important ancient indian history gk material for mba
TRANSCRIPT
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
TISS GUIDE Presents
Static GK – Ancient India
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
Ancient Indian History is divided into following periods
The Paleolithic Age:
→ characteristic features - the use of hand-axes, cleavers and choppers, flakes, blades etc.
→ The rock-shelters and caves at Bhimbetka near Bhopal
→ marks the appearance of the modern man (Homo sapiens) on earth
The Mesolithic Age:
→ transitional phase between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic ages
→ marked by warmer climates, hunting, fishing and food gathering and domestication of
animals.
→ Peculiar tool of the people was the microlith
The Neolithic Age:
→ tools made of polished stone.
→ The domestication of animals became a major economic activity.
→ The only neolithic settlement in India is found in Mehergarh in Rajasthan.
The Chalcolithic Cultures:
→ use of metals, of which copper was the first
→ this represents the pre-Harappan phase because the Harappan civilization was based on
the use of bronze
→ practiced agriculture (wheat, rice and bajra)
The Harappan Culture
flourished on the banks of the river Indus
first discovered by DR Sawhney and RD Banerjee in 1921
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
The most distinguishing feature is the town-planning system and architecture. Burnt bricks find
use on
a wide scale for the first time here. The towns are built on scientific lines, with roads cutting each
other at right angles and having covered drains.
Vedic Age
Political Organisation in Vedic Age:
In Early Vedic Age:
• ‘Kula‘ was the basic unit of political organization.
• Multiple families together of kinship formed a ‘grama‘.
• Leader of ‘grama’ was ‘Gramani‘.
• Group of villages were called ‘visu’, headed by ‘vishayapati‘.
• The highest political and administrative unit was ‘jana‘ or tribe.
• There were several such tribal kingdoms – Bharatas, Matsyas, Yadus and Purus.
• The head of kingdom was ‘Rajan‘ or king.
• The Rig Vedic polity was hereditary monarchy normally.
• There were two bodies- Sabha(council of elders) and Samiti(general assembly of people).
Political Organization in the later Vedic Age
• Larger kingdoms by amalgamation formed ‘Mahajanapadas or rashtras‘.
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
• Therefore, the power of king increased and he performed various rituals and sacrifices to
make his position strong likeRajasuya (consecration ceremony), Asvamedha (horse
sacrifice) and Vajpeya (chariot race).
• The kings assumed titles of Rajavisvajanan, Ahilabhuvanapathi(lord of all earth), Ekrat
and Samrat (sole ruler).
• But, importance of the Samiti and the Sabha diminished.
Society in Vedic Civilization:
In Early Vedic Age:
• The Rig Vedic society was basically
• The basic unit of society
• Monogamy was practiced while
• Women had equal opportunities as men for their spiritual
Apala, Viswavara, Ghosa and Lopamudra were women poets.
• Women could attend the popular assemblies
• No child marriage, sati practice.
• Social divisions were not rigid.
In Later Vedic Age:
• The Varna system became prevalent
Vaisyas and Sudras.
• A Brahmin and Kshatriyas occupied a higher position than others.
• Various sub-castes on the basis of occupation emerged.
• Women were considered inferior and subordinate to men now and also lost their political
rights of attending assemblies.
• Child marriages became common.
Jainism:
→ Mahavir Jain, the most important Jain religious teacher was born in
He gained complete knowledge (
Mahavira or jina (The Great Hero).
→ Mahavira had 23 predecessors before him known
Rishabhdev and the 23rd was Parshavnath. Mahavir Jain is thougt to be the 24th or the
last tirthankar.
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
The Rig Vedic society was basically patriarchal.
was ‘graham’ or family, its head was called as ‘grahapathi’.
was practiced while polygamy among royal and noble families was observed.
Women had equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development.
Viswavara, Ghosa and Lopamudra were women poets.
Women could attend the popular assemblies.
practice.
Social divisions were not rigid.
The Varna system became prevalent- four divisions of society :Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
A Brahmin and Kshatriyas occupied a higher position than others.
castes on the basis of occupation emerged.
Women were considered inferior and subordinate to men now and also lost their political
rights of attending assemblies.
marriages became common.
Mahavir Jain, the most important Jain religious teacher was born in 540 BC
He gained complete knowledge (kaivalya) at 42. Because of this conquest, he is known as
(The Great Hero).
Mahavira had 23 predecessors before him known as tirthankaras of which the 1st was
Rishabhdev and the 23rd was Parshavnath. Mahavir Jain is thougt to be the 24th or the
https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
as ‘grahapathi’.
polygamy among royal and noble families was observed.
and intellectual development.
four divisions of society :Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Women were considered inferior and subordinate to men now and also lost their political
540 BC in Vaishali.
) at 42. Because of this conquest, he is known as
of which the 1st was
Rishabhdev and the 23rd was Parshavnath. Mahavir Jain is thougt to be the 24th or the
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
→ Jainism got divided into two sects: Shwetambara (wearing white clothes) and Digambara
(wearing no clothes)
→ Jain writings are mostly in Prakrit
Buddhism:
→ Gautam Buddha (563 BC-483 BC) or Siddhartha belonged to the ruling Shakya kshatriya
family of Kapilvastu in Nepal. He left home at 29 and got complete knowledge under a
pipal tree in Bodh Gaya.
→ Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon in Sarnath and passed away at 80 at Kusinara
in modern U.P.
Buddhist councils were held after the death of Buddha to discuss the nature of Buddhism:
Hinduism also developed into five different schools:
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
Mauryan empire:
THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE MAURYAN RULERS
Chandragupta Maurya (322 – 298 B.C.)
• Chandragupta Maurya was the first ruler who unified entire country into one political
unit, called the Mauryan Empire.
• He had captured Pataliputra from Dhanananda, who was the last ruler of the Nanda
dynasty.
• he was assisted by Kautilya, who was also known as Vishnugupta or Chanakya.
• In 305 B.C., he defeated Seluscus Niketar, Alexander’s agent in India and gained the
territories of Kabul, Kandhar, Herat, Baluchistan. He gave his daughter in marriage to the
Mauryan Prince.
• Seleucus sent Megasthenes to the Mauryan court as Greek ambassador.
• Greeks called him Sandrocottas.
• He established a vast empire, extending from Afganistan to Assam and from Kashmir to
Karnataka(except Kalinga).
• Later in life, Chandragupta embraced Jainism and stepped down from the throne for his
son Bindusara to take over. Thereafterm he went to Sravana Belgola, in Karnataka along
with Jain monks who were led by Bhadrabhagu and starved himself to death.
Bindusara (298 – 273 B.C.)
• Bindusara maintained friendly relations with Hellenic world. He received Dionysius as
ambassador from Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt.
• Bindusara supported the Ajivikas sect.
• Bindusara appointed his elder son Susima as governor of Taxila and Asoka as the
governor of Ujjain.
Asoka the Great (273 – 232 B.C.)
• His inscriptions are found in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal at 47 places.
• His name is found on only the copies of Minor Rock eddict I at 1 place in MP and 3
places in Karnataka.
• At every other incription found on ancient highways, he is refered to either as
‘Devanampiya’ or as ‘piyadasi’.
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
• different scripts have been used on his incriptions. Greek and Aramaic in Afghanistan;
Kharoshti script and Prakrit language in Pakistan; Brahmi script in prakrit language at
other places.
• The most important event of Asoka’s reign was his war with Kalinga in 261 B.C.about
which he has mentioned in the Rock edict XIII. This describes in detail the horrors of
war, that deeply disturbed him.
• Under the effect of Kalinga war, Asoka embraced Buddhism by the influence of Buddhist
monk, Upagupta.
• Extent of Asoka’s Empire: Ashoka added Kalinga to his territory.
Asoka’s Dhamma (moral law)
• he did not forced Buddhist ideals on his subjects.
• He respected all sects and faiths, this is mentioned in Rock Edict VII. And in Rock Eddict
XII he mentions his policy of equal respect to all religious faiths and sects.
• After the Kalinga war, Ashoka propagated Dhamma or moral law across his empire.
• The principles of Dhamma were clearly mentioned in his Edicts. Their main features, as
mentioned in his various Edicts are:
1. Service and obedience to father and mother, teachers, and good treatment of relatives.
2. Prohibition of animal sacrifices (ahimsa) and festive gatherings.
3. Efficient organization of administration for social welfare and maintaining constant
contact with the people through the Dhammayatras system.
4. Proper and Humane treatment of servants by masters and of prisoners by government
officials.
5. Consideration and non-violence to animals and courtesy to relations, ascetics,
dependents and liberality to Brahmins, friends, acquaintances, companions.
6. Tolerance for all the religious sects.
7. Conquest of people through Dhamma instead of war. Truthfulness and attachment to
morality.
It is said that Asoka was “the greatest of kings” who surpassed Alexander the Great, Julius
Caesar and every other renowned Emperors to have ruled the world.
Just after 50 years to the death of Ashoka, the Mauryan empire fell apart. The last Mauryan king
Brihatratha, was assassinated by Pushyamitra Sunga, his commander-in-chief.
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire rose in Magadha around 4th century AD and covered greater part of the
Northern India (though smaller than the Mauryan empire).
The Gupta Period is popularly known as the ‘Golden Age of India’.
The Sources for study of Gupta Period:
There are typically three types of sources for reconstructing the history of the Gupta period.
I. Literary Sources:
• Vishakadutta had written Devichandraguptam and Mudrarakshasam, which provides
details about rise of Guptas.
• Social, economic and religious accounts left by the Chinese traveller Fa-hien, who had
visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II.
II. Epigraphical Sources :
• Meherauli Iron Pillar Inscription – achievements of Chandragupta I.
• Allahabad Pillar inscription – About the reign of Samundragupta describing his
personality and achievements. It is engraved on an Ashokan pillar, written in Sanskrit in
Nagari script composed of 33 lines written by Harisena.
The Gupta Dynasty :
The Gupta empire was founded by Sri Gupta. He was then succeeded by Ghatotkacha. Not much
information is available about their rule of these two Maharajas. Thereafter, following significant
rulers from Gupta dynasty ruled during this period.
Chandragupta I (320-330 A.D.)
• attained his title of ‘Maharajadiraja’ (king of kings).
• He married a Licchavi princess Kumardevi
Samudragupta (330-380 A.D.)
• also known as “Indian Napoleon”
• The Allahabad Pillar inscription contains details of his military conquest in stages. It is
little ironical that these military achievements are engraved on the same pillar which
contains the inscriptions of the peace-loving Ashoka.
• He also performed Ashwamedha sacrifices after his military victories.
• Known by different names, one of them was ‘Kaviraja’ because of his ability to compose
verses. Certain coins show him with a Veena.
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
• He patronised poets and scholars like Harisena, and hence played a part in promoting
Sanskrit literature(which is a characterstic feature of Gupta dynasty).
• Samudragupta was a follower of Vaishnavism. However, he also patronist the great
buddhist scholar Vasubandhu.
Chandragupta II/Vikramaditya of Gupta Dynasty (380-415 A.D.)
• extended the limits of this empire by conquest and matrimonial alliances. His capital city
was Pataliputra.
• He married his daughter Prabhavati to a Vakataka prince, who ruled the strategic lands of
Deccan.
• conquered the western Malwa and Gujarat by defeating the Saka rulers who had ruled for
about 4 centuries in the region. This earned him the title of ‘Sakari’ and ‘Vikramaditya’.
Gold Coin showing Chandragupta II
• As a result the Gupta empire gained access to the Arabian sea and opened trade with the
western countries. Ujjain became the commercial capital of the kingdom thereafter.
• In his reign, the Chinese pilgrim Fa-hien visited India. his accounts tell of a flourishing
Buddhist religion in Chandragupta II’s Reign. However, the Gangetic valley was a ‘land
of Brahmanism’.
• Chandragupta II also patronised art and literature. He has poets like Kalidasa in his court.
• He also issued silver coins, first Gupta ruler to do so.
Kumaragupta (415-455 A.D.)
• Kumargupta I was a worshipper of Kartikeya.
• he took titles like: Mahendraditya, Ashwamedha Mahendrah.
• laid the foundation of Nalanda University which later grew to become an international
centre of learning
Skandagupta (455-467 AD)
• He was last great ruler of Gupta dynasty.
• He saved the empire from Hun invasion coming from Central Asia. But these invasions
weakened the empire.
• Details about him are mentioned on the Bhitari Pillar inscription, proclaiming him the
title of ‘Vikramaditya’.
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
Empires of South India
Chalukyan empire:
The Chalukyas ruled as a dominant power from 543 to 755 A.D. in the area of Western Deccan.
Pulakeshin I established a small kingdom in western Deccan with Vatapi or Badami as its
capital (located in present day Bijapur district of Karnataka). He performed Ashwamedha
sacrifices also.
Pulakeshin II (608-642 A.D.)
The Aihole inscription composed in sanskrit by his court poet Ravikirti has praises of Pulakeshin
II.
Pulakeshin II defeated Harshavardhan’s army at Narmada checking his advance in Deccan.
During the reign of Pulakeshin II, Chinese scholar Hiuen Tsang visited the Chalukya Kingdom.
Chalukyas had great Maritime power, Pulakeshin II had 100 ships under his control along with a
small standing army.
The Chalukyas were Brahmanical Hindus who gave importance to Vedic rites and rituals. While,
they also respected other religions.
Chalukyan painting – Badami cave temple and Ajanta caves (including reception to Persian
embassy depicted in Ajanta painting).
1. Aihole temples of Chalukya Dynasty: (town of temples because 70 temples)
• Ladh Khan temple (Surya Temple) with low, flat roof with pillared hall.
• Durga temple resembling a Buddhist Chaitya .
• Huchimalligudi temple
• Jain temple/ Jinendra at Meguti by Ravikirti.
2. Badami temples of Chalukya Dynasty:
Muktheeswara temple and Melagulti Sivalaya. There are four rock-cut temples at Badami.
3. Pattadakal temples of Chalukya Dynasty:
There are total ten temples in Pattadakal.
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
• Four temples in Northern Nagara style – Papanatha temple
• Six temples in Dravidian style – Sangamesvara temple, Virupaksha temple( it is like
Kailashnath temple of Kanchipuram).
Rashtrakuta dynasty:
The founder of Rashtrakuta dynasty was Dantidurga(752-756 AD) who defeated Gurjaras and
captured Malwa from them. He later Annexed Chalukya kingdom by defeating Kirtivarman II.
The Rashtrakuta architecture is exemplified by Ellora caves in Aurangabad district of
Maharashtra and Elephanta caves on a small island off the coast of Mumbai.
The cave architecture reached its excellence in the Kailashnath temple at Ellora.
Chola empire:
Vijayalaya Chola belonging to Uraiyur captured the kaveri delta from Muttaraiyar in mid 9th
century. Vijayalaya built Thanjavur town with temple for Goddess ‘Nishumbhsudhini'(Goddess
Durga).
Rajaraja I usurped the throne for duration of 985 AD to 1014 AD.
He defeated Chera and Pandayan rulers, extending his empire upto river Tungabhadra.
He led naval expedition against Maldives and captured it.
held titles like: Mummidi Chola, Jayankonda, Sivapadasekara.
was a follower of Shaivism, hence built temple for Shiva, Rajrajeshwara temple popularly
known as Bhrihadeshwara temple at Thanjavur in 1010 AD. This temple is part of UNESCO
World Heritage Site in India under ” Great living Chola Temples”.
also patronized a Buddhist monastery at Nagapattinam.
Rajendra I succeeded his father in 1014-1044 AD.
He defeated the ceylonese king Mahinda V and conquered the whole Sri Lanka including the
northern and Southern parts.
He crossed the Ganges and captured certain areas in North India. To commorate this feat, he
constructed and founded Gangaikondacholapuram.
He also sent Naval expedition to Kadaram or Sri Vijaya(Malay Archipelago) to confront them
for stopping Chola trade with China.
Chola Empire achieved its peak under Rajendra I.
assumed titles like, Mudikondan, Gangaikondan, KadaramKondan, PanditaCholan.
Blog: https://howtocracktiss.wordpress.com/
Email Id: [email protected]
The main feature of Chola style of Architecture is a
building of five to seven storeys in a typical style
known as “Vimana” above the chief pillared hall with
flat roof was placed in front of the sanctum known as
“mandap”. This mandap functioned as an audience hall
and a place for various ceremonies. Sometimes, a
passage was also constructed around the sanctum to
enable devotees to walk around it, where many images
of other Gods were placed. This passage was then enclosed with high walls and large gateways
known as “Gopurams”.
The Chola age is characterized by finest bronze statues of their age. They were created by the
‘lost wax technique’, which allowed the inclusion of various intricate features.
Miscellaneous facts on Ancient India:
→ The Sangama literature was established by Pandyan kings of Tamil region.
→ The credit to complete the chart of Ashokan alphabets goes to James Prinsep.
→ Ashokan inscription of Shahbazgari & Manashera are written in Kharoshthi.
→ The earliest coins were punch marked silver & copper coins. They bear only symbol &
no inscription or legend.
→ Kushanas (Indo-Greeks) became the first kings to issue gold coins.
→ The first Jaina council was held at Pataliputra by Sthulabahu in the beginning of third
century BC & resulted in compilation of 12 Angas to replace the lost 14 Purvas.
→ Old names of regions
West Bengal Gauda
East Bengal Vanga
Utkala Orissa
Pragjotishpur Assam