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History Notes: Time Sequence of Ancient to Modern History in

India(L 1)
Dear Readers, History covers a good number of questions making it an important
topic to cover in SSC Exams. Around 5 - 8 questions are asked
from History which surely makes it important for you to study the topic well. So
today we are providing you the Chronological order of the events that took place
from Ancient to Modern History in India.

Chronological order of Ancient to Modern History of India

Indian History can be classified into three periods:

 Ancient India
 Medieval India
 Modern India.

Ancient India (Pre-historic to AD 700)

There were activities of proto humans (Homo erectus) in the Indian subcontinent
20 lakh years (2 million years) ago, and of Homo sapiens since 70,000 BC. But
they were gathers/hunters.

 The first inhabitants of Indian subcontinent might have been tribals like
Nagas (North-East), Santhals (East-India), Bhils (Central India), Gonds
(Central India), Todas (South India) etc.
 Most of them are speakers of the Austric, pre-Dravidian languages, such
as Munda and Gondvi. Dravidians and Aryans are believed to be immigrants
who came later to the sub-continent.
 Ancient India can be studied under other heads like Paleolithic, Mesolithic,
Neolithic and Chalcolithic period – based on the type of stone/ metal tools
people used.

Paleolithic Period (2 million BC – 10,000 BC)

 Fire
 Tools made up of lime stone
 Ostrich Eggs
 Important Paleolithic sites : Bhimbetka (M.P), Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves,
Narmada Valley (Hathnora, M.P), Kaladgi Basin

Mesolithic Period (10,000 BC – 8,000 BC)

 Major Climatic Change happened

 Domestication of animals ie Cattle rearing started
 Microliths found at Brahmagiri (Mysore), Narmada, Vindya, Gujarat

Neolithic Period (8000 BC – 4,000 BC)

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 Agriculture Started
 Wheel discovered
 Inamgaon = An early village
 Important Neolithic Sites : Burzahom(Kashmir), Gufkral(Kashmir),
Mehrgarh(Pakistan), Chirand(Bihar), Daojali Hading(Tripura/Assam),
Koldihwa(UP), Mahagara(UP), Hallur(AP), Paiyampalli(AP), Maski, Kodekal,
Sangana Kaller, Utnur, Takkala Kota.
 NB: Megalithic Sites: Brahmagiri, Adichanallur

Chalcolithic Period (4000 BC – 1,500 BC)

 Copper Age. Can be considered part of Bronze Age. (Bronze = Copper + Tin)
 Indus Valley Civilization(BC 2700 – BC 1900).
 Also cultures at Brahmagiri, Navada Toli (Narmada region), Mahishadal
(W.Bengal), Chirand (Ganga region)

Iron Age (BC 1500 – BC 200)

 Vedic Period (Arrival of Aryans ie. BC 1600 – BC 600) – Nearly 1000 years
(Basic books of Hinduism, ie Vedas were composed, might have written
down later.)
 Jainism and Buddhism
 Mahajanapadas – Major Civilization after Indus Valley- On banks of river
Ganga
 Magadha empire – Bimbisara of Haryanka Kula
 Sisunga dyanasy – Kalasoka (Kakavarnin)
 Nanda empire – Mahapadma-nanda, Dhana-nanda
 Persian- Greek : Alexander 327 BC

Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC)

Chandra Gupta Maurya, Bindusara, Asoka
Post Mauryan Kingdoms (Middle Kingdoms):

 Sunga (181-71 BC), Kanva (71-27BC), Satavahanas (235-100BC), Indo-

Greeks, Parthians (19-45AD), Sakas (90BC-150AD), Kushanas(78AD)
 South Indian Kingdoms – Chola, Chera, Pandyas (BC 300)

Gupta Kingdom (300AD – 800AD) : Classical Period

 Samudra Gupta (Indian Napoleon)

Post Guptas or Contemporary Guptas

 Harshvardana, Vakatakas, Pallavas, Chalukyas. Also, Hunas,

Maitrakas, Rajputs, Senas and Chauhans.

Medieval India (AD 700 – AD 1857)

 AD: 800-1200: Tri partite struggle – Prathiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas

 Attack of Muhammed Bin Kassim (AD 712)
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 Rise of Islam and Sufism

 Mohammed Ghazni (AD 1000-27)
 Mohammed Ghori (AD 1175-1206)

* Kingdoms of South India During Medieval India – Bhamini and Vijayanagara

Delhi Sultanate (1206 AD – 1526 AD)

1. Slave Dynasty
2. Kilji Dynasty
3. Tuglaq Dynasty
4. Sayyid Dynasty
5. Lodi Dyanasty

Mughals (AD 1526 – AD 1857)

 Great Mughals
 Later Mughals
 Arrival of Europeans
 Other Kingdoms of North India – Marathas, Sikhs

Modern India (AD 1857 +)

 First War of Indian Independence (1857)

 Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)
 Formation of Muslim League (1906)
 Non Co-operation Movement (1920)
 Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)
 Quit India Movement (1942)
 Partition of India (1947)
 Constitutional Development of India (1946 – 1950)
 Economic Development of India
 Wars – India-Pak – Formation of Bangladesh; India- China
 New Economic Policy of 1991
 Nuclear, Space and Defense Development

Important Points You Should Know About Indus Valley

Civilization(L2)
Today we will be covering a very important topic from the general knowledge
section that is- All Important Facts About the Indus Valley Civilization. These
points will be helpful for your upcoming exams like SSC Exam etc. If you like it let
us know.

Indus Valley civilization

 John Marshall was the first scholar to use the term, ‘IndusCivilization’.
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 The Indus Valley Civilization was an ancient civilization thriving along the
Indus River and the Ghaggar-Hakra River which is presently known as
Pakistan and north-western India.
 According to radio-carbon dating, it spread from the year 2500 – 1750 BC.
 The most characteristic feature of the Harappan Civilization was its
urbanization.
 Besides sheep and goats, dogs, humped cattle buffalo and elephant was
certainly domesticated.
 Capital cities- Harappa, Mohenjodaro.
 Port cities- Lothal, Sutkagendor, Allahdino, Balakot, Kuntasi.
 The Indus-Valley people were well-acquainted with the use both of cotton
and wool.

Social features:

 First urbanization in India.

 Town planning
 Grid pattern
 Drainage system
 Equality in society

Major Cities And Their Features:

 Mohenjodaro (Sind) is situated on the right bank of the Indus.

 Chanhudaro lies on the left bank of the Indus about 130 km south
of Mohenjodaro.
 Kalibangan (Rajasthan) was on the banks of the river Ghaggar which dried
up centuries ago.
 Lothal is at the head of the Gulf of Cambay.
 Banawali (Haryana) was situated on the banks of the now extinct Sarasvati
 Surkotada (Gujarat) is at the head of the Rann of Kutch.
 Dholavira (Gujarat) excavated is in the Kutch district

Economic features:

 Based on agriculture
 Trade/commerce.
 Export/import
 Production of cotton
 16 was the unit of measurement (16, 64,160, 320).
 Weights and measures of accuracy existed in Harappan culture (found at
Lothal).
 The weights were made of limestone, steatite, etc and were generally cubical
in shape
 A dockyard has been discovered at Lothal.

Religious Features:

 Mother goddess – Matridevi or Shakti

 Sex organ (Yoni) worship.
 Pashupati Mahadeva – lord of Animals
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 Yogic position structure.

 Nature worship.
 Animal worship – Unicorn, ox.
 Tree worship – Peepal.
 Fire worship- Havan Kund.
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Important Facts about Buddhism & Jainism(L3)

Dear Readers, today we are providing some Important facts about Buddhism &
Jainism which is a very important topic for the SSC Exams and you should not
ignore it to score well in these exams.
Buddhism and Jainism are two branches of the Samana tradition that still exist
today. Buddhism and Jainism originated from the prevailing pessimism of the time
and both the creeds had some common points. Jainism and Buddhism had largest
number of followers among the mercantile class. Both Mahavira and Buddha
preached their doctrines in the language of the people.

Some points in detail about Buddhism

 The Buddha also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata.
 Born in 563 BC on the Vaishakha Poornima Day at Lumbini (near
Kapilavastu) in Nepal.
 His father Suddhodana was the Saka ruler.
 His mother (Mahamaya, of Kosala dynastry) died after 7 days of his birth.
Brought up by stepmother Gautami.
 Married at 16 to Yoshodhara. Enjoyed the married life for 13 years and had
a son named Rahula.
 After seeing an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic, he decided to
become a wanderer.
 Left his palace at 29 in search of truth (also called ‘Mahabhinishkramana’ or
The Great Renunication) and wandered for 6 years.
 Attained ‘Enlightenment’ at 35 at Gaya in Magadha (Bihar) under the Pipal
tree.
 Delivered the first sermon at Sarnath where his five disciples had settled. His
first sermon is called ‘Dharmachakrapracartan’ or ‘Turning of the Wheel of
Law’
 Attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (identical with village Kasia in
Deoria district of UP) in 483 BC at the age of 80 in the Malla republic.

Buddhist Councils

 First Council: At Rajgriha, in 483 BC under the Chairmanship of

Mehakassaapa (king was Ajatshatru). Divided the teachings of Buddha into
two Pitakas-Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka.
 Second Council: At Vaishali, in 383 BC under Sabakami (King was
Kalasoka). Followers divided into Sthavirmadins and Mahasanghikas.
 Third Council: At Pataliputra, in 250 BC under Mogaliputta Tissa (King was
Ashoka) In this, the third part of the Tripitaka was coded in the Pali
language.
 Fourth council: At Kashmir (Kundalvan), in 72 AD under Vasumitra (King
was Kanishka, Vice-Chairman was Ashwaghosha). Divided Buddhism into
Mahayana and Hinayana sects.

Buddhist Literature
Buddhist Literature: In Pali language.
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Vinaya Pitaka: Rules of discipline in the Buddhist monasteries.

Sutta Pitaka: Largest, contains collection of Buddha's sermons.
Abhidhamma Pitaka: Explanation of the philosophical principles of the Buddhist
religion

Some points in detail about Jainism

 Jainism founded by Rishabha.
 There were 24 Tirthankaras (Prophets or Gurus), all Kshatriyas. First
was Rishabhnath (Emblem: Bull).
 The 23rd Tirthankar Parshwanath (Emblem: Snake) was the son of King
Ashvasena of Banaras.
 The 24th and the last Tirthankar was Vardhman Mahavira (Emblem:
Lion). He was born in kundagram (Distt Muzaffarpur, Bihar) in 599 BC.
 His father Siddhartha was the head of Jnatrika clan.
 His mother was Trishla, sister of Lichchavi Prince Chetak of Vaishali.
 Mahavira was related to Bimbisara. Married to Yashoda, had a daughter
named Priyadarsena, whose husband Jamali became his first disciple.
 At 30, after the death of his parents, he became an ascetic.
 In the 13th year of his asceticism (on the 10th of Vaishakha), outside the
town of Jrimbhikgrama, he attained supreme knowledge (kaivalya).
 From now on he was called Jaina or Jitendriya and Mahavira, and his
followers were named Jains. He also got the title of Arihant, i.e.. worthy.
 At the age of 72, he attained death at Pava, near Patna, in 527 BC.
 Mahavira preached almost the same message as Parshvanath and added
one more, Brahmcharya (celibacy) to it.

Trick to Remember the names of all Sikh Gurus and Their

achievements(L4)
Today we are providing you tricks to remember All the Sikhs Guru and their
Achievements which usually asks in SSC Exam like SSC Exams and any other
Exam. If you like this post then we will continue.

Sikhism

‘Sikh’ is a sanskrit word which means ‘desciple’

Guru Nanak (1469 - 1539)

 Founded Sikh Religion.

 His teachings are composed in Adi Granth or Granth Sahib.

Guru Angad (1538 - 1552)

 Invented a new script called "Guru-Mukhi".

Guru Amardas (1552 - 1574)

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 Started the Langar or Community Kichen.

 Led struggle against Sati and Purdah System.

Guru Ramdas (1574 - 1581)

 Founded Amritsar in 1577 on the land granted by Akbar.

Guru Arjun Dev (1581 - 1606)

 Founded the Swarna Mandir or Golden Temple at Amritsar.

 Composed Adi Granth in 1604.
 Executed by Jehangir on charges of helping prince Khusrau with money and
Prayer.

Guru Hargovind (1606 - 1645)

 Transformed the Sikh into a militant community.

 EstablishednAkal Takht and fortified Amritsar.

Guru Har Rai (1645 - 1661)

Guru Har Kishan (1661 - 1664)

 He is the youngest Sikh Guru

Guru Teg Bahadur (1664 - 1675)

 He was executed at Delhi by Aurangazeb for not embracing islam.

 He called himself "Sachcha Badshah".
 Guru Govind Singh (1675 - 1708)
 He founded the Khalsa in 1699.
 Introduced a new rite "Pahul".
 He made his headquarter at Makhowal or Anandpur. He compilled a
supplementary Granth.
 He joined Bahadur Shah's camp as a noble.

TRICK To Remember Name: Nanak Angdan kr Amar ho Ram ke pass chale

gaye lekin Arjun ne Govind ki Rai li or kitni baduri se Kudh Govind ban gaye.

 Guru Nanak (1469 - 1538)

 Guru Angad (1538 - 1552)
 Guru Amardas (1552 - 1574)
 Guru Ramdas (1574 - 1581)
 Guru Arjundev (1581 - 1606)
 Guru Hargovind (1606 - 1645)
 Guru Har Rai (1645 - 1661)
 Guru Har Kishan (1661 - 1664)
 Guru Teg Bahadur (1664 - 1675)
 Guru Govind Singh (1675 - 1708)
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History Notes: Vedic Literature Part – I(L5)

The Vedic literature was composed in Sanskrit. To begin with the Vedas were
recited and not written. They were taught by oral method. Hence they
were called as Sruti (heard) and Smriti (memorized). But later on they were
reduced to writing after the invention of scripts.
The major literary and religious works of Vedic Period are the four Vedas and the
Upanishads. These works still continue to hold immense authority in the sphere of
spiritual and religious literature. The idea and principles of Karma (action) and
Moksha (spiritual liberation) are widely accepted by the people belonging to Hindu
faith.

Four Vedas
Veda is a sanskrit word. It means “knowledge“. There were four Vedas :

1. The Rig Veda

2. The Sama Veda
3. The Yajur Veda and
4. The Atharva Veda.

1. The Rig Veda

 Collection of hymns
 Oldest of all vedas
 Associated of 1017 hymns or Suktas after adding "Blhilya Sukta" number in
1028
 Compiled in 10 'mandalas' & 8 'Akhtaks'.
 Also contains the famous Gayatri Mantra
 II, III, IV, V, VI & VII are oldest mandalas
 I, VIII, IX, X are latest mandalas.
 The Tenth "Mandalas" or chapter which has the "Purushasukta" hymn, was
probably added later.
 Mandala IX is completely devoted to 'Soma'.
 Mandala II to VII were created by Grita Samada, Vishwamitra, Vamadeva,
Atri, Bharadwaj, Vashistha, VIII Kanwa and Angira, IX Soma

2. Samveda

 Rhthmic compilation of hymns for Rigveda

 "Book for Chants" contains 1,549 hymns, meant to be sung at the 'soma'
sacrifice by a special class of Brahmanas called Udgatris. But the
Samaveda has very little original value.
 Has only 75 fundamental hymns

3. The Yajur Veda

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 Book of sacrifical prayers

 Rituals of yajnas
 Is sung of priest "Adhavaryu"
 Its mantras tell us how the sacrifices were to be performed and what part the
"Adhvaryus"- the Brahmanas who performed the manual work in the
arrangement of sacrifice were to play at the time of sacrifice.
 Has been compiled in "fourth path"
 Has been divided into, Krishna(black) Yajurveda & Shukla(white)
Yajurveda
 Prose text

4. Atharvaveda

 Mantras for magic spells

 Populate ritualistic system & superstitions
 Associated with "Saunkiya" and "Paiplad" community
 Collection of 711/731/760 hymns
 Not included in 'Trai'
 Has been divided in 20 "Kandas"
 18th, 19th & 20th 'Kandas' are later works
 Provides freedom from evils spirits.
 Oldest text on Indian Medicine.
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History Notes: Vedic Literature Part – II(L6)

Dear Readers,
In continuation to our previous posts on Vedic Literature and it's History, here is
the next part of the series Vedic Period and it's details. The notes are important
for SSC, Railway, Haryana SSC and all other competitive exams.
The vast literature of the Aryans is divided into two parts -

 Sruti
 Smriti

1. Sruti Literature: The word Veda has been divided from the Sanskrit
word Ved, which means 'spiritual knowledge'. The Vedas are four in number - Rig
Veda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. The Rig Veda contains a
references only to the first three Vedas, which suggests that the fourth Veda was
composed at some later date.
The Vedic literature is usually divided into three periods: -

1. The Mantra period when the Samhitas were composed

2. Brahaman period when the Brahamanas, Upanishads and Aranyakas were
composed
3. the Sutra period.

 Brahmanas are massive prose text which contain speculation of the

meaning of the hymns, give precepts for their application, relate stories of
their origin in connection with sacrificial rites and explain the secret meaning
of the later.
 The Aranyakas are the concluding parts of the Brahamanas. It doest not lay
much stress on rites, rituals and sacrifices, but merely contain the philosophy
and mysticism. The lead with the problems of soul, origin and elements of
universe and the creation of universe.

Aranyaka:-

 Literarily, it means 'Jungle'

 Provides description of Moral Science and Philosophy
 Provides details of hermits and saints who lived in Jungles
 Give stress on meditation
 Protests the system of 'Yajnas'

It would be appropriate to describe Upanishadas as mystic writings. There are 108

Upanishads in all, the most prominent of them being Ish, Prasana, Aitareya,
Taittiriya, Chhandogaya, Kathoupanishad, Ishopanishad, Brehadaranyaka, etc.
Upanishada

 Literary meaning is 'Satra' (to sit near masters feet) in which Guru offers
band of knowledge to their disciples
 Is a combination of Tatva-mimansa and philosophy
 They are also called "Vedanta"
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 Primitive upanishada are "Brahadaranyaka" and "Chandogya"

 Later Upnishada like "Katha" and "Swetaswatar" have been written in
poetic forms.
 Brahma is the summary of philosophy, which is the only a 'truth' in the world.
 Knowledge awards salvation says Upanishadas
 Oldest possibility Narsinghpurvatapani
 Latest possibility Allopanishada in Akbar's reign

2. Smriti Literature: Smriti is traditional knowledge and designates almost the

entire body of post-Vedic classical Sanskrit literature. Smriti literature generally
includes the following overlapping subjects:-

1. The Vedangas: They refer to certain branches of post-Vedic studies

regarded as auxiliary to the Vedas. The Vedangas are conventionally divided
into six heading namely:-

(i)Kalpa or the ritual canon, including the dharma shastras or legal codes,
(ii)Jyotisha or astronomy,
(iii) Siksha or phonetics,
(iv)Chhanda or metre
(v) Nirukta or etymology
(vi)Vyakarana (Grammer)

1. The Shad-Darsana: Six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, namely

Nyaya, 'Vaiseshikha', Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta.
2. Itihasa: Legendary or semi-legendary works, specifically the Ramayana and
Mahabharata and often extended to the Puranas.
3. Puranas: Being a fairly late description of ancient legends, they are heavily
coloured with the superstitions. The Puranas represent the most corrupt form
of Hinduism. They are 18 in number

 The Eighteen Puranas

 Brahma Purana
 Vishnu Purana
 Shiva Purana
 Padma Purana
 Shrimad Bhagwat Purana
 Agni Purana
 Narad Purana
 Markandey Purana
 Bhavishya Purana
 Ling Purana
 Varah Purana
 Vaman Purana
 Brahm Vaivertya Purana
 Shanda Purana
 Surya Purana
 Matsya Purana
 Garuda Purana
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 Brahmand Purana

Upaveda: Also known as the auxiliary Vedas, they deal with medicine,
architecture, erotics, archery and various arts and crafts. These were partly
derived from original Vedic texts and were traditionally associated with one or
other of the Vedas.
Tantras: Tantras are the writings of Shakta or Shaivite sects and also of certain
antinomian Buddhist scholars
Agamas: They are scriptures of sectarian Hindus like Vaishnavites, Shaivites and
Shaktas.
Upangas: They are a generic name for any collection of treatises although
traditionally confined to the philosophical systems of 'Nyaya' and 'Mimansa' - the
'Dharma Sutras' the 'Puranas' and the 'Tantras'

Epics
Some historians regard the Later Vedic Period as the Period of Epics.
The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are the two great epics of this period.
Ramayana: It is said to have been composed by the sage, Valmiki. The incident
related in it precedes the Mahabharata by about a hundred and fifty years. The
story of Ramayana is of indigenous origin and had existed in ballad form in Prakrit,
in more than one version. It was rewritten in Sanskrit and augmented with many
'Shlokas'. The epic was given a Brahmanical character which was not visible in the
original work. It is also known as Adi Kavya. Evidence places the oldest part of the
Ramayana to before 350 BC. The reference in the epic to the mingled hords of
Yavanas and Shakas suggests that it received accretions in the Grae co-Scythian
period and may have acquired its final shape by about AD 250.
Mahabharata: The Mahabharata is the bulkiest epic consisting of 100,000 verses
and is divided into 18 paravas (books). This book is usually assigned to Rishi Ved
Vyas, but scholars have expressed doubts if such a great work could have been
accomplished by one single person. The story itself occupies only about one -fourth
of the poem. It is a tale about conflict between Aryans-Kaurava and Pandava.
The rest is episodical comprising cosmology, theogony, state craft, the science of
war, ethics, legendary history, mythology, fairy tales and several digressional and
philosophical interludes, of which the best known is the Bhagavad Gita.

History Notes: Dynasties of Ancient India - Part I(L7)

History forms a very important part of the General Awareness section of every
competitive exam. In continuation to our previous posts on History notes, here are
some very useful notes on Dynasties of Ancient India . Follow these notes to excel
in the upcoming Railway and SSC exams .

Dynasties of Ancient India

Two major dynasties of India, the Maurya Empire (321 BC- 185 BC) and Gupta
Empire (240 BC-550 AD), were originated from Magadha.
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Apart from Maurya and Gupta dynasties, there were other dynasties which were
started from Magadha,

 Haryanka dynasty (544-413 BC)

 Shishunaga dynasty (413-345 BC)
 Nanda dynasty (424-321 BC)

Haryanka dynasty :-

 Haryanka is the name of a new dynasty founded in Magadha by Bimbisara .

 Bimbisara founded the dynasty by defeating the Brihadrathas .
 Bimbisara was a contemporary of Buddha .
 Pataliputra and Rajagriha were the capitals of Magadhan kingdom. Magadha
falls in the Patna region of Bihar.

Shishunaga Dynasty:-

 Haryankas were overthrown by Sisunaga and he founded the Sisunaga

dynasty there.
 Kalasoka the son and successor of Sisunaga was succeeded by Mahapadma
Nanda and he founded the Nanda dynasty.
 Ajatasatru’s successor Udayin was the founder of the city of Pataliputra.

Nanda Dynasty:-

 The Nanda Empire was an ancient Indian dynasty originated

from Magadha and was established in 424 BC.
 Mahapadma Nanda was the founder and the first king of the Nanda dynasty.
 He overthrew the Magadha dynasty and established the new Empire.

 Initially Nanda Dynast inherited a large kingdom of Magadha and

subsequently the boundaries of Nanda Dynasty were expanded in all
directions by its rulers.
 Nandas formed a vast army, including 200000 infantry, 20000 cavalry, 2000
war chariots and 3000 war elephants.
 At its peak, the Nanda Empire expanded from Bengal in the east to Punjab in
the west.
 In the southern side it extended to the Vindhya Range.
 Dhana Nanda was the last ruler of Nanda Dynasty.
 In 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya defeated him and founded the Maurya
Empire.

MAURYAN DYNASTY (321 – 185 BC):-

List of Mauryan Emperors:

1. Chandragupta Maurya (321 BC-298 BC)

2. Bindusara (298 BC-272 BC)
3. Ashoka Maurya (269-232 BC)

4. Dasaratha Maurya
5. Samprati
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6. Salisuka
7. Devavarman
8. Satadhanvan
9. Brihadratha Maurya

Origin of Mauryan Empire:-

 The Mauryan Empire, started from Magadha was founded in 321 BC by

Chandragupta Maurya .
 Pataliputra ,the modern day Patna was the capital city of Mauryan Empire.

Expansion of Mauryan Empire:-

 Mauryan Empire was one of the world's largest empires of that time and
expanded to an area of 5,000,000 km2.

Ashoka:-

 Ashoka ascended the throne in 273BC and ruled upto 232 BC. He was known
as ‘ Devanampriya priyadarsi the
 beautiful one who was the beloved of Gods.
 He was known as ‘ Devanampriya priyadarsi the beautiful one who was the
beloved of Gods.
 Ashoka fought the Kalinga war in 261 BC Kalinga is in modern Orissa.
Ashokan inscriptions were deciphered by James Princep .
 After the battle of Kalinga Ashoka became a Buddhist, being shocked by the
horrors of the war.
 Ashoka was initiated to Buddhism by Upagupta or Nigrodha a disciple of
Buddha
 For the propagation of Buddhism Ashoka started the institution
of Dharmamahamatras .
 The IV Major Rock Edict of Ashoka tells about the practice of Dharma
 The Major Rock Edict XII of Ahoka deals with the conquest of Kalinga.
 Ashoka held the third Buddhist council at his capital Pataliputra in 250BC
under the presidentship of Moggaliputa Tissa.
 He sent his son and daughter to Sri Lanka for the spread of Buddhism
(Mahendra and Sanghamitra)
 Ashoka spread Buddhism to SriLanka and Nepal. He is known as
the Constantine of Buddhism .
 In his Kalinga Edict he mentions ‘‘ All man are as my children ’’.
 Ceylones ruler Devanmpriya Tissa was Ashoka’s first convert to Buddhism.
Ashoka ruled for 40 years and died in 232 BC.
 The emblem of the Indian Republic has been adopted from the four lion
capital of one of Ashokas pillars which is located in Saranath .
 Rock-cut architecture in India made a beginning during Ashoka’s reign.

Chanakya the architect of Mauryan Empire:-

 Chanakya ,also known as Kautilya was the teacher of Chandragupta Maurya.
 He was originally a teacher of Takshashila University.
 P a g e | 17

 He is considered to be the main architect in the establishment of the Maurya

Empire by defeating the powerful Nanda Empire.
 His original name was Vishnugupta.

Important points about Mauryan Empire:-

 Major sources for the study of Mauryan Empire are the Arthasastra of
Kautilya and Indika of Megasthenes .
 Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of Mauryan Empire. It is also said
that his mother was Mura a women of lower birth hence got the name
Maurya.
 ChandraGupta Maurya was converted to Jainism, abdicated the throne in
favour of his son Bindusara, passed his last days at Sravanabelagola (Near
Mysore) where he died in 298 BC.
 Bindusara was a follower of Ajivika sect.
 Bindusara was known as Amitragatha .
 Megasthenese the first foreign traveller to India mentions about the
existence of seven castes in India during the Mauryan period. Stanika in
Mauryan administration refers to tax collector.

History Notes: Dynasties of Ancient India– Part II(L8)

History forms a very important part of the General Awareness section of every
competitive exam. In continuation to our previous posts on History notes which
was Dynasties of Ancient India part-I , Follow these notes to excel in the
upcoming Railway ,SSC exams and any other competition exams.

Indo Greeks

 First to invade India were the Greeks who were called Indo-Greeks.
 The most famous Indo-Greek ruler was Menander with his Capital at
Sakala in Punjab (Modern Sialkot)
 The Indo-Greeks were the first to issue gold coins in India.
 Menander was converted into a Buddhist by Buddhist monk Nagasena
(Nagarjuna)
 Demitrius, the king of Bacteria invaded India about 190BC. He is
considered as Second Alexander (But the Indian ruler who accepted the
name second Alexander (Sikandar-i-sani) was Alauddin Khilji) Indo-Greeks
were the first to introduce military
governorship in India.

Kushan Empire

 Kujula Kadphises is considered to be the founder of Kushan Empire. He

established the kingdom by unifying the disparate Yuezhi tribes of ancient
Bactria in the early 1st century AD and expanded its territory of present day
Afghanistan, Pakistan, southern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
 P a g e | 18

 He established the capital of Kushan Empire near Kabul.

 During the period of first to mid-third centuries AD, Kushan expanded rapidly
and represented as a major power in Central Asia and northern India.
 The most famous Kushana ruler was Kanishka. He became the ruler in 78
AD and started Saka Era in 78 AD.
 The Capital of Kanishka was Peshawar or Purushapura. Kanishka
convened the fourth Buddhist council in Kashmir.
 The Gandhara School of Art received royal patronage under the Kushans.
Kanishka patronised Mahayana form of Buddhism.
 The first month of Saka era is Chaithra and the last month is Phalguna.
 Vasudeva was the last great king of Kushana Dynasty.
 Kushana school of art is also referred to as the Mathura school.

Sunga Dynasty

 Sunga dynasty was established by Pusyamitra Sunga in 185 BC after

assassinating the last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha.
 The capital of Sunga Dynasty was Pataliputra of ancient Magadha.
 Kalidasa’s drama Malavikagnimitram is about the love story of
Pushyamitra’s son Agnimitra and
 Last King of sunga dynasty was Devabhuti. he ruled the kingdom from 83 to
73 BC
 Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and Mahabhasya were composed in this period.
The ancient Sanskrit grammar, Ashtadayayi by Panini was composed during
the period of Sunga Period.

Kanva Dynasty

 Kanva dynasty was founded by Vasudeva Kanva in 72 BC after defeating

the last Sunga ruler Devabhuti.
 This dynasty ruled for a period of 45 years.
 Vasudeva, Bhumimitra, Narayana and Susuman were the rulers of Kanva
dynasty.

Satavahana Dynasty

 Satavahanas were the most powerful ruling dynasty after the Mauryas.
 Satavahanas were also known as Andhras.
 Satavahanas were the Indian rulers who prefixed their mother’s name along
with their names.
 Most important Satavahana ruler was Gautamiputra Satakarni.
Satavahanas were Brahmanas.
 Nagarjuna Konda and Amaravati in Andhrapradesh became important seats
of Buddhist culture under the Satavahanas.
 The two common structures of Satavahanas were the temple
called Chaitya and the monastery called Vihara.
 The official language of the Satavahanas was Prakrit

The Cholas
 P a g e | 19

 Vijayalaya was the founder of the Chola empire. He was a feudatory of the
Pallavas of Kanchi.
 Raja Raja I (985 - 1014) adopted the titles of Arumudivarman,
Mammudichodadeva, Jaykonda, Marthanda Chola, Mamudichola etc. He
built the Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjavur. which is called the
RajaRajeswara temple.
 Rajendra I led an expedition to North India, defeated the Pala ruler Mahipala
I and adtoped the title, Gangaikondachola and established a new Capital,
Gangai Konda Cholapuram. Cholas maintained a well established local – self
government system. Ur, Sabha or Mahasabha - and Nagaram were the
assemblies for local administration.
 The Uttaramerur inscription of Dantivarman Pallava gives details about the
local self government.

History Notes: All about Gupta Empire(L9)

History forms a very important part of the General Awareness section of every
competitive exam. In continuation to our previous posts on History notes, here are
some very useful notes on "Gupta Empire and it's Details". Follow these notes
to excel in the upcoming Railway and SSC exams.

Gupta Empire
 The start of Gupta Empire is considered by many historian from the reign
of Maharaja Shrigupta.
 Chandragupta-I was the first powerful ruler of Gupta Empire and ascended
the throne in 320 AD.
 The Gupta Period from 320 AD to 550 AD is also known as the Golden Age
of India.
 In the Gupta period India attained the peak of glory in every aspects starting
from science, art, literature, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy.

Emperors of Gupta Empire

 Shrigupta and Ghatotkacha. The reign of Maharaja Shrigupta (240 AD to 280

AD) is considered by many historians to be the starting point of Gupta
Empire.
 Ghatotkacha succeeded his father Shrigupta and ruled from 280AD to 319
AD.

Chandragupta I

 Chandragupta I was the son of Ghatotkacha and succeeded his father. He

was the first powerful king of the dynasty. He ruled the Empire from 320 AD
to 335 AD.
 Chandragupta I adopted the title of Maharajadhiraja: meaning King of
Kings.
 P a g e | 20

 He married princess Kumaradevi of neighboring kingdom Lichchhavi and

gained the control of the territory of north Bihar.
 The starting of the reign of Chandragupta-I is considered by many historians
as the beginning of Gupta era.

Samudragupta and Chandragupta II

 Samudragupta,succeeded his father Chandragupta I and ruled the Gupta

dynasty for about 45 years from 335 AD to 380 AD. He is also known as
'Napolean of India'.
 Many historians believe that Chandragupta II was nominated by his father
Samudragupta as the next heir of Gupta Empire.But Ramagupta,the eldest
son of Samudragupta succeeded his father and became the emperor.
 Chandragupta II killed him and ascended the throne. He was an extremely
powerful emperor. Chandragupta II is most commonly known as
Vikramaditya,ruled the Gupta Empire from 380 AD to 413 AD.

Other Emperors

 Kumaragupta I,the son of Chandragupta II succeeded his father and ruled

the dynasty till 455 AD. After Kumaragupta I, Skandagupta succeeded his
father.
 He is considered to be the last of the great Gupta emperors.
 He also adopted the title of Vikramaditya.
 After Skandagupta, the Gupta dynasty didn't get any powerful rule r and
finally the dynasty was overpowered by the Vardhana ruler Harshavardhana.

Note:Some of the weak rulers who ruled after Skandagupta

were, Purugupta, Kumaragupta II, Budhagupta, Narasimhagupta, Kumaragupta
III, Vishnugupta, Vainyagupta and Bhanugupta.
Fa-hien's India Visit

 Fa-hien was the first Chinese pilgrim who visited India during the reign of
Gupta emperor Chandragupta II.

Nine Gems or Navaratnas

 At the time of Vikramadityas reign, the glory of Gupta Empire reached its
peak.
 A circle of famous nine persons known as Nine Gems or Navaratnas were
present in the court of Vikramaditya.

The group comprised of

 Kalidasa
 Vetala Bhatta
 Varahamihira
 Vararuchi
 Amarasimha
 Dhanvantari
 kshapanak
 P a g e | 21

 Shanku
 Ghatakarpura

Kalidasa
 Kalidasa was a famous Sanskrit writer and poet in the court of Chandragupta II
(Vikramaditya).
 Kalidasa was the author of three famous plays.
 Abhijnanasakuntalam : tells the story of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala
 Malavikagnimitram tells the story love of King Agnimitra with Malavika
 Vikramorvasiyam tells the love story of King Pururavas and celestial fairy Urvashi
 Kalidasa was also the author of two famous Sanskrit epic poems:
 Raghuvamsa ("Raghu Dynasty ") and
 Kumarasambhava.

Vetala Bhatta

 Vetala Bhatta was a Brahmin in the court of Vikramaditya.

 He is known for his contribution of "Nitipradipa ".

Varahamihira

 Varahamihira was an Indian astronomer, astrologer and mathematician of Gupta era.

 He is famously known for his great work Pancha Siddhantika,a book on mathematical
astronomy.
 His other important contribution to the Indian Sanskrit literature is the Brihat -Samhita, an
encyclopedia of astrology and other subjects of human interest.

Vararuci

 Vararuci was one of the nine Gems in the court of Chandragupta II of Gupta era.

Amarasimha

 Amarasimha was one of the nine Gems in the court of Vikramaditya of Gupta era.
 He is notably known for his famous Sanskrit thesaurus Amarakosha.
 It is also known as Namalinganushasana.

Dhanvantari

 Dhanvantari is regarded as one of the worlds first surgeons and medical

practitioner from Gupta era.
 He is considered as the origin exponent of Ayurveda.
 He is also worshipped as the God of Medicine.
 Sushruta, the author of famous Sushruta Samhita was the student of Dhanvantari.
 He is also credited for the discovery of the antiseptic properties of turmeric and the
preservative properties of salt.
 Dhanvantri is considered to be the pioneer of modern plastic surgery.

History Notes on Chalukas Dynasty and Pallava

Dynasty(L10)
 P a g e | 22

Since the SSC CGL Exams are fast approaching, it is important to keep a check on
your preparations and as usual, we are here to help. History has always been an
important subject in various exams like SSC, UPSC,CTET etc. and around 8-10
questions are asked in various teaching exams every year and 5 -6 questions in
SSC CGL preliminary examinations. Today we are sharing with you the notes on
Chalukyas and Pallavas which are contemporary to Medieval History. The notes
are point based and drafted in such a way that they will be easy to remember.
Please don’t forget to save this post in your notes section as it will be very handy
during revision.

History Notes on Chalukas Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty

THE CHALUKYAS:
Chalukyas were the Karanataka rulers and their History can be classified into three
eras:
1) The early western era (6th - 8th century), the era which belonged to Chalukyas
of Badami (Vatapi);
2) The later western era (7th - 12th century), the era which belonged to
Chalukyas of Kalyani;
3) The eastern chalukya era (7th - 12th century), the era which belonged to
Chalukyas of Vengi.
Pulakesin I (543-566) was the first independent ruler of Badami dynasty. The
capital of his kingdom was Vatapi in Bijapur .
Pulaksesin I was succeeded by Kirthivarma I (566-596). After his untimely death,
his brother Mangalesha (597-610) was made the care taker ruler as the son of
Kirthivarma I - Prince Pulakesin II was a baby. Mangalesha made several failed
attempts to kill the prince but killed himself by the prince and his friends.
The most famous king of the Chalukyan dynasty was Pulakesin II (610-642), the
son of Pulakesin I. Pulakesin II was a contemporary of Harshavardhana. He
defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada and his reign is
remembered as the greatest period in the history of Karnataka.
4) The rise of the Eastern Chalukyan Era was started by Pulakeshin II
brother Kubja Vishnuvardana after conquering the Kosalas and the Kalingas.
5) By 631, the Chalukyan Empire was at its peak. It extended from sea to sea.
Their fall began when Pulkeshin II was defeated and killed by the Pallavas under
the able leadership of Narsimhavarma I. The Pallavas attacked on their capital
Badami & captured it.
6) Under the leadership Of Vikramaditya I (655-681) the Chalukyas rose to power
once again. Vikramaditya I defeated his contemporaries Pandya, Pallava, Cholas
and Kerala rulers to establish his supremacy over the Chalukyan Empire southern
region.
7) Vikramaditya I was succeeded by Vikramaditya II (733-745) who also defeated
the Pallava king Nandivarma II to capture a major portion of the Pallava kingdom.
8) The fall of Chalukyan Empire started with Vikramaditya II‘s son, Kirtivarma II
(745), who was defeated by the Rastrakuta ruler, Dhantidurga, who went on to
established the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
 P a g e | 23

PALLAVA DYNASTY:
1.After the decline of the Satavhana dynasty, the Pallava dynasty, founded
by Shivaskandavarman emerged in South India.
2.Kanchi was the capital of the Pallava dynasty.
3.Some of the leaders wo are worth mentioning are : Simhavarama I
Sivaskkandavarma I, Veerakurcha, Shandavarma II, Kumaravishnu I, Simhavarma
II, and Vishnugopa.
4.The decline of the Pallavas started after Samudragupta defeated Vishugopa .
5.The Pallavas kingdom was re-established by Simhavishnu, the son
of Simhavarma II, who ended the Kalabhras‘ dominance in 575 AD and re-
established his kingdom.
6.Vikramaditya I was defeated by Parameshwaravarma I in 670 and restricted the
advance of the Chlukyan king. Eventually, Parameshwaravarma I was defeated
by the combined armies of the Chalukyas, the Pandyas ( lead by their ruler
Arikesari Maravarma) and another promients enemy of the Pallavas.
7. Narasimhavarma II, a peace living ruler, succeeded Parameshwaravarma
I after he died in 695. The famous Kailashanatha temple at Kanchi is built
by Narasimhavarma II. After the accidental death of his elder son‘s in
722, Narasimhavarma II too dies grieving.
8. Parameshwaravarma II the youngest son of Narasimhavarma II, came to
power in 722 after the death of his father. The Pallava kingdom was in a state of
disarray after the death of Parameshwaravarma II in 730 as he had no heirs to
the throne.
9.After some brief infighting for the throne among the family, Nandivarma II came
to power. Nandivarma then went on to marry the Rashtrakuta princess Reeta
devi and re-established the Pallava kingdom.
10.Dantivarma (796-846) succeeded Nandivarma II who ruled for 54 long
years. Rastrakuta king Dantidurga defeated Dantvarma and was succeeded by
Nandivarma III in 846.

Questions Asked in Previous Years Exam from Ancient History

Dear Readers, History covers a good number of questions making it an important
topic to cover in SSC Exams. Around 5-8 questions asks from History which
surely makes it important for you to study the topic well for upcoming SSC and
Railway Exams. Here are 50 previous year questions of History which you should
not ignore.

Previous Years Exam from Ancient History

1. The source of Swastika symbol - Indus Valley
2. Who is considered as the father of Indian archaeoloy - Alexander
Cunningham
3. Meter scale has been discovered from ......... - Harappa
4. Weapon never used by the -Indus people - Sword
5. What was the major industry in Chanhudaro? - Bead making
 P a g e | 24

6. The word ‘Sindhan’ used by the Indus people denoted - Cotton

7. Evidence of fractional burial has been excavated from - Harappa
8. The word ‘godhume’ used in the vedic period denote - Wheat
9. ‘Yava’ denoted - Barley
10. Term used to denote rice in the vedic text - Vrihi
11. Vedic term sita denoted - Ploughed field
12. Which veda mentions about wheel - Rigveda
13. Vedi terms ‘Urvara’ or ‘kshetra’ denoted - Cultivated field
14. The famous frog hymn in Rig Veda throws light to - Vedic education
15. Who was considered as the god of the vedas? - Varuna
16. Rigvedic term ‘Duhitri’ denoted - Milker of cows
17. Method used to calculate the number of cows in the Vedic period -
Ashtakarni
18. Part of which veda has prose part - Yajur Veda
19. Who spread Aryan religion in South India - Agasthya
20. Vedic term ‘Aghanya’ denotes - Cows
21. The term ‘Bharata’ and ‘Bharatavarsha’ were first used in - Rig Veda
22. Upanishad which mentions the four Ashramas of Vedic period - Jabala
Upanishad
23. Largest number of hymns in Rigveda a are in praise of - Indra
24. Edict which mentions about the relation between India and China -
Nagarjunakonda
25. First town in the vedic period to use burned bricks - Kausambi
26. First reference about lending money for interest can be found in -
Satpatha Brahmana
27. Rigvedic paintings have been discovered from Bhagvanpura. It is in
which state - Haryana
28. Upanishad which mentions about police system - Brihadaranyaka
Upanishads
29. God who was considered as God of Gods - Varuna
30. Community which was considered as untouchables by the Buddhists. -
Chandalas
31. The language used by the Jains to spread their religion - Prakrit
32. Who is considered as the St.John of Buddhism - Ananda
33. Who is considered as Devil by the Buddhists - Mara
34. Three daughters of ‘Mara’ - lust, emotion and desire
35. The ruler who persecuted Buddhists - Pushyamitrasunga
36. Major philosophic school of Bhagvatism - Vishishtadvaita
37. Earliest reference about Srikrishna can be found in - Chandoghya
Upanishad
38. Hindu God who found place in Greek literature - Sri Krishna
39. Jain Thirthankara, who was related to Sri Krishna -- Rishabhadeva (Ist
Thirthankara)
40. Tamil god of the Sangham age for War and Victory - Kottavai
41. Saint who founded the Saivism -Lakulisa
42. Tamil kingdom of the Sangham Age which sent an ambassador to the
court of Roman Emperor - Augusts Pandyas
43. First Sangham was founded by - Saint Agasthya
44. Famous poetess of the Sangham period - Avvaiyar
 P a g e | 25

45. Greeco-Roman traders who visited South India during the Sangham
period were denoted with the term - Yavanas
46. Sangham work which describes about Buddhism - Manimekhalai
47. The word used by Ashoka to denote Buddha - Bhagavati
48. Ashokan inscriptions were desciphered by James prince in the year -
1837
49. Indo-Greek ruler who had his boundaries upto Pataliputra - Menander
50. Yuchi ruler who introduced gold coins for the first time - Vima
Kadphesus

Medieval History Notes: Arab & Turkish invasions in india

Dear Readers,
History covers a good number of questions making it an important topic to
cover in SSC Exams. Around 5-8 questions asks from History which
surely makes it important for you to study the topic well for upcoming SSC
and Railway Exams. Here is Medieval History Notes which you should
not ignore.

Arabs Invasions

 During the Khaliphate of Omar, Arab forces made fertile attempts to

get Bombay
 Arabs captured Sindh in 712 AD.
 The Arab conquest of Sindh was led by Muhammed Bin Kassim.
 Muhammed Bin Khasim was the nephew of Al- Hajaj, the governor of
the Arab province of Basra.
 Dahir, a Brahmin was the ruler of Punjab at that time. He was killed
by Kassim.
 The Arabs lost control over Sindh in 779 AD.
 Arab conquest of Sindh resulted in the spread of Islam to North India.
 But Islam was first introduced in India by Malik Ibn Dinar in Kerala in
644 AD.

Turkish Invasions

 Ghazni in Afghanistan was ruled by a Turkish family called Gamini of

Ghaznavid dynasty.
 Muhammed Ghazni was the first Turkish conqueror of North India.
 Muhammad Ghazni’s father was Subu ktigin.
 He attacked India only for want of wealth.
 He attacked India seventeen times between 1000 and 1027 AD. He
made all the raids in the guise of Jihad.
 First Invasion was in 1001 AD.
 P a g e | 26

 He defeated Jaipal and Anandpal of Shahi dynasty in 1001 and 1009

respectively.
 The most important raid of Muhammed was the Somanath
expedition. It was in 1025. He completely destroyed the temple.
Somanath Temple was on the sea coast of Gujarat.
 Muhammed Ghazni died in 30th April 1030.
 Later his son Masud attacked India and captured Kashmir.
 The famous Persian poet Firdausi who wrote
 ‘Shahnama’ (The Book of Kings) lived in his court.
 Alberuni, an Arab Historian, who wrote Tarikhul- Hind (Reality of
Hindustan), accompanied Muhammed Ghazni to India.
 Al-Firdausi is known as ‘Indian Homer’, ‘Persian Homer’, or ‘The
Immortal Homer of the East’. Muhammed of Ghore attacked India
betwen 1175 and 1206 AD.
 Muhammed Ghori made his first expedition to India and captured
multan in 1175 AD.
 In the First Battle Tarain in 1191 (near Taneswar) Muhammed Ghori
was defeated by the Rajput forces under Prithviraj Chauhan III.
 In the Second Battle of Tarain (1192 AD) Muhammed Ghori assisted
by Qutub -ud-din Aibek a slave, defeated Prithviraj Chauhan III and
killed him.
 In 1193 Muhamed Ghori attacked Jaichand, father in law of Prithviraj .
III at Kanauj, Jaichand was defeated.
 Muhammed Ghori returned from India by intrusting his territories in
India in the hands of Qutub- Uddin Aibak.
 After the death of Ghori in 1206 Aibek founded the Slave Dynasty.
 Muhammed Ghoris Indian invasion resulted in the foundation of
Islamic rule in India.

Medieval Hisory Notes: Delhi Sultanate Part -1

History covers a good number of questions making it an important topic to
cover in SSC Exams. Around 5-8 questions asks from History which
surely makes it important for you to study the topic well for upcoming SSC
and Railway Exams. Here is Medieval History Notes which you should
not ignore.

Delhi Sultanate
The five dynasties which founded subsequently after the Turkish invasion
were collectively known as Delhi sultanate. They are:

 Slave Dynasty- 1206 - 1290

 P a g e | 27

 Khilji Dynasty-1290 - 1320

 Tughlaq Dynasty- 1320 - 1412
 Sayyid Dynasty- 1414 - 1451
 Lodi Dynasty-1451 – 1526

Slave Dynasty (1206 - 1290)

 Slave Dynasty was also called Ilbari Dynasty, Yamini Dynasty

or Mamluk Dynasty.
 Qutub-ud-din Aibak was a slave of Muhammed Ghori and he
founded the Slave Dynasty in 1206 AD.
 Aibak was the first Muslim ruler of India.
 The capital of Qutub-ud-din Aibak was at Lahore
 He was known as ‘Lakh Baksh’ or ‘giver of lakhs’ or ‘giver of favours’
for his magnanimity.
 Hasan Nizami was a famous historian in the court of the Aibak.
 Qutub-ud-din Aibak started the construction of Qutub Minar in 1199
in Delhi in memory of the Sufi saint Quaja Qutub - ud-din Bhaktiar
Kaki.
 Its construction was completed by Ithumish. It is a five storied
building.
 Qutub-ud-din Aibak died 1210 by falling from horseback while playing
Polo.
 After the death of Qutubuddin, Aram Shah ascended the throne but
he was deposed by Ilthumish and crowned himself the Sulthan
 During the period of Ilthumish (1210-1236) Chengizkhan, the Mongole
conqueror attacked India (1221).
 Ilthumish is considered as the real founder of Delhi Sulthanate.
 Ilthumish was the first Sulthan of Delhi to get recognition of the Khalif
of Bagdad.
 Ilthumish was also the first Sulthan to make Delhi his capital.
 He issued a purely Arabic coinage of Silver and was the first to do
so.
 Coins introdued by Ilthumish, ‘Silver Thanka’ and ‘Copper
Jital’ were the two basic coins of the Sulthanate period.
 He organised the ‘Chalisa’ or the famous Turkish forty to help him in
the administration.
 Iltumish completed the construction of Qutub Minar.
 The revenue system of the Sulthanate ‘Iqta system’, was introduced
by Ilthumish.
 Ilthumish was succeeded by his son Ruknuddin Firoz Shah. But he
was later executed and Razia became the sulthan (daughter of
Ilthumish)
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 Sulthana Raziya, the only women ruler of, the Sultanate came to
power in 1236 and reigned till 1240. Sulthana Raizya rejected the
Pardah, she adorned the male dress and held open courts.
 In October 14, 1240 both Razia and Altunia who earlier raised arms
against Razia but later joined with her were, beheaded at Kaithal.
 After Raizya Behran Shah (1240 - 42) Allaud-din-
Masudshah (1242 - 46) and Naziruddin Muhammad (1246 - 1266)
ruled and Balban, the founder of the second Ilban dynasty, became
the Sulthan.
 Ghiasuddin Balban ‘a slave water carreer, huntsman, noble,
statesman became the Sulthan of Delhi in 1266 and continued in
power till 1686 AD.
 Balban is considered as the founder of Second Ilbary Dynasty.
 Balban described himself as ‘shadow of God’ or the ‘viceregent of
God on Earth’ (Zil-i-illahi)
 Balban because of his autocratic rule is considered as a ‘typical
oriental despot’.
 The Chalisa or forty established by Ilthumish was abolished by
Balban.
 His policies are considered to be ‘Draconian’.
 He started the Iranian system of Sajda and Piabos.
 He was a patron of men of letters and showed special favour to the
poet Amir Khusrau.
 After Balban’s death in 1286, Kayqubad (1287 -90) became the
Sulthan.
 Madhavacharya of the Dwaita Philosophy got help from Balban.
 Balban’s Tomb is situated in Delhi. It was constructed by Balban
himself.
 Kayqubad was the last Slave Sulthan. (Kayumars who ruled for a
term of three months was actually the last Slave Sulthan. He was
killed by Jalaluddin Khilji) and founded the Khilji Dynasty.

Khilji Dynasty (1290 -1320)

 Khilji dynasty was founded by Malik Firoz in 1290 and assumed the
title Jalaluddin Khilji (1290- 96)
 In 1292 the Mongols under Abdulla accepted defeat from Jalaluddin
Khilji.
 Alauddin Khilji, the nephew of Jalaluddin Khilji, killed him after his
victory on Devagiri in 1296.
 Alauddin Khilji’s early name was Ali Gurushap.
 He became the Sulthan in 1296 AD and ruled till 1316 AD.
 In 1303 Alauddin Khilji attacked Chittor, the capital of Mewar, to
marry Padmini the wife of Chittor king Ratna Singh.
 P a g e | 29

 But Padmini and other Rajput women committed Juhar (Juhar is a

mass suicide by Jumping into fire, committed by Rajput women to
escape from being polluted by others)
 Padmavat is a historical kavya about Padmini episode written
by Malik Muhammed Jayasi.
 Malik Muhammed Jayasi was the court poet of Shersha Suri.
 Alauddin Khilji was the first Muslim ruler to at- tack South India.
 Malik Kafur was Alauddin Khilji’s Commander who attacked South
India.
 Alauddin Khilji was the most famous ruler of the Khilji Dynasty.
 Alauddin was the Sulthan of Delhi who banned the use of liquor.
 Alauddin had a dream of a World Conquest so he assumed the title
‘Sikhandar-i-sani’ or Second Alexander.
 Demitrius a Bactrian ruler is popularly known as Second Alexander.
 Alauddin abolished the Zamindari System and imposed tax on cattle.
 He was the first muslim ruler of Delhi to introduce measurement of
land for tax assessment.
 His market regulations were to get goods at controlled price to the
people of Delhi.
 Alauddin Khilji was the first Sulthan of Delhi who separated religion
from politics.
 He was also the first to proclaim ‘‘I am the Khalifa’’.
 Alauddin constructed Alai Darwaza the gate way of Qutub Minar.
 He built the city of Siri, the second of the seven cities of Delhi, near
Qutub Minar.
 The first marriage between a muslim ruler and a Hindu princess was
between Alauddin and Kamala Devi, the widow of the ruler of Gujarat.
 Alauddin Khilji was killed by his commander Malik Kafur by poisoning.
 Amir Khusru was the court poet of Alauddin
 Amir Khusru is known as the ‘Parrot of India’
 He is considered as the father of Urdu language and the inventor of
Sitar.
 Laila Majnu and Tughlaq Nama are the famous works of Amir
Khusru.
 Alauddin khilji was the first Sulthan to maintain a permanent standing
army.
 Alauddin Khilji was responsible for the introduction of postal system in
medieval India.
 Mubarak shah khilji was the last ruler of the khilji Dynasty.
 Khilji dynasty came to an end when the Mubarak shah Khilji was
killed by Khusrau Khan.
 Some historians consider Khusrau Khan as the last Khilji Sulthan
 P a g e | 30

Medieval History Notes: Delhi Sultanate Part -2

History covers a good number of questions making it an important topic to
cover in SSC Exams. Around 5-8 questions asks from History which
surely makes it important for you to study the topic well for upcoming SSC
and Railway Exams. Here is Medieval History Notes which you should
not ignore.

Tughlaq Dynasty (1320 - 1412)

 Tughlaq Dynasty was founded by Ghiazuddin Tughlaq. His real

name was Ghazi Malik.
 Ghiasuddin Tughlaq founded the dynasty after killing Khuzru Khan in
1320. Ghiazuddin died by the collapse of a pavilion.
 He built the Tughlaqabad Fort in Delhi the third city of Delhi to the
east of Qutub complex.
 Ghiassudhin Tughlaq was the first Sulthan to start irrigation works.
 GhiassuddinTughlaq was succeeded by his son Jauna Khan,
popularly known as Muhammed Bin Tughlaq.
 Muhammed Bin Tughlaq is considered as the single most responsible
person for the decline of Delhi Sulthanate.
 Muhammed Bin Tughlaq was known as a mixture of opposites,
wisest fool, Pagal padushah, unfortunate idealogue and the
predecessor of Akbar in intellectual and religious matters.
 Ibn Batuta called him ‘‘an illstared idealist’’.
 He shifted his capital from Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad) in 1327.
 In 1330 he introduced token currency of bronze and copper.
 Moroccan Traveller Ibn Batuta visited India during his period.
 Edward Thanas described him as ‘prince of moneyers’.
 Muhammed Bin Tughlaq was succeeded by his elderly cousin, Firoz
Shah Tughlaq.
 Firoz Shah Tughlaq was the first Sulthan of Delhi to impose Jaziya. It
was a religious tax for the freedom of worship. He imposed it only
upon Brahmins.
 He built the city of Firozbad in Delhi. The Firoz shah Kotla was also
built by him. The gate way of Firozshah Kottla is Khooni Darwaza, or
blood stained gate. It was constructed by Shersha Suri.
 He transplanted two Ashokan Pillars to Firozabad.
 He is the author of Fatuhat -i- Firozshahi
 After Firozshah Tughlaq Muhammed Shah Tughlaq or Naziruddin
Muhammed came to the throne.
 It was during the period of his reign
that Timur the Lame or Tamerlain a Turkish conqueror of Tartar
tribe from Samarkhand attacked India in 1398.
 P a g e | 31

 Timur appointed Khizr Khan, the governor of Multan his authority in

India.

Sayyid Dynasty (1414 - 1451)

 Sayyid Dynasty was founded by Khizr Khan in 1414.

 Last Sayyid Sulthan was Alauddin Alamshah or Shah Alam I. He
was killed by Bahalol Lodhi in 1451.

Other rulers of Sayyid Dynasty

 Mubarak Shah (1421-1434)

 Muhammad Shah (1434-1443)
 Alam Shah (1443-1451)
 Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526)

Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526)

Bahlol Lodhi (1451-1488)

 He founded the Lodhi dynasty by usurping the throne from the last of
the Sayyid rulers.
 Bahlol belonged to the Shahu Khel clan of the Lodhi Pashtun tribe.

Sikandar Lodhi (1489-1517)

 He was the son of Bahlol Lodhi.

 In 1504, he founded the city of Agra and made it his capital.
 He introduced the Gaz-i-Sikandari

(Sikandar's yard) of 32 digits for measuring cultivated fields.

Ibrahim Lodhi (1517-1526 AD)

 He was the last king of Lodhi dynasty and the last Sultan of Delhi.
 He was the son of Sikandar Lodhi.
 He was defeated and killed by Babur in the first battle of panipat in
1526 AD

Medieval History Notes: Bahmani and Vijayanagara

Kingdoms
History subject covers a good number of questions making it an important
topic to cover in SSC Examination. Around 5-8 questions asks from
 P a g e | 32

History section which surely makes it important for you to study the topic
well not just SSC but all Other Competitive Exams. Here is Medieval
History Notes on "Bahmani and Vijayanagara Kingdoms" which you
should not ignore.

Bahmani Kingdom

 The decline of the Sulthanate of Delhi gave birth to two mighty states
in South India the Bahmani Kingdom of Gulbaraga and the
Vijayanagara Empire.
 The Bahmanis were Muslim rulers, while the rulers of the
Vijayanagar were Hindus.
 The Bahmani kingdom was founded by Zafar Khan (Hassan) who
took the title of Alauddin Bahman Shah. He selected Gulbaraga as
its capital and renamed it Ahsanabad.
 There were total eighteen Sulthans and they ruled from 1347 to 1527.
 Muhammed Gawan was the famous minister of Bahmini kingdom.
 The last prince of the Bahmani Kingdom was Kalimullah.
 By 1527, the Bahmani kingdom was split up into five independent
principalities.
 The Adil Shahis of Bijapur -founder – Yusuf Adilshah (1489 - 90)
 The Nizam Shahis of Ahamadnagar - founder - Malik Ahmad (1499)
 The Imadshahis of Berar - founder -Fateh Ulla Imadshanti (1490)
 The Qutubshahi kingdom of Golconda – founder - Qutabshah (1512)
 The Baridshahis of Bidar - founder - Amir Ali Barid (1527).
 Muhammad Adil Shah built Gol Gumbaz, a tomb with world's second
largest Dome at Bijjapur
 Muhammad shah built the city of Hyderabad (Bhagyanagar)
 Berar stayed out of the Battle of Talikotta

Vijaya Nagara Empire

 The founders of Vijaya Nagar Empire were Harihara and Bukka Rai,
the revenue officers of the Kakatiya ruler Pratap Rudra Deva II of
Warrangal.
 They founded the dynasty in 1336 with the capital as Vijaya Nagara
on the banks of Tungbhadra river with the help of Saint Vidyaranya.
 Vijayanagara kingdom lasted for 230 years and produced four
dynasties.
 Sangama (1336 - 1485)
 Saluva - (1485 - 1505)
 Tuluva (1505 - 1565) and
 Aravidu (1565 - 1672)
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 Krishna Deva Raya (1509 - 1529) belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.

The Italian traveller Nicolocont visited his court.
 Krishnadeva Rayar is known as ‘Andhra Bhoja’ He
wrote Ushaparinayam and Amuktamalyada
 Allasani Peddanna, a Telugu poet was a courtier of Krishna Deva
Raya. He is considered as the ‘‘Andra Kavita Pitamaha’’ the Grand
Father of Telugu poetry.
 ‘Ashtadiggajas’ was the famous Scholastic Assembly in the court of
Krishna Deva Raya.

Vijayanagar Empire was visited by many foreign travellers:-

 Nicolo Conti - Venitian traveller, visited during the reign of Devaraya

I.
 Abdur Razzak : Ambassador of Sulthan ShahRukh to the court of
Devaraya II.
 Damingos Paes : He visited Krishna Devaraya’s court.
 Ferona Nuniz : A Portuguese who visited during Achyuta Raya’s
reign.
 Durate Barbosa : A portuguese who visited Krishnadeva Raya’s
court.
 Athenasius Nikitin (1415) : He was a Russian, who visited during
Deva Raya I’s period He wrote, ‘Voyage to India’.
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Medieval History Notes: All about Mughal Empire Part-I

The Mughal Empire

 The Mughals were originally Turks. They belonged to the Chaghtai

branch of the Turkish race.
 Period of the Mughal empire is known as Second Classical Age.
First Classical Age is the period Guptas.
 Mughal Empire is also known as Timurid Empire because of its
relation to Amir Timur.
 Mughal Emperors are 20 in number. They ruled India from 1526 to
1857.
 Only six are considered great They are:

1. Zahiruddin Muhammed Babur (1526 - 1530)

2. Naziruddin Mirza Muhammed Humayun (1530 - 40 & 1555 - 1556)
3. Jalaluddin Muhammed Akbar - (1556 - 1605)
4. Nuruddin Muhammed Jahangir (1605 - 1627)
5. Shahabuddin Muhammed Shah Jahan (1628 - 1658)
6. Muhiyuddin Muhammed Aurangazeb Alamgir (1658 - 1707)

Babur (1526-1530) Facts:-

 Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, was the fifth descendant of
Timur on Father’s side and the fourteenth descendant
of Chengizkhan on mothers side.
 Babur was born in Farghana in Turkey on 14 Feb. 1483 as the son
of Umer Sheik Mirza and Qulik Nigarkhanum.
 Babur’s father Umershiek Mirza was the grand son of Amir Timur and
the ruler of Farghana.
 Babur became the ruler of Samarkhand at the Age of 11.
 He captured Kabul in 1504. Then Babur attacked India 5 times for
want of wealth.
 Babur’s first Attack of India was in 1519. Bhera was the first place
captured by Babur.
 In 1524 Daulatkhan, Ibrahim Lodhi’s brother invited Babur to India.
 On 21 April 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, the last Lodhi
Sulthan in the First Battle of Panipat.
 On 16 March 1527 he defeated Rana Sangha of Mewar, in the Battle
of Khanwa.
 The Rajputs in 1528 under Medini Raj of Malwa fought against Babur
in the Battle of Chanderi, but were defeated.
 In 1529 the Afghans under Muhammed Lodhi fought against Babur
in the Battle of Ghaghra but were defeated.
 In 1530 December 26, Babur died and was cremated at Kabul.
 P a g e | 35

 Babur was the first to use Artillery in India.

 His memoirs or autobiography ‘Tuzuk-i-Baburi or Baburnamah was
written in Turkish language, Babur’s mothertongue. Babur said ‘I
dont like India and Indians’.
 Babur was the first Mughal ruler to keep in hand
the KohinurDiamond.
 Babur was a contemporary of Krishnadeva Raya of Vijaya Nagara
Empire.

Medieval History Notes: All about Mughal Empire Part-II

Humayun

 Humayun was born in 1507 in Kabul as the son of Babur and Mahim
Sulthana.
 He became the Mughal Emperor on 29 December 1530 at the age of
23.
 He divided the empire among his brothers - Askari, Hindal and
Kamran.
 The word ‘Humayun’ means ‘fortunate’ But Human is considered as
the most unfortunate Mughal ruler.
 Human was an accomplished mathematician and astronomer.
 In 1539 by the Battle of Chausa, Humayun was defeated for the first
time by Shershah Suri.
 In the next year (1540) Shershah completely defeated Humayun in
the battle of Kanauj and founded the Sur dynasty.
 After the lapse of 15 years Humayun re-captured the Empire by
defeating the last Sur ruler Sikhandar Shah Suri by the battle of
Sirhindh in 1555, July.
 After the restoration Humayun ruled for only six months.
 The period from 1540 to 1555 is known as the period of temporary
eclipse of the Mughal.
 Humayun died by an accidental fall from the straicase of his Library
‘Shermandal’ at the Puranakwila in Delhi on 24 January 1556.
 The Purnakwila was constructed by Humayun but its construction was
completed by Shershah.
 Humayun’s biography Humayun Namah was written by Humayun’s
sister Gulbadan Begum. The language used to write this biography
was a mixture of Turkish and Persian. In 1533 Humayun built the city
of Dinpana (world refuge) in Delhi.
 Humayun’s tomb is situated in Delhi (first building in India having
double domes)
 P a g e | 36

 Humayun tomb is known as predecessor of Tajmahal, because Taj

was modelled after this, also known as a dormitory of the house of
Timur. Mirak Mirza Ghias is its architect.

Akbar the Great

 Father - Humayun
 Mother - Hamida Bhanu Begum
 Step mother - Magam Anaga
 Guardian - Bairam Khan
 First Guardian - Munim Khan
 Akbar was born at Amarkot in Sindh in 23 Nov. 1542.
 He came to the throne on February 14, 1556 at the age of 14 at
Kalanur.
 Hemu the Hindu Prime Minister of Muhammed Adilshah of Bihar
occupied Agra and accepted the title Maharaja Vikramaditya.
 Akbar killed Hemu in the Second Battle of Paniput in 1556
November 2.
 Akbar became an independent ruler at the age of 18 in 1560, after
dismissing Bairamkhan.
 Later he married Bairam Khans widow Salima Begum.
 In 1561 he defeated the musician Sulthan of Malwa - Baz Bahadur.
 In 1562 Akbar married Joda Bhai, the daughter of Raja Bharmal of
Amber
 In 1564, he abolished the religious tax Jaziya. Jaziya was impossed
for the first time by Firozshah Tughlaq.
 In 1572 he captured Gujarat and in memory of that he built a new
capital city Fathepur sikri (city of Victory) near Agra.
 The early name of Fathepur Sikri was city of Sikri.
 Buland Darwaza is the gate way of Fathepur Sikri, built by Akbar. In
1575 Akbar constructed a prayer house in Fathepur Sikri known
as Ibadatkhana.
 In 1579 he issued the Infallibility Decree by which he made himself
the supreme head in religious matters.
 In 1580 the first Jesuit missionaries arrived at the court of Akbar.
 In 1585 Ralph Fitch the first English man to reach India, reached
Akbar’s court.
 Ralph Fitch is known as pioneer English man or torch bearer
Englishman.
 In 1582 Akbar founded a new religion for universal peace and
monotheism known as ‘Din Ilahi’ means Divine Faith.
 In 1583 he started a new Calendar called Ilahi Calendar.
 In 1576 Akbar defeated Maharana Pratap of Mewar in the battle of
Haldighat. Haldighat is a mountain pass in the Aravally hills in
Rajasthan.
 P a g e | 37

 The Portuguese introduced tobacco for the first time in India in the
court of Akbar in 1604.
 Akbar was the Mughal Emperor when the English East India
Company was being founded in 1600 December 31. Akbar died in
1605.
 His tomb is situated at Sikhandra near Agra.
 Akbar was an illiterate person, but he was a patron of men of
eminence. He maintained a Scholastic Assembly in his court. They
included the following personalities.
 Abul Fazal : Akbar’s court historian who wrote Akbar’s biographical
works Ain-i-Akbari and Akbar Namah..
 Abul Faizi : Persian poet and brother of Abul Fazal. He translated
Mahabharata into Persian in name ‘Razam Namah’ and
Bhaskaracharya’s mathematical work Leelavati into Persian.
 Mian Tansen : His original name was Ram Thanu Pande. He was the
court Musician of Akbar. He composed a Raga, Rajdarbari in honour
of Akbar.
 Birbal : His real name was Mahesh Das. He is the court jester of
Akbar.
 Raja Todarmal : RajaTodarmal was Akbar’s finance or revenue
minister. He formulated Akbar’s revenue
system Zabti and Dashala systems. Raja Todermal also
translated Bhagavatapurana into Persian.
 Maharaja Mansing : Akbar’s military commander.
 Badauni : a historian who translated Ramayana into Persian -
Tarjuma -1-Ramayan.
 Tulasidas : Hindi poet who wrote Ramacharitamanas.
 Akbar’s military system was known as Mansabdari system, which
included Ranks from 10 - 7000
 Akbar was also responsible for the introduction Persian as the official
language of Mughals.
 He divided the Mughal Empire into 12 Subahs (provinces) for the
administrative conveniences.
 Akbar was also the first ruler to organise Hajj. Pilgrimage at the
government expense. The Port Cambay in Gujarat is known as the
‘Gate way to Mecca from Mughal India’.
 Akbar was an accomplished Sitar player.
 Mughal - Rajput friendly relation began during the period of Akbar.

Medieval History Notes: All about Mughal Empire Part-IV

Aurangazeb
 P a g e | 38

 Aurangazeb imprisoned his father and made himself the Padushah in

1658. But his actual coronation was conducted in 1659.
 Alamgir was the name adopted by Aurangazeb when he became the
Padusha.
 Aurangazeb is known as Zinda Pir’ or living saint because of his
simple life.
 He banned music and dance.
 He ousted all the artists from his court. At the same time he was an
accomplished Veena player.
 Aurangazeb was the last great Mughal Emperor.
 In 1675 he executed 9th Sikh Guru Guru Tej Behadur because of his
reluctance to accept Islam.
 Teg Behadur was executed at the Chandni Chauk.
 In 1679 Aurangzeb constructed the tomb of his only wife Rubiad
Daurani at Aurangabad in Maharashtra. It is known as Bibi ka
Makabara. It is otherwise known as Mini Tajmahal as it was the blind
imitation of Tajmahal. In the same year he reimpossed Jasya upon all
the non Muslims, which was earlier abolished by Akbar.
 Aurangazeb called Shivaji a ‘mountain rat’ and gave him the title
Raja because of his guerilla tactics.
 In 1660 he entrusted Shaisthakhan to defeat Shivaji.
 Later in 1665 the treaty of Purandar was signed between Maharaja
Jaisingh of Amber and Shivaji Jaisingh was deputed by Aurangazeb.
The Mughal Rajput relation became worse during
 the period of Aurangazeb.
 Aurangazeb was the only Mughal Emperor who was not a drunkard.
 Aurangazeb is considered as religiously fanatic. He was also a
temple breaker. He persecuted the Hindus and imposed prohibition
against the free exercise of Holi and Divali.
 Aurangazeb died in 1707 February 20,at Ahmednagar. Aurangazeb’s
tomb is situated at Daulatabad in Maharashtra.

Later Mughals

 Bahadurshah I came to the throne after the death of Aurangazeb.

His real name was Muassam.
 In 1739 Nadirshah Quli the Persian conqueror attacked India during
the period of the Mughal Emperor Muhammed Shah or Rustan Khan
(1719-1748) and took away ShahJahan’s famous Peacock Throne
and Kohinoor Diamond.
 Ahmedshah’s (1748 -1754) period saw the mighty invasion of Ahmed
Shah Abdali of Afghanistan.
 Akbar Shah II (1806 - 1837) conferred the title ‘‘Raja’’ upon Ram
Mohan Roy.
 P a g e | 39

 Bahadurshah II (837-1862) was the last Mughal emperor. On 17th

May 1857 Bahadurshah II was declared the independent Emperor of
India by the Mutineers. He was surrendered to LtW.S.R. Hodson at
Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi. In 1859 he was deported to Rangoon in
December where he expired on Nov. 7, 1862. The Tomb of
Bahadurshah II is in Pwin Manah, the capital of Myanmar.
 Bahadurshah II was also a famous Urdu Poet.
 Bahadurshah II was also known as Bahadurshah Zafar Zafar means
gifted poet.

Medieval History Notes: The Marathas

History covers a good number of questions which make it an important
topic to cover in SSC Exams. Around 5-8 questions asks from History
section which surely makes it important subject for you to study the topic
well for upcoming SSC and all Other Competitive Exams. Here
is Medieval History Notes on The Marathas” which you should not
ignore.

The Marathas

 The first great leader of the Marathas was Chatrapathi Shivaji.

 The Marathas became prominent in the later half of the 17th century.
 Shivaji belonged to the Bhonsle clan of the Marathas.
 Shaji Bhonsle and Jiga Bai were the Parents of Shivaji.
 He was born in 1627 February 19 at the fort of Shivner near Junnar.
 His father was a military commander under the Nizam Shahi rulers of
Ahmedanagar and later of Bijapur.
 Shivaji’s tutor was Dadaji Kondadev.
 Shivaji received the help of Malavi tribe to capture the territories of
Bijapur Sulthan.
 Torna was the first place captured by Shivaji in 1646.
 Shivaji came to conflict with the Mughals for the first time in 1657,
during the period of Shah Jahan.
 In 1659 Bijapur Sulthan Ali Adilshah sent Afzal Khan to kill Shivaji.
But he killed Afsal Khan.
 In 1660 Aurangazeb deputed his viceroy of Deccan, Shaisthakhan to
kill Shivaji.
 1665, Shivaji signed the treaty of Purandar with Raja Jai Singh of
Ambher, who was deputed by Aurangazeb.
 In 1666 Shivaji visited Aurangazeb in his court at Agra. But he and
his son Sambaji were imprisoned by Aurangazeb in the Jaipur
Bhavan.
 P a g e | 40

 On 16th June 1674 Shivaji crowned himself an independent Hindu

king became the Chatrapathi and assumed the
title ‘Haidavadhasmodharak’.
 Shivaji died in 1680 at the age of 53.
 Shahu became the Chatrapathi in 1708 and his period witnessed the
rise of Peshwaship.
 Balaji Vishwanath (1712 - 1720) Baji Rao (1720 - 40) Balaji
BajiRao I (1740 - 61) and Madhav Rao I (1761 - 1772) were the
Peshwas who ruled Maharashtra.
 Baji Rao popularised the idea of Hindu Padpadshahi or Hindu Empire.
 Balaji Baji Rao’s period witnessed the Third Battle of Panipat in
1761. In this battle Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan defeated the
Marathas.
 Madhava Rao was the last great Peshwa.
 Last Peshwa was Baji Rao II.
 Madhava Rao’s period witnessed the disintegration of the Maratha
power and the formation of independent kingdoms - Holkarofindor,
Bhonsle of Nagpur, Sindhya of Gwalior and Gaekwad of Baroda.
 Shivaji’s Council of Ministers was known as Ashtapradhan. They
were Peshwa, Pandit Rao, Sumant, Sachiva, Senapathi, Amatya,
Mantri andNyayadhyaksha.
 Peshwa was the Maratha Chief Minister.
 Chaudh and Sardesh Mukhi were two special laxes collected by the
Marathas.
 The first Maratha war (1775 -82) Swai Madhav Rao Vs Raghunath
Rao with English support.
 Second Maratha war 1803 - 05.
 Third Maratha war 1816 - 19.
 The last great Soldier and statesman of Maratha was Nana
Phadavnis (1800)
 The Maratha script was called Modiscript.
 Peshwaship was abolished in 1818
 Baji Rao was the ablest of the Peshwas.
 Shivaji did not allow women in his military camp.
 The Marathas were equipped with an efficient naval system under
Shivaji.

Medieval History Notes: All about Shershah Suri

History covers a good number of questions making it an important topic to
cover in SSC Exams. Around 5-8 questions asks from History which
surely makes it important for you to study the topic well for upcoming SSC
and Other Competitive Exams.Here is Medieval History Notes on
Shershah Suri” which you should not ignore.
 P a g e | 41

Shershah Suri

 Shershah’s original name was Farid.

 He was born in Hissar Firosa.
 His father was Hassan Khan
 His family came to India from Afghanistan.
 He entered the service of Baharkhan Lohani of Behar from whom
received the title of Sherkhan, for killing a lion single handed.
 Later he became a member of the Mughal court of Babur.
 In 1539 by the battle of Chausa, Sherkhan defeated Humayun for
the first time and assumed the name Shershah.
 Later in 1540 he completely defeated Humayun in the battle of
Kanauj and founded the Sur dynasty.
 While directing the operations of his artillery at Kalanjar against the
ruler of Bundelkhand Raja Kirat Singh, Shershah was seriously
wounded by a sudden fire from his own artillery and died on May 22,
1545.
 Shershah constructed the Grand Trunk Road from Sohargaon to
Attock (Calcutta to Amritsar)
 He introduced the National Highway concept for the first time in
India.
 Now the Grand Trunk Road is known as Shershah Suri Marg.
Its part from Delhi to Amritsar is known as National Highway -1.
 Grand Trunk Road is also known a ‘Long Walk’.
 He was the first ruler to introduce Silver Rupiya (one rupiya was
equal to 64 dams) and gold coin Ashrafi.
 He built the Purana Qila in Delhi (its Construction was started by
Humayun) and his own Mousoleum (Tomb) at Sasaram in Bihar.
 He also constructed the Khooni Darwaza (blood stained gate) the
gate way of Firozshah Kotla in Delhi.
 Hindi poet Malik Muhammed Jayasi completed his Padmavat, during
his reign.
 His Revenue system was excellent and hence Akbar’s administrative
reforms were modelled after him. He is regarded as the forerunner of
Akbar.
 Shershah was succeeded by his son Islam Shah. The last Sur ruler
was Sikkandar Shah Sur. Who was defeated by Humayun in 1555 by
the battle of Sirhindh.
 P a g e | 42

Ancient History of India: Know in Brief

Dear Readers, History covers a good number of questions making it an
important topic to cover in SSC Exams. Around 2-3 questions asks from
History which surely makes it important for you to study the topic well
for SSC Exams. Here is Ancient history notes in Brief which you should
not ignore.

Eminent Personalities of Ancient India

 Alexander : he was the ruler of Macedonia in Greece. He attacked

India in 326 BC and captured upto river Bias.
 Ajatasatru : Son of Bimbisara. He established the city of Pataliputra.
 Arien : Greek historian who wrote about Alexander’s Indian invasion.
 Ashwaghosh : Buddhist monk who initiated Kaniskha to Buddhism
wrote Buddha charita, Sutralankar and Sandaranand.
 AmarSimha : Sanskrit scholar in the court of Chandragupta who
wrote Amarakosha.
 Aryabhatta : He analysed the reasons for Solar and Lunar eclipses
and declared that the Earth is round. Wrote Aryabhattiyam.
 Bimbisar : Founded the Magadhan Empire or Haryanka dynasty. He
was the first influential king of ancient India.
 Banabhatta : Court poet of Harshavardhana and author of Harsha
Charita and Kadambari.
 Charak : He was an Ayurvedic expert wrote Charak-Samhita and
established the Aitereya branch of Ayurvedic medicines.
 Amoghavarsha : He was a famous Rashtrakuta ruler.
 Dhanananda : He was a powerful king of Magadha. Alexander did
not go forward to invade Magadha only after hearing his reputation.
 Darius I : The ruler of Iran (Persia) who invaded India in 6th century
BC.
 Gautami Putra Shatakarni : He was the mostfamous Satavahana
king in 2nd Century.
 Harisena : He was the writer of Pryaga Prashasti or Allahabad Pillar
Inscription.
 Kharavel : Ruler of Kalinga in I century AD. The Famous
Hathigumbha inscription belonged to him.
 Kanishka : (I century AD) : Most powerful Kushan king. Started
Shaka Era. Organised fourth Buddhist council at Kundalvan near
Kashmir.
 Karikala : Chola ruler who founded the city of Puhar (Kaveri
patanam) in I century BC.
 Kautilya : also known as Vishnugupta or Chanakya. He
wrote Arthasasthra, which is compared to ‘The prince’ of Machiavelli.
 P a g e | 43

 Kalidas : Famous Sanskrit poet who wrote, Raghuvamsa, Kumara

Sambhavam, Abhigyana Shakuntalam, Vikramorvashiyam
andMalavikagnimitram. He also wrote Meghadootam and
Ritusamharam.
 Kamban : A Tamil poet of 11th century who wrote Ramayan in Tamil.
 Mihir Bhoja : Famous Prathihara ruler of 9th century.
 Kalhana - Famous Kashmiri poet and historian.He wrote Raja
Tarangini.
 Marco Polo : Venitian Traveller to India in 13 th century.
 Menander : He came to India as a foreign aggressor in II Century
BC. MilindaPanho, a book written by Nagasena, is about him.
 Nagarjuna : Famous Buddhist monk. He popounded the philosophy
known as Madhyamika.
 Makkali Gosala : Philosopher of 6th Century BC. He was the founder
of Ajivika sect.
 Mihirkula : Huna conqueror defeated by Yashodharma.
 Skand Gupt : Last mighty Gupta ruler.
 Shushrut : He was a doctor of Ayurvedic medicine. He started the
Dhanwantri branch and was an expert in Plastic Surgery.
 Pulikeshin II. Most powerful king of Chalukyas of Vatapi who
defeated Harshavardhana in North and Mahendravarman of South.
 Pushya Mitra sunga : He killed the last Mauryan ruler and laid the
foundation of Sunga dynasty in 185 BC.
 Pliny : He was a Roman historian who wrote the Natural History. He
wrote about the Mauryas of India.
 Panini : Sanskrit scholar specially of Grammar. He wrote Ashtadyayi.
 Varahamihira : He was famous astronomer who wrote Brihat
Samhita.
 Sankaracharya : He was born in Kaladi in Kerala. He propagated
Advaita Philosophy.

Six systems of Indian Philosophy

 Samkya- Sage Kapila

 Yoga- Patanjali
 Vaisheshika- Kannada
 Nyaya- Akshapada (Gautama)
 Mimamsa- Jaimini

Symbols of Buddha

 Birth- Lotus and Bull

 Renunciation-Horse
 Enlightenment -Bodhitree
 P a g e | 44

 First Sermon -Dharma Chakra

 Nirvana (Death)-Foot prints

Famous Eras

 Vikram Era -58 BC

 Saka Era - 78 AD
 Gupta Era- 320 AD
 Hijra Era -622 AD
 Kollam Era-825 AD
 Illahi Era -1583 AD

Historically Important Places

 Ayodhya- Birth place of Sri Rama (UP)

 Amber Palace- Rajasthan
 Aghakhan Palace- Pune (Maharashtra) (Gandhi and Kasturba
were kept in prison here)
 Kedarnath- Holy place of Hindus (Utharanchal)
 Amarnath- Pilgrim centre (Kashmir)
 Elephanta caves- Near Mumbai
 Ellora Caves- Maharashtra - 34 cavetemples (Hindu, Buddha - Jaina)
 Rajgir- Jain Temple in Bihar
 Golden Temple- Amritsar - Harmandir Sahib of Sikhs
 Golgumbus- Bijapur (Karnataka) Tomb of Muhammed Adil Shah
 Tanjore- Capital of Cholas - Brihadveswara Temple
 Charminar- Hyderabad (Monument of Plague eradication)
 Konark Temple- Orissa (Sun Temple)
 Qutab Minar- Delhi
 Khajuraho- Near Bhopal (M.P.) 80 temples
 Mahabalipuram- Centre of Pallava architecture (Tamil Nadu)
 Kurukshetra- Battle of Mahabarata (in Haryana)
 TajMahal- Agra (UP) Built by Shah Jahan
 Sanchi- Buddhist Stupa (Madhya Pradesh)
 Haridwar- Holy Place of Hindus (Uttaranchal)

Books on Sciences

 Chandra Vyakaran- Chandragomin

 Amar Kosh - Amar Singh
 Niti Shastra - Kamandak
 Kamasutra - Vatsya yana
 Panchasiddhantika- Varahamihira
 Ashtanga Hridaya - Vaghbhatta
 P a g e | 45

 Hastyaurveda- Pulkapya
 Sankhyakarika- Iswarkrishna

Temples and Builders

 Kailas Temple at Ellora - Krishna I

 Chunnakesava Temple, Belur- Vishnuvardhana
 Rathas at Mahabilipuram- Narashimhavarman I
 Brihadeswara Temple, Tanjavur- RajaRaja Chola
 Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram- Narasimha VarmanII
 Lingaraja Temple, Bhavaneswar - Eastern Gangarubs
 Karjuraho Temples- Chandellas
 Rajarajeshwara Temple, Tanjavur- Raja raja I
 Meenakshi Temple at Madhurai- Nayaka Rulers
 Shiva Temple at Tanjavur- Raja Raja Chola

Modern History Notes on Advent of European in India

Dear Readers, History covers a good number of questions making it an
important topic to cover in SSC Exams. Around 5-8 questions asks from
History which surely makes it important for you to study the topic well for
upcoming SSC and Railway Exams. Here is Modern History Notes on
Advent of European in India which you should not ignore.

Advent of the Europeans

Portuguese

 Vasco-da-Gama reached the port of Calicut in 1498 during the reign

of king Zamorin (Hindu ruler of Calicut).
 Sattlements Daman, Salsette, Chaul and Bombay (West coast), San
Thome (near Madras) and at Hooghly.
 Alfonso de Albuquerque, the second Governor of India (first being
Fransisco de Almeida) arrived in 1509 and captured Goa in AD 1510.

Dutch

 Dutch East India Company was formed in AD 1602.

 Dutch were defeated by English at the Battle of Bedara in AD 1759
and as per agreement, the Dutch gained the control over Indonesia
and the British over India, Sri Lanka and Malaya.
 Settlements They set-up their first factory at Masulipatnam in 1605.
Their other factories were at Pulicat, Chinsura, Patna, Balasore, Naga
pattanam, Cochin, Surat, Karikal and Kasimbazar.
 P a g e | 46

English

 The English East India Company was formed in 1599 under a charter
granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1600. Jahangir granted a farman
to Captain William Hawkins permitting the English to erect a factory
at Surat (1613).
 In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe succeeded in getting an imperial farman to
trade and establish factory in all parts of the Mughal Empire by ruler
Jahangir.
 In 1690, a factory was established at Suttanati by Jab Chrnock. In
1698, following the acquisition of zamindari of three villages
of Suttanati, Kalikata and Govindpur, the city of Calcutta was
founded. Fort William was set-up in 1700.
 In 1717, John Surman obtained a farman from Farrukhsiyar, which
gave large concessions to the company. This farman has been called
the Magna Carta of the Company.
 Battle of Plassey (1757) English defeated Sirajuddaula, the nawab
of Bengal.
 Battle of Buxar (1764) Captain Munro defeated joint forces of Mir
Qasim (Bengal), Shujauddaula (Awadh) and Shah Alam II (Mughal).

Danes

 The Danish East India Company was formed in 1616.

 The Danish colony 'Tranquebar' was established on Southern
Coromondel coat of India.
 Settlements Serampur (Bengal) and Tranquebar (Tamil Nadu) sold
their settlements to the English in 1845.

French

 The French East India Company was formed by Colbert under state
patronage in 1664. The First French factory was established at Surat
by Francois Caron in 1668. A factory at Masulipatnam was set-up in
1669.
 French were defeated by English in Battle of Wandiwash (1760).

Modern History Notes: The Revolt of 1857

Political Causes

 The policy of Doctrine of Lapse

Economic Causes
 P a g e | 47

 heavy taxation, evictions, Discriminatory Tariff Policy against Indian

products and destruction of traditional handicrafts that hit peasants,
artisans and small zimindars.

 Military Discrimination as Indian soldiers were paid low salaries, they

could not rise above the rank of subedar and were racially insulted.
 Grievances of Sepays: The introduction of Enfield rifles, andits
cartridge of which was greased with animal fat, provided the spark.
 British social reforms ( widow remarriage, abolition of sati, education
for girls, Christan missionaries).

Cause of Failure

 The Nizam of Hyderabad, the Raja of Jodhpur, Scindia of Gwalior the

Holkar of Indore, the rulers of Patiala, Sindh and Kashmir and the
Rana of Nepal provided active support to the British.
 Comparative lack of efficient leadership.

Impact of the Revolt

 The control of indian administration was passed on to the British

Crown by the Government of India Act, 1858.
 Reorgansiation of the army.
 After the revolt, the British pursued the Policy of Divide and rule.

Modern History Notes: Viceroys of India

Dear Readers, History covers a good number of questions making it an
important topic to cover in SSC Exams. Around 5-8 questions asks from
History which surely makes it important for you to study the topic well for
 P a g e | 48

upcoming SSC and other competitive Exams. Here is Modern History

Notes on Viceroys of India which you should not ignore.

Viceroys of India
Lord Canning (AD 1856-62) :

 The last Governor General and the first Viceroy. Withdrew Doctrine
of Lapse.
 Revolt of 1857, Mutiny took place. Indian Penal Code 1860 was
passed.
 Passed the Act, 1858, which ended the rule of the East India
Company. The Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were
established in 1857.

Lord Elgin (AD 1862) :

 Wahabi Movement

Lord John Lawrence (AD 1864-69) :

 Established the High Courts at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in

1865.
 Telegraphic communication was opened with Europe. Created the
Indian Forest Department.

Lord Mayo (AD 1869-72) :

 Organised the Statistical Survey of India and for the first time in
Indian history, a census was held in 1871.
 Started the process of financial decentralisation in India. Established
the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
 Established the Rajkot College at Kathiawar and Mayo College at
Ajmer for the Indian princes.
 He was the only viceroy to be murdered in office by a Pathan convict
in the Andamans in 1872.

Lord Northbrooke (AD 1872-76) :

 Kuka Rebellion in Punjab, Famine in Bihar.

Lord Lytton (AD 1872-76) :

 Known as the 'Viceroy of Reverse Character'

 Royal Titles Act of 1876 and the assumption of the title of 'Empress
of India' by Queen Victoria, the Delhi Durbar in January 1877.
 P a g e | 49

 Vernacular Press Act (also called the 'Gagging Act' to restrain the
circulation of printed matter) and the Arms Act (made it mandatory
for Indians to acquire license in arms)of 1878.

Lord Rippon (AD 1880-84) :

 First Factory Act of 1881 (prohibited labour). Local Self-

Government was introduced in 1882.
 Repealed the Vernacular Press Act in 1882. Finances of the centre
were divided.
 Lord Rippon is regarded as 'the founding father of local self
governance' in India.
 An Education Commission was appointed under Sir William
Hunter in 1882 to improve primary and secondary education.
 The Ilbert Bill Controversy (1883) enabled Indian district
magistrates to try European criminals.

Lord Dufferin (AD 1884-88) :

 Third Burmese War (AD 1885-86). Establishment of the Indian

National Congress in 1885.

Lord Lansdown (AD 1888-94) :

 Factory Act of 1891 granted weekly holiday and stipulated working

hours for women and children.
 Civil services were divided into Imperial, Provincial and Subordinate
Services.
 Indian Councils Act of 1892.
 The Durand Commission defined the Durand Line between British
India and Afghanistan (now between Pakistan and Afghanistan) in
1893.

Lord Elgin II (AD 1894-99) :

 Southern uprisings of 1899. Great famine of 1896-1897 and Lyall

Commission on famine was established.

Lord Curzon (AD 1899-1905) :

 A Commission was appointed under Sir Thomas Raleigh in 1902, to

suggest reforms regarding universities, the Indian Universities Act of
1904 was passed on the basis of its recommendations.
 Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1994. Thus,
Archaeological Survey of India was established.
 Agricultural Research Institute was established at Pusa in Delhi.
Partitioned Bengal in 1905.
 P a g e | 50

Lord Minto (AD 1905-10) :

 Swadeshi Movement (1905-08); foundation of Muslim League (1906);

Surat Session and split in the Congress (1907). Morley-Minto
Reforms (1909).

Lord Hardinge (AD 1910-16) :

 Capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi (1911); Delhi Durbar; Partition

of Bengal was cancelled. The Hindu Mahasabha was founded in
1915 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Lord Chelmsford (AD 1916-21) :

 Gandhi returned to India (1915) and founded the Sabarmati

Ashram (1916), Champaran Satyagraha, Satyagraha at Ahmedabad
(1981), Kheda Satyagraha (1918).
 August Declaration (1917) by Montague, the then Secretary of
State, and Montford reforms or the Government of India Act of 1919.
 Rowlatt Act (March, 1919) and the Jallianwala Bagh
Massacre (13 thApril, 1919).
 Khilafat Committee was formed and Khilafat Movement started
(1919-20).
 Non-Cooperation Movement started (1920-22). Women's University
was founded at Poona (1916).

Lord Reading (AD 1921-26):

 Repeal of Rowlatt Act. Chauri-Chaura incident. RSS, founded in

1925. Suppreessed Non-Cooperation Movment. Formation of Swaraj
Party.
 Moplah Rebellion (1921) took place. Kokori Train Robbery on
1 st August, 1925. Communal Riots of 1923-25 in Multan, Amritsar,
Delhi etc.

Lord Irwin (AD 1926-31) :

 Simon Commission visited Indian in 1927. Convress passed the

Indian Resolution in 1929.
 Dandi March (12 th March, 1930). Civil Disobediene Movement (1930).
 First Round Table Conference was held in England in 1930. Gandhi-
Irwin Pact.
 Lahore Session of Congress and Poorna Swaraj Declaration (1925).

Lord Willingdon (AD 1931-36) :

 P a g e | 51

 Second Round Table Conference in London in 1931 and third in

1932.
 Government of India Act (1935) was passed. Communal Awards
(16 th August, 1932) assigned seats to different religious communities.
Gandhiji went on a epic fast to protest against this division.

Lord Linlithgow (AD 1936-43) :

 Congress Ministries resignation celebrated as 'Deliverance Day' by

the Muslim League (1939), the Lahore Resolution (23 rd March, 1940)
of the Muslim League demanding separate state for the Muslims. (It
was at this session that Jinnah propounded his Two-Nation Theory).
Outbreak of World War II in 1939. Cripps Mission in 1942. Quit India
Movement (8th August, 1942).

Lord Wavell (AD 1943-47) :

 Cabinet Mission Plan (16 th May, 1946).

 First meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held on 9thDecember,
1946.
 Arranged the Shimla Conference on 25 th June, 1945 with the failure
of the Indian National Congress and Muslim League.
 Election to the Constituent Assembly were held and an interim
government was appointed under Nehru.

Lord Mountbatten (March to August, 1947) :

 Last Viceroy of British India and the first Governor-General of free

India.
 Partition of India decided by the 3rd June Plan or Mountbatten Plan.
 Retired in June, 1948 and was succeeded by C Rajagopalachari, the
first and the last Indian Governor-General of Free India.
 Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament
on 4th July, 1947, by which India became independent
on 15th August, 1947.

Important Events of Indian Freedom Movement

The important movements of the Gandhian phase:-
Khilafat Movement: The Khilafat movement was launched as the
communal movement in defense of the Turkish Khalifa and save his
Empire from dismemberment by Britain and other European powers. The
chief cause of the Khilafat Movement was the defeat of Turkey in the First
World War. The harsh terms of the Treaty of Sevres (1920) was felt by the
Muslims as a great insult to them. The Muslims in India were upset over
 P a g e | 52

the British attitude against Turkey and launched the Khilafat Movement. Ali
brothers, Muhammad Ali, Shaukat Ali, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Dr.
M. Ansari, among others, started the movement. October 17, 1919 was
known as Khilafat Day when the Hindu united with Muslims in fasting and
observed a hartal on that day. The Khilafat Movement merged with the
Non-cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.
Non-cooperation Movement: The Indian National Congress, under the
leadership of Gandhi, launched his first innovative protest, the Non -
cooperation Movement on 1 August, 1920. It involved surrender of all
titles, honorary offices and nominated posts in local bodies. British courts,
offices and all kinds of government-run educational institutions were
boycotted.
Chauri-Chaura Incident (1922): During the Non-cooperation Movement,
being provoked by some policemen, a section of the crowd attacked them.
The police opened fire. In retaliation, the entire procession killed 22
policemen and set the police station on fire. A stunned Gandhi decided to
withdraw the movement.
Civil Disobedience Movement: Civil Disobedience Movement was
launched in 1930 under Gandhi's leadership with the violation of the Salt
Law after Dandi Salt March.
The Dandi march (Salt Satyagraha) started from Sabarmati Ashram and
ended at Dandi (a place in Gujrat). This was followed by a lot of agitation
all over the country. This angered the British government which resulted in
the imprisonment of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. On March
1930, Gandhi signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact with the Viceroy Lord Irwin to
call off the Movement but it finally came to an end on 7th April 1934.
The Individual Satyagraha (August 1940): Mahatma Gandhi launched in
Individual Satyagraha. It was limited, symbolic and non-violent in nature.
Acharya Vinoba Bhave was the first Satyagrahi and he was sentenced to
three months imprisonment. Jawaharlal Nehru was the second Satyagrahi
and imprisoned for four months. The individual Satyagraha continued for
nearly 15 months.
Quit India Movement: The Quit India Movement, also called the August
Movement, launched on 8th August, 1942. It was a result of Gandhi's
protest against the return of Sir Stafford Cripps. He wanted to negotiate
with the British government for the independence of India through this
movement. He gave slogan - 'Do or Die. On 9th August leaders of the
Congress like Abul Kalam Azad, Vallabhbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi and
Jawaharlal Nehru were arrested. The movement can be divided into four
phases :

 In the first phase of the Quit India Movement, there were processions,
strikes and demonstrations
 P a g e | 53

 The second phase of the movement saw raids on the government

buildings and municipal houses. Along with this, post offices, railway
stations and police stations were set on fire.
 The third phase of Quit India movement began in September 1942.
Mobs bombed police in places like Bombay, Uttar Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh.
 Gradually, the movement gained back its peaceful form and
continued till Mahatma Gandhi was released on May, 1944. This was
the fourth phase of the movement.

Some other Important Events of Indian Freedom Struggle:-

The Home Rule Movement (1916): The release of Tilak after 6 years of
jail is Mandalay (Burma) moderated the launching of Home Rule
Movement by Tilak and Mrs. Annie Besnat, both of whom decided to work
in close co-operation to launch the movement to attain concessions,
disillusionment with Morley - Minto Reforms and Wartime miseries.
Rowlatt Act (March 1919): As per this Act, any person could be arrested
on the basis of suspicion. No appeal or petition could be filed against such
arrests. This Act as called the Black Act and it was widely opposed.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April, 1919): On the Baisakhi day
(harvest festival), a public meeting was organized at the Jallianwala Bagh
(garden) to support the Rowlatt Satyagraha. General Dyer marched in and
without any warning opened fire on the crowd. According to official report
379 people were killed and 1137 wounded in the incident.
The Swaraj Party (Jan, 1923): The suspension of the Non Cooperation
Movement led to a split within Congress in the Gaya session of the
Congress in December 1922. On 1 January 1923 leaders like Motilal Nehru
and Chittranjan Das formed a separate group within the Congress known
as the Swaraj Party to contest the council elections and wrecked the
government from within.
Simon Commission (Nov, 1927): Simon Commission was appointed in
the chairmanship of Sir John Simon by the British Conservative
government to report on the working of the Indian constitution established
by the Government of India Act of 1919. All its seven members were
Englishmen. As there was no Indian member in it therefore the
Commission faced a lot of criticism. Lala Lajpat Rai was seriously injured
in the police lathi charge in a large anti-Simon Commission demonstration
on 30 October 1928 and he passed away after one month.
Poona Pact (1932): Poona pact was an agreement upon a joint electorate
between the untouchables and the Hindus which The Poona pact took
place at Yerawada jail in Pune on 24th September, 1932.
Cripps Mission (1942): The British Government in its continued effort to
secure Indian cooperation sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India on 23 March
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1942. This is known as Cripps Mission. The major political parties of the
country rejected the Cripps proposals. Gandhi called Cripp's proposals as
a "Post-dated Cheque".
The Cabinet Mission (1946): Three members of the British Cabinet -
Pathick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander - were sent to
India 15 March, 1946, under a historic announcement in which the right to
self-determination and the framing of a Constitution for India were
conceded. This is known as the Cabinet Mission.

GK Notes on Governor Generals of India

Today we are providing the study notes about all the Governor General
of India during British period. SSC usually asks questions on this topic. So
you must read all the important points about all the G.G. I .
Warren Hastings Plan 1772 – 1785 :

 Brought the Dual Govt, of Bengal to an end by the Regulating Act,

1773.
 The First Anglo – Maratha War (1767 – 69), which ended with the
Treaty of Salbai (1782), and the Second Anglo – Mysore War (1780 –
84), which ended with the Treaty of Mangalore (1784), were fought
during Hasting’s period.

Lord Cornwallis India (1786 – 1793) :

 Did the Permanent Settlement of Bengal (also called Zamindary

System).
 The civil service was brought into existence.

Lord Wellesley in India (1798 – 1805) :

 Adopted the policy of Subsidiary Alliance a system to keep the Indian

rulers under control and to make the British the paramount power.
 He defeated the Mysore force under Tipu Sultan in the Fourth Anglo –
Mysore War in 1799.

George Barlow (1805 – 1807)

Lord Minto I Governor General of India (1807 – 1813) :

 Concluded the treaty of Amritsar with Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1809).

Charter Act of 1813 was passed.

Lord Hasting India (1813 – 1823) :

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 The Anglo-Nepal War (1814 – 16) was fought during his reign which
ended with the Treaty of Sagauli (1816).

Lord Amherst (1823 – 1828)

Lord William Bentinck History (1828-1835)

 Carried out the social reforms like Prohibition of Sari (1829) a nd

elimination of thugs (1830).
 Made English the medium of higher education in the country (After
the recommendations of Macaulay
 Charter Act of 1833 was passed; made him the first Governor
General of India.

Sir Charles Mercalfe History (1835 – 1836) : Abolished all restrictions on

vernacular press (called Liberator of the Press).
Lord Auckland 1842 (1836 – 1842)

 The most important event of his reign was the First Afghan War,
which proved to be a disaster for the English.

Lord Ellenborough (1842 – 1844)

Lord Hardinge I (1844 – 1848)
Lord Dalhousie Reforms (1848 – 1856) :

 Opened the first Indian Railway in 1853 (from Bombay to Thane).

 Laid out the telegraph lines in 1853 (First was from Calcutta to Agra).
 Introduced the Doctrine of Lapse and captured Satara (1848), Jaipur
and Sambhalpur (1849), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1854) and Nagpur
(1854) through it.
 Established the postal system on the modern lines through the length
and breadth of the country, which made communication easier.