Ancient Indian History -- NOTES -- Exclusive

Ancient India

Indus Valley Civilization

Discovered in 1921
Belonged to the bronze age
An area of about 1.3 mn sq km

Existed between 3300-1600 BC in three phases: early, mature

and late phases

Sites

Early (preHarappan)

Kalibangan
Banawali

Dholavira (Kutch)
Rakhigarhi
(Ghaggar)

Mature
(Harappan)

Late phase
(post-urban)

Harappa
Mohenjodaro
Chanhu-daro
Lothal
Kalibangan
Banawali (Hissar)
Sutkagendor
(Pakistan)
Sukotada (Gujarat)
Dholavira
Rakhigarhi

Dholavira
Rakhigarhi
Bhagwanpura
Manda (Jammu);
Chandigarh,
Shangol (Punjab);
Daulatpur, Mitthal
(Haryana);
Alamgirpur. Hulas
(West UP)

Site

Remarkable

Feature
Sutkagendor Surkotada
Mohenjo-daro

Kalibangan

Marked by a citadel

Great Bath;
Large granary
Impressive drainage system
Piece of woven cotton
Mother Goddess
Seal of pashu-pati
Grain and plough

Town planning
o Grid system
The Indus people were the earliest to produce cotton

Aryans

Male dominated
Pastoral
Horse was a significant animal
Rig veda Consists of 10 mandalas (books): Book 1 and 10 are
relatively new
Earliest specimen of Indo-European language: 2200 BC inscription
in Iran. Later in the Hittite inscriptions in Anatolia
1500 BC came to India
Sindhu is the river par excellence for them
Saraswati is the best of the rivers in Rig Veda
Panchajana five tribes into which Aryans were divided
Used ploughshare
Land did not form a well-established type of private property
Metal working was known

Rajan king
Samiti, sabha, vidatha,gana tribal assembly

Jainism

24 tirthankaras.
First: Rishab Dev
23rd: Parshavnath
Mahavir (599 BC 527 BC) or (540 BC 468 BC)
In Kundagrama near Vaishali
Father Siddartha (Jnatrika clan)
Mother Trishala (sister of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka)
Died at Pavapuri near Rajgir
Five doctrines: Do not violence, steal, lie, acquire property
and do observe brahmacharya
Did not condemn the varna system
Triratna: right knowledge, right faith, right action
Spread to Kalinga in first century BC. King Kharavela
Used Prakrit language. Literature written in Ardhamagadhi
Prepared the grammar of Apabhramsha
Contributed to the growth of Kannada

Buddhism

563 483 BC Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Nepal. Shakya family.

Suddhodan and Mahamaya
Death: Kushinagar (Kasia in Deoria distt of UP)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Eight-fold path (for end of misery)

Right observation
Right determination
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right exercise
Right memory
Right meditation

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Do not
Covet others property
Commit violence
Lie
Use intoxicants
Indulge in corrupt practices

No god or atman exists

Used Pali
Main elements of Buddhism: Buddha, Sangha, Dhamma
Brahamana ruler Pashyamitra Shunga persecuted the Buddhists
Mihirakula (Huna king) killed Buddhists
Buddhist text: Suttanipata
Gandhara Art
First human statues worshipped
Barabar hills: Caves for monks

Territorial States
Kingdoms and Capitals

Kingdom

Capital

Kapilavastu
Lichchhavis

Piprahwa
Vaishali

Mahajanpadas
Anga
Kashi
Koshala
Mallas
Vatsa/Vamsa
Avanti

Champa
Varanasi
Shravasti
Kushinara
Kaushambi
Ujjain (North)/ Mahishamati
(South)
Rajgir (Girivraja)

Magadha
Chedi/Cheti
Kuru
Panchala
Matsya
Surasena
Ashmaka
Gandhara
Kamboja
Vriji/Vajji

Mathura

Mithila

Dynasty

Capitals

Satvanahanas
Pandya
Chola
Chalyukyas
Pallavas
Kadambas
Gangas

Paithan
Madurai
Puhar (kaveripattanam)
Badami (Bijapur)
Kanchi
Vijayanti
Kolar

First Magadhan Empire

Dyansty

Ruler

Remark

Haryanka

Bimbisara
Ajatsatru
Udayin

Shishunagas

Nandas (most
powerful rulers of
Magadha)

Mahapadma Nanda

Mauryas (Patliputra)
Mauryas had a very Chandragupta
elaborate
Maurya
bureaucracy
Bindusara
Ashoka

Contemporary of
Buddha
Built fort on the
confluence of
Ganga and Son at
Patna
Destroyed the
power of Avanti

Megasthenes
visited during his
time
Links with Greek
princes
Buddhism

Shunga
Pushyamitra
Shunga

Destroyed the
Mauryan empire.
Killed Maurya king
Brihadratha

Balisadhaka tax collectors during the times of Nandas

Shaulkiki or shulkadhyakshas were also toll collectors
Shakyas and Lichchhavis were republics

Literature

Book

Author/Langu Remark
age

Digha Nikaya

Pali

Buddhist text

North-West India
Menander (Milinda) was the most famous Indo-Greek ruler.
His capital at Sakala (Sialkot)
Converted to Buddhism by Nagasena (Nagarjuna)

Shakas
Succeeded the Greeks in North West
Rudradaman I : most famous ruler
o He issued first ever long inscription in chaste Sanskrit

Parthians
Followed Shakas
Famous king: Gondophernes
o St. Thomas came during his reign

Kushans

o
o

Aka Yuechis or Tocharians

Kadphises was the first king
Kanishka is the most famous ruler
Started the Shaka era in 78 AD
Held the Buddhist council in Kashmir where the doctrines of
Mahayana form were finalized
o Patronized Ashvaghosa
Kushan inscriptions and coins found at Toprak Kala in Khorezm
Kushanas were the first rulers to issue gold coins on a large scale

Introduced the Satrap system of government

They controlled the Silk Route
Worshipped both Shiva and Buddha. Some worshipped Vishnu
too.
Kanishka built a large number of Stupas
Greek ambassador Heliodorus set up a piller in honor of Vasudeva
near Vidisa.
Appointed governors called strategos

Deccan

o
o
o
o
o

Satavahanas
Succeeded Mauryas in Deccan
Brahmana rulers
Gautamiputra Satkarni (AD 106-130)
Vashishthiputra Pulimayi: Capital at Paithan
Started the practice of granting tax-free villages to Brahmanas
and Buddhist Monks
Yajna Sri Satakarni
Chaityas (Buddhist temples) and Viharas (monastaries) were
constructed during their times
Most famous Chaitya at Karle in Deccan
Show trace of matrilineal social structure
Administration
Ahara district
Officials amatyas or mahamatras
Gaulmika head of a small military regiment and look after
administration in rural areas
Three grades of feudatories: raja, mahabhoja, senapati
Language: Prakrit

South
Pandya

Sent embassies to the Roman emperor Augustus

Chola

Elara conquered Sri Lanka

Karikala founded Puhar aka Kaveripatnam which was their capital

Cheras

Kerala and parts of TN

Senguttavan is the greatest king
Roman influence: Muziris. Also built a temple of Augustus
Vellalas rich peasants
Arasar ruling class
Pariyars agricultural labourers
Shrent artisan guilds

Chalukyas

Badami (Bijapur)
Pulakesin II was the important ruler
Court poet Ravikirti wrote his eulogy in the Aihole inscription

Pallavas

They succeeded the Ikshvakus

Kanchipuram was their capital
Came in conflict with kadambas

o Mayurasharman had founded the Kadamba kingdom (Capital:

Vijayanti/Banavasi)
Nasrimhavarman occupied the Chalukya capital Vatapi in 642 AD
o Assumed the title of Vatapikonda
Constructed a number of temples
Ratha temples at Mahabs built by Narsimhavarman who founded
Mahabs
Pattadakal: Papanatha temple and Virupaksha temple
Kailashnath temple at Kanchi
One of the major revolt in the south was the Kalabhras revolt. It
was so widespread that it could be put down only through the
joint efforts of the Pandyas, the Pallavas and the Chalukyas
Three types of villages: Ur (commoners), Sabha

(Brahmans), Nagaram (traders etc)

Foreign Invasions
Major events
326-325 BC

Alexanders invasion

Literature

Book

Author

Mudrarakshasa (play)
Indika
Milind Panho

Vishakhadatta
Megasthenes
Buddhist literature of

Buddhacharita
Saundarananda (Sanskrit
kavya)
Mahavastu (Buddhist-hybrid
Sanskrit)
Divyavandan (Buddhist-hybrid
Sanskrit)
Kamsutra
Charaksamhita
Gathasaptasatti (Prakrit book)
Tolkkappiyam (deals with
grammar and poetics)
Silappadikaram and
Manimekalai are Tamil epics
Natural History (Latin)
Mrichchhakatika
Abhijnanashakuntalam
Amarakosha
Romaka Sidhanta (Astronomy)
Harshacharita
Priyadarshika; Ratnavali; and
Nagananda (plays)
Astadhyayi
Mahabhashika
Suryasiddhanta
Brihatsamhita
Sushrutsamhita
Charaksamhita

questions of Manender to
Nagarjuna
Ashvaghosha
Ashvaghosha

Vatsyayana
Charaka
Hala (Satavahana king)
<Ilango Adigal?
(silappadikaram)>
Pliny (Roman writer)
Shudraka
Kalidasa
Amarasimha
Banabhatta
Harshavardhana
Panini
Patanjali
A treatise on astronomy.
Authorship disputed.
Varahmira (5th CE)
Sushrut (2nd CE)
Charak (2nd CE)

Travelers
Traveler

During time

Work

of
Megasthenes
(ambassador of
Seleucus)
Fa Hein
Hsuan Tsang

Chandragupta
Maurya

Indika

Chandragupta
Vikramaditya
Harshavardhana

Pliny wrote Naturalis Historia

Philosophy
Six schools

School

Philosophy

Samkhaya

Materialistic. No
Kapila
god. Later turned
spiritualistic.
Prakriti-Purusha.
Salvation through
knowledge acquired
through pratyaksha,
anumana, shabda
Slavation through
meditation and
physical application
System of logic.
Salvation through
acquisition of
knowledge.
Discussion of

Yoga
Nyaya

Vaisheshika

Major
proponent

material elements
or dravya. Atom
theory. (beginning
of physics). Belief in
god.
Vedas contain the
eternal truth.
Reasoning provided
for vedic rituals.
Perform vedic rites
for salvation.
Brahmasutra.
Brahma is the
reality. Atma is
identical with
Brahma.

Mimansa

Vedanta

Lokayata

Materialistic
philosophy.

Shankara (Advaita)
born in Kerala
Ramanuja
(Vishistadvaita)
Shuddhadvaita
(Vallabha)
Charavaka

Mauryan officers

Rajukas a class of officers appointed by Ashoka for

administration of justice
Dhammamahamatras officers of Ashoka for propagating dharma
among various social groups.
Tirthas important functionaries
Samaharta highest officer for tax assessment
Sannidhata chief custodian of the state treasury

Sangam literature

Sangam was an assembly of Tamil poets held under royal

patronage in Madurai
Compiled around 300-600 AD
Can be divided into two groups: narrative and didactic
Narrative: Melkanakku (or Eighteen Major Works)
Didactic: Kilkanakku (Eighteen minor works)
Silappadikaram and Manimekalai are Tamil epics

Misc
Shataka was a special type of cloth made at Mathura
Artisan guilds were called shrents
Uttarapatha was a sea route most frequently in use
Gomat wealthy person

Guptas

o
o

o
o
o
o
o

After the fall of Kushans and Satvahanas in mid 3 rd century AD

Perhaps of Vaishya origin
Chandragupta 1- Samudragupta Chandragupta II Kumargupta
- Skandagupta
Capital: Patliputra
Chandragupta I
Started the Gupta era in AD 319-20
Samudragupta (aka Napoleon of India)
Delighted in violence and conquest
Court poet: Harishena
Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) [375-415 AD]
Exercised indirect influence over the Central Indian kingdom of
Prabhavati through his daughter
Ujjain was his second capital
Navratnas
Kalidasa, Varahmira and Amarsimha were at his court
Fa-hsien visited India
Royal seal: Garuda

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Decline in long distance trade

Emergence of priestly landlords
Position of shudras improved
Subordination of women
Buddhism did not receive royal patronage
Golden age of ancient India
Ajanta Paintings <not by Guptas but mostly during their period>
Nalanda university flourished
13 plays written by Bhasa
Mrichchhakatika Shudraka
Kalidasa
Plays were mostly comic
Ramayana and Mahabharata compiled
Development of Sanskrit Grammar
Aryabhatiya Aryabhatta
Romaka Sidhanta book on astronomy
Was poor in architecture
Huna invasion made the empire weak
Vishti forced labour by peasants for the army officials

Harshavardhana

After the fall of Guptas

Capital: Kanauj
Banabhatta: court poet (wrote Harshacharita)
Ran the administration on similar lines as Guptas
Law and order: not well maintained

Nalanda flourished as a centre of Buddhist learning

Became a great parton of Buddhism (was a Shaiva earlier)
Convened a grand assembly as Kanauj to widely publicise the
doctrines of Mahayana
Authored three dramas: Priyadarshika, Ratnavali and Nagananda