Syllabus of History Optional(2017)

                                                         HISTORY PAPER I

         1.            Source

·        Archaeological sources:

·        Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments.

         2.            Literary sources:

·        Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature.

·        Foreign account: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.

         3.            Pre-history and Proto-history :

·        Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic).

        4.            Indus Valley Civilization:

·        Origin, date, extent, characteristics-decline, survival and significance, art and architecture.

        5.            Megalithic Cultures :

• Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.

           6.            Aryans and Vedic Period :

·        Expansions of Aryans in India :

·        Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; Political, social and economical life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system.

             7.       Period of Mahajanapadas :

·        Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and Buddism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas.

·        Iranian and Mecedonian invasions and their impact.

            8.       Mauryan Empire :

·        Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration, Economy; Art, architecture and sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature.

·        Disintegration of the empire; sungas and Kanvas.

               9.     Post-Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas,
                    Western Kshatrapas) :

·        Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.

10.Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India:

·        Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, Economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and architecture.

11.Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:

·        Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.

12.   Regional States during Gupta Era:

·        The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakit movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and administration; Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chaluky as of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity and Administration; Local Government; Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society.

13.        Themes in Early Indian Cultural History:

·        Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.

14.   Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

·        Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs.

·        The Cholas: administration, village economy and society “Indian Feudalism”.

·        Agrarian economy and urban settlements.

·        Trade and commerce.

·        Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order.

·        Condition of women.

·        Indian science and technology.

15.   Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:

·        Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa.

·        Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India, Sufism.

·        Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan's Rajtarangini, Alberuni's India .

·        Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting.

            16.   The Thirteenth Century

·        Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions - factors behind Ghurian success.

·         Economic, Social and cultural consequences.

·        Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans.

·        Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban.

17.   The Fourteenth Century:

·        “The Khalji Revolution”.

·         Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measure.

·         Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq.

·        Firuz Tugluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta's account.

18.        Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:

·        Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement.

·        Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, literate in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture.

·        Economy: Agricultural Production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce.

19.        The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century-Political Developments and Economy:

·        Rise of Provincial Dynasties : Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat.

·        Malwa, Bahmanids.

·        The Vijayanagara Empire.

·         Lodis.

·        Mughal Empire, first phase : Babur, Humayun.

·        The Sur Empire : Sher Shah’s administration.

·         Portuguese colonial enterprise, Bhakti and Sufi Movements.

20.             The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century- Society and culture:

·        Regional cultures specificities.

·        Literary traditions.

·         Provincial architectural.

·        Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.

21.             Akbar:

·        Conquests and consolidation of empire.

·         Establishment of jagir and mansab systems.

·         Rajput policy.

·        Evolution of religious and social outlook. Theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy.

·        Court patronage of art and technology.

22.                 Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century:

·        Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb.

·        The Empire and the Zamindars.

·        Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb.

·        Nature of the Mughal State.

·        Late Seventeenth Century crisis and the revolts.

·        The Ahom kingdom.

·        Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.

23.                 Economy and society, in the 16th and 17th Centuries:

·        Population Agricultural and craft production.

·        Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies : a trade revolution.

·         Indian mercantile classes. Banking, insurance and credit systems.

·        Conditions of peasants, Condition of Women.

·         Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth

24.                      Culture during Mughal Empire:

·        Persian histories and other literature

·         Hindi and religious literatures.

·        Mughal architecture.

·         Mughal painting.

·         Provincial architecture and painting.

·         Classical music.

·        Science and technology.

25.                 The Eighteenth Century:

·        Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire.

·        The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh.

·        Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas.

·        The Maratha fiscal and financial system.

·        Emergence ofAfghan power Battle of Panipat, 1761.

·        State of, political, cultural and economic, on eve of the British conquest.