan dynasty died early.
• Gautam Buddha married to Yashodhara and had a son Rahul. He
followed middle path for attainment of salvation and believed in the
concept of non – violence.
• • Phases of Buddha’s Life:
• Left home at the age of 29
• Tree name – Peepal tree at Bodh Gaya at the age of 35
• First sermon – Dharmachakra – parivartana
• Death – Mahaparinirvana
• The Tripitaka is considered to be the words of the Buddha that were
transmitted orally and recorded by the Buddha‟s disciples
• Dynasties of Ancient Era:-

*1) Haryanka Dynasty:

• Bimbisara was the founder of the dynasty.
• Capital:- Rajagriha
• Bimbisara was succeeded by his son Ajatasatru
between 492-460 BC . Ajatasatru killed his father
and seized the throne for himself.
• Ajatasatru was succeeded by Udayin (460-444
BC). Udayin temporarily shifted the capital to Vaishali.

2) Shishunaga Dynasty:
• Founder:- Shishunaga
• Successor: Kalashoka (Kakavarna), capital: shifted
from Vaishali to Pataliputra.
• The Shishunagas were succeeded by the Nandas.
*3) Nanda Dynasty:
• Founder: Mahapadma
• 1st Non-Kshatriya rulers in the history
of India.
• Last ruler: Dhana Nanda
• Dhana Nanda was overthrown by
Chandragupta Maurya, this founding
Maurya Empire in 321 B.C.
• ***Mauryan Dynasty (322 – 185 B.C.E.):

1) Chandragupta Maurya (322BC-298BC):

• Founder: Chandragupta Maurya
• Mentor and guide: Kautilya (Chanakya)
• Achievement: Chandragupta defeated Seleucus
Nikator, the general of Alexander (304 BC).
• Megasthenes wrote: Indica
• Vishakhadatta wrote: Mudrarakshasa
• Chandragupta adopted Jainism.

2) Bindusara:
• Chandragupta son: Bindusara
• Eldest son of Bindusara: Susima or Sumana
(Viceroy of Taxila)
• Another son: Ashoka (Viceroy of Ujjain)
3) Ashoka (273BC – 232BC):
• He was the son of Bindusara.
• After becoming a ruler Ashoka fought a single
battle that was the battle of Kalinga. (261
BC)
• He made Buddhism his state religion. He
build lion stambh’s to spread Buddhism.
• Besides Ashok stamph, Ashoka had built many
constructions – Dhamek Stupa (Sarnath, Uttar
Pradesh), Bharhut stupa (Madhya Pradesh),
Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar).
• He died in the year 232 B.C.
• Post Mauryan Age:-

• *1) The Indo-Greeks:

• Most famous king: Menander (Milinda) (165-145 BC).
• Capital: Sakala (modern Sialkot) in Punjab
• He was converted to Buddhism by Nagasena.
• *First issue coins.

• 2) Parthians (247 BCE to 224 CE):

• Founder: Arsaces I of Parthia
• The Indo Parthian kingdom, located west of the Parthian homeland, was
founded in the late 1st century BC by the first of several kings named
Gondophares, who was a Scythian (Saka) king.

• 3) The Shakas:
• The first Saka King in India was known as Maues or Moga.
• He established his power in Gandhara.
• Maues was succeeded by Vonones (75-65 BC), who ruled along with his
brother.
• Famous king: Rudradaman I
4) *The Kushanas:
• Greatest king: Kanishka (who started the
Saka Era in AD 78)
• Issue: gold coin

5) The Sunga Dynasty:

• Established by: Pushyamitra Sunga
• *Capital: Pataliputra
• Famous monument: Bharhut
• Patanjali wrote Mahabhyasyat

6) The Kanva Dynasty:

• Founder: Vasudeva
7) *The Satavahanas (or Andhras):
• Founder: Simuka (60-37 BC)
• Official language: Prakrit
• *Issued of coins of lead (mainly) copper,
bronze and potin.
• Famous: Gautamiputra Satakarni

8) The Pandyas:
• First mentioned: Megasthenese
• Capital: Madurai

9) *The Cholas:
• Also called: Cholamandalam
• Capital: Kaveripattanam or Puhar
10) The Cheras:
• Capital: Vanji (also called Kerala country)
• They had important trade relations with the
Romans.

11) Sangam Age:

• The term „Sangam‟ literally means „confluence‟.
It is the Tamil form of Sanskrit.
• First Founder: Sage Agastya
• The second Sangam was held at
Kapadapuram.
• The third Sangam at Madurai was
founded by Mudathirumaran.
• ***Gupta Period (320 and 550 CE):

1) Chandragupta I (320 – 335 CE):

• Chandragupta I was the son of Ghatotkacha, the
first independent king of the Gupta dynasty.
• Wife name: Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi.
• Established authority: Magadha, Prayaga and
Saketa.

2)* Samudragupta (335 to 370 CE):

• Chandragupta I was succeeded by his son
Samudragupta. He was the greatest king. He
assumed the titles of Kaviraj and Vikrama.
• Kingdom: During his time, the Gupta Empire
spanned from the Himalayas in north to the mouth of
Krishna and Godavari rivers in the South, from Balkh,
Afghanistan in the west to the Brahmaputra River in
the east.
3) Chandragupta II:
• Chandragupta II was the son of Samudragupta. In this
period, the empire reached its highest glory.
• Adopted title: Vikramaditya
• Issued silver coins.
• Kalidas was a a member of Chandragupta‟s II court.
• Fa-Hien (Chinese Buddhist) visited India during his
reign.

4) Kumargupta I (415–455 CE):

• Chandragupta II was succeeded by his son
Kumaragupta I.
• He founded the Nalanda Mahavihara which developed
into a great centre learning.

5) Skandagupta (455–467 CE):

• Skandagupta was the last great ruler of the Gupta
dynasty. During his reign the Gupta empire was invaded
by the Hunas.
Pushyabhuti Dynasty or Vardhana
Dynasty:
• This dynasty reached its highest point under
its last ruler Harsha Vardhana (born c. 590
CE—died c. 647) regin.
• Famous Chinese traveler: Hieun Tsang
• Banabhata wrote: Harschacharita and
Kadambari.
• Tripartite struggle: Palas, Gujara-
Pratihara, Rashtrakutas
• Other Dynasties of Ancient India:
• Pallavas:
• Pallava king, Simhavarma defeated the Ikshvaku king
Rudrapurushadatta in 300 CE and established Pallava
rule in Coastal Andhra, which was known at that time
as, ”Karmarashtra” and started as a political power in
south India.
• Chalukyas:
• The Chalukya dynasty refers to an Indian royal dynasty
that ruled large parts of southern and central India
between the sixth and twelfth centuries.
• The Badami Chalukyas began to assert their
independence at the decline of the Kadamba kingdom
of Banavasi and rapidly rose to prominence during the
reign of Pulakesi II.