Ancient History Notes

12 chapters · 342 sections · 826 cards

Ancient History Notes & Flashcards for BPSC Prelims: 12 chapters · 342 sections · 826 cards. These notes and flashcards need JavaScript; please enable it to read them.

Sources of Ancient Indian History
- Sources Overview
- Shruti Tradition
- Upanishads
- Vedangas
- Epics + Puranas
- Epics
- Puranas
- Dharmashastra
- Buddhist Literature
- Jain Literature
- Sangam Literature
- Foreign Accounts – Greek
- Chinese Travellers
- Arab Writers
- Secular Texts – Arthashastra
- Biographical Texts
- Pioneers
- Key Inscriptions
- Unusual Inscriptions
- Ancient Scripts
- Languages
- Coins (Numismatics)
- Eras + Dating
Pre-Historic India
- Pre-History Overview
- Three Phases of the Past
- Timeline
- Lower Palaeolithic
- Middle Palaeolithic
- Upper Palaeolithic
- Mesolithic
- Neolithic
- Chalcolithic
- Iron Age + Megaliths
- Pottery Sequence
- Quick Facts
Indus Valley Civilization
- Discovery
- Geographical Extent
- Phases
- Urban Layout
- Bricks + Drainage
- Great Bath
- Mohenjo-daro
- Harappa
- Dholavira
- Lothal
- Kalibangan
- Other Key Sites
- UPSC Trap
- Agriculture
- Animals
- Trade
- Weights + Seals
- Metals + Technology
- Script
- Pottery
- Religion + Society
- Deities + Worship
- Ritual Practices
- Burial Practices
- Political Structure
- IVC vs Rig Vedic
- IVC Decline
Vedic Period
- Aryan Origins
- Geography + Rivers
- Rig Vedic Polity
- Battle of Ten Kings
- Varna System
- Rig Vedic Society
- Rig Vedic Women
- Rig Vedic Economy
- Rig Vedic Religion
- Later Vedic Expansion
- Later Vedic Polity
- Mahayajnas
- Later Vedic Varna
- Later Vedic Women
- Ashramas
- Marriage
- Later Vedic Economy
- Later Vedic Religion
- Rig vs Later Vedic
- Vedic Texts – Structure
- Rig Veda
- Sama Veda
- Yajur Veda
- Vedas
- Atharva Veda
- Brahmanas
- Vedangas
- Upavedas
- Upanishads
- Shad Darshana
- Vedanta Sub-schools
- Charvaka
- Ajivika
Mahajanapadas & Rise of Magadha
- Overview
- 16 Mahajanapadas
- Vajji Confederacy
- Why Magadha Won
- Dynasties of Magadha
- Bimbisara
- Ajatashatru
- Udayin
- Later Haryankas
- Shishunaga Dynasty
- Nanda Dynasty
- Persian Invasion
- Alexander
- 2nd Urbanization
- Contemporaries
Buddhism
- Age of Buddha
- Buddha's Birth
- Renunciation
- Enlightenment
- First Sermon
- Death
- Names + Epithets
- Symbols
- Geography
- 8 Holy Places
- Four Noble Truths
- Eightfold Path
- Key Concepts
- Tripitaka
- Buddhist Texts
- Buddhist Councils
- Hinayana
- Mahayana
- Mahayana Sub-schools
- Vajrayana
- Sarvastivada
- Bodhisattva Path
- Bodhisattvas
- Mudras
- Royal Patrons
- Decline
- Buddhist Art
- Major Sites
- Universities
- Chinese Pilgrims
- Key Scholars
Jainism
- Overview
- Tirthankaras
- 24 Tirthankaras
- Mahavira's Birth
- Mahavira's Family
- Renunciation
- Enlightenment
- Titles
- Teaching + Death
- Core Principles
- Triratna
- Vows
- Sallekhana
- Ahimsa
- Anekantavada
- Syadvada
- 5 Types of Knowledge
- Great Schism
- Jain Sects
- Jain Councils
- Jain Literature
- Royal Patrons
- Gommateshwara
- Jain Art
- Buddhism vs Jainism
Mauryan Empire
- Arthashastra
- Indica
- Other Sources
- Ashokan Edicts
- Junagadh Inscription
- Archaeology
- Chandragupta Maurya
- Bindusara
- Ashoka's Titles
- Ashoka's Name in Edicts
- Kalinga War
- Ashoka + Buddhism
- Buddhist Sites
- What is Dhamma
- Religious Tolerance
- Propagation of Dhamma
- Dhamma-vijaya
- Major Rock Edicts
- Where Edicts Are Found
- Pillar Edicts
- Minor Rock Edicts
- Cave Inscriptions
- Special Edicts
- Saptanga Theory
- Central Administration
- Councils + Espionage
- Provincial Administration
- District Administration
- Village Administration
- Mandala Theory
- Taxation
- Trade + Currency
- Adhyakshas
- Society – Labour
- Society
- Mauryan Art
- Ashokan Pillars
- Rock-cut Caves + Stupas
- Stupas
- Kumhrar Palace
- Decline
Post-Mauryan Period
- Overview
- Sunga Dynasty
- Sunga Art
- Heliodorus Pillar
- Kanva Dynasty
- Satavahana Rulers
- Satavahana Features
- Satavahana Patronage
- Satavahana Sites
- Kharavela
- Foreign Invaders
- Indo-Greeks
- Shakas
- Parthians
- Kushanas
- 4th Buddhist Council
- Kushana Scholars
- Kushana Contributions
- Roman Trade
- Key Ports
- Literary Sources
- Guilds
- Art Schools
- Buddha Image
- Tamil Kingdoms
- Sangams
- Sangam Works
- Sangam Administration
- Sangam Revenue
- Sangam Society
- Panchtinai
- Sangam Religion
- Sangam Women
- Vattakirutal
Gupta Empire
- Gupta Age
- Early Rulers
- Chandragupta I
- Samudragupta
- Ramagupta Episode
- Chandragupta II
- Fa-Hien
- Navaratna
- Kumaragupta I
- Skandagupta
- Huna Invasions
- Successor States
- Gupta Polity
- Administration
- Taxation
- Land Measurements
- Land Grants
- Land Types
- Gupta Coins
- Gupta Trade
- Gupta Society
- Women's Status
- Gupta Literature
- UPSC Trap
- Gupta Science
- Temple Architecture
- Sculpture
- Cave Paintings
- Religion
- Buddhism's Decline
- Vakatakas
Post-Gupta & Harsha's Era
- Overview
- Pushyabhuti Dynasty
- Harsha's Rise
- Harsha's Conquests
- Harsha's Administration
- Harsha's Religion
- Harsha's Assemblies
- Banabhatta
- Harsha's Plays
- Harsha's Court
- Harsha's Inscriptions
- Harsha's Fall
- Hiuen-Tsang
- Chronology
- Post-Gupta Dynasties
- Maukharis
- Maitrakas
- Shashanka
- Deccan Politics
- Chalukyas of Badami
- Aihole Inscription
- Chalukya Architecture
- Pallava Rulers
- Pallava Architecture
- Pallava Society
- Post-Gupta Economy
- Land Grants
- Feudalism
- Bhakti Movement
- Post-Gupta Society
- Chalukya–Pallava Rivalry
- Chronology
Early Medieval India
- Nature of the State
- Tripartite Struggle
- Rashtrakutas
- Gurjara-Pratiharas
- Agnikula
- Palas
- Sena Dynasty
- Rajputs
- Rajput Dynasties
- Battles of Tarain
- Rajputs
- Chola Rulers
- Chola Administration
- Chola Revenue
- Chola Local Government
- Chola Bronzes
- Nataraja
- Later Chalukyas
- Hoysalas
- Kakatiyas and Yadavas
- Later Deccan Dynasties
- Temple Styles
- Nagara Examples
- Dravida Examples
- Vesara Examples
- Jain Monuments
- Economy
- Merchant Guilds
- Shankara
- Bhakti Saints
- Bhakti Literature
- Vajrayana
- Arab Invasions
- Mahmud of Ghazni
- Literary Sources
- Mitakshara
- Dayabhaga
- Literary Sources