Ancient, Medieval & Modern Indian History: In the history of the use of metal, Iron followed Copper and bronze in India. Throughout the Indian subcontinent, Iron lead slowly but perceptibly to the transition from the pre and proto-historical to the historical culture.
The study of ancient Indian history is important as it tells us how, when and where people developed the earliest cultures in our country.
It indicates how they started their agriculture which made life secure and settled. It shows how the ancient Indians discovered and utilised natural resources and how they created the means for their livelihood.
Sources that are responsible for providing information about history are known as Historic Sources.
The first book, which was translated by the East India Company in India, was Manusmriti that was published as ‘A Code of Gentoo Laws’ in English by Nathaniel Brassey Halhed in 1776 AD.
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In India, the evidence of first occupation is not earlier than the Middle Pleistocene, which began about 5, 00,000 years ago. Initially, men were nomads. They wandered in groups from place to place in search of food and shelter. There was no cultivation. So, they consumed all they could find in a certain place and had to move place to place in search of food. They also hunted animals and they had to go elsewhere in their search.
The Indus Valley Civilisation or Harappan culture was discovered in 1921 at the modern site of Harappa in West Punjab in Pakistan. It covered parts of Punjab, Haryana, Sind, Baluchistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan and some areas of Uttar Pradesh.
The area formed a triangle and accounted for about 12, 99,000 sq km which was larger than ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
The Turks extended their conquest from the Punjab and Multan into the Ganga valley after the Battle of Tarain and even captured Bihar and parts of Bengal.
After that, for almost one hundred years these Turkish invaders ruled over the vast part of India and formed the Delhi Sultanate.
The Turkish rulers were successful in extending their rule over Malwa and Gujarat and penetrate into the Deccan and South India. The effects of the establishment of the Turkish rule resulted in far-reaching changes in society, administration and cultural life of India.
Dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate are:
- Mamluk Dynasty (1206-1290 AD)
- Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320 AD)
- Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414 AD)
- Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451 AD)
- Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526 AD)
The Mughal Empire which lasted for more than 300 years (1526-1857 AD), was a period of national integration with stability. It was a period of flourishing art and culture in medieval India.
The name ‘Mughal’ derives from Mongol, though Mughal rulers claimed from ‘Timurids’ lineage. Historically, the Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of Genghis Khan and Timur. Babar was the founder and first emperor of Mughal Dynasty.
Although the Revolt of 1857, is considered as the first major uprising against the British, but it is considered as an amalgamation of many civil and tribals that took place before the revolt
With the onset of British rule in India came modern thoughts, Western education, modern means of communication and Western culture.
How, the age-old customs and traditions started to be questioned. Due to printing of newspapers, magazines, all kinds of issues – social, political, economic and religious – could now be debated and discussed by men (and sometimes by women as well) in the new cities.
Many defects and ills of Indian society began resurfacing and Indian intellectuals such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Ancient, Medieval & Modern Indian History
Ancient & Medieval Period:
- Cultural Foundations of India – Indus and Vedic Age; Renunciatory tradition and new religious ideas of 6th Century BC- Ajivakas, Buddhism and Jainism.
- Achievements of prominent rulers of major dynasties: Maurya, Kushan, Satavahana, Gupta, Chalukya, Pallava and Chola.
- Art and Architecture in Ancient India.
- Development of Language and Literature in Ancient India: Sanskrit, Prakrit and Tamil.
- Sultanate Period: Achievements of prominent Sultanate Rulers. Cultural achievements of Vijaynagar.
- Mughal Period: Political challenges and reconciliation- Afghan, Rajput, Deccan States & Maratha.
- Development of Art & Architecture, Paintings and Music during medieval period.
- Religious & Literary contribution of Bhakti & Sufi movement.
Modern Period (from early 19th century to 1964):
- Evolution of Modern India & Emergence of Nationalism: Intellectual awakening; Press; Western education. Socio- religious reforms during 19th century: various leaders and institutions.
- The Freedom Struggle & Indian National Movement- its various stages, streams and important contributors, contributions from different parts of the country.
- Post-independence Nation Building: The linguistic reorganisation of the states, Institutional building during Nehruvian age, Development of science and technology.