Instant History Notes in English

89
Indian History
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90
Indian History
TOP HISTORICAL TRENDS/ EVENTS/ DEVELOPMENT
THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
INDIAN HISTORY MIND MAP

ANCIENT
 Indus Valley Civilization  Vedic Period/Aryan  Jainism & Buddhism
 Magadh Empire  Maurya Dynasty  Kushan Dynasty
 Gupta Empire  Harshvardhana  Southern Kingdom
MEDIEVAL
 Delhi Sultanate  Vijayanagar  Bhakti & Sufi Movement
 Mughal Dynasty  Advent of Europeans  Kingdom of Great Marathas
MODERN
 Trade Initiation of British  East India Company  British Rule before 1857
 Sepoy Mutiny 1857
 Freedom Struggle :
 Rowlatt Act (1919)  Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
 Chauri Chaura (1922)  Non Cooperation Movement (1920-22)
 Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)  Quit-India Movement (1942)
 Partition of India (1947), etc.

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ANCIENT INDIA
Pre Historic Ages Bronze Age

Stone Age •• It began with the development of Indus
valley civilization around 3000 BC and
•• Pre - historic period is divided into three continued up to 1300 BC.
sections- Stone age, Bronze age and Iron age.
•• People started using weapons and
•• Stone age is divided into three periods agricultural tools made of Bronze, an
i.e. Palaeolithic Age, Mesolithic Age and alloy of copper and tin.
Neolithic Age.
•• It had opened the trade networks of
•• Lower Palaeolithic Age covers the
Mesopotamia civilization to reach out
greater part of the Ice Age.
in various directions.
•• The people of this age used to eat fruits,
•• The age came to an end primarily
birds, raw animal flesh etc.
because of the fact that the metals used
•• The tools were usually made of hard rock. as alloy in manufacturing bronze were
•• In Middle Palaeolithic age, a change not very common and widely found.
occurred in the shape of tools which More over the expenses of making
were made of stones or bones. bronze were high at that time.
•• In Upper Palaeolithic age, human
lived as nomadic hunter and gatherers. Iron Age
•• Mesolithic Age was an intermediate •• It was the last principal period among
stage in the stone age. It ended with the the three-age system of prehistoric
introduction of agriculture. societies, preceded by the Bronze age.
•• Neolithic age was an age of polished •• The development of this era was due
tool culture. to the weapons and tools made by iron.
•• Tool making became an important Other changes in the society such as
profession and a variety of polished agricultural practices, religious belief and
tools were manufactured. inclinations towards art were started.
•• They learnt the art of pottery and their •• The age began in the 6th century BCE in
pots were well made and decorated northern Europe and 8th century BCE
with paintings. in central Europe and by 12th century
•• They discovered the art of producing BCE in the East, i.e. ancient Iran, ancient
fire by the friction of stones and the India, and ancient Greece.
wheel was also an important discovery •• In India the late Harappan Culture
of this age. was marked with the Iron Age
archaeological cultures of India with
Chalcolithic Age emphasis given on the Painted Grey
•• Chalcolithic Age is marked by the use of Ware culture (1200 to 600 BCE) and
copper as copper age. the Northern Black Polished Ware (700
•• The economy was based on subsistence to 200 BCE).
agriculture, stock-raising, hunting and
fishing. Indus Valley Civilization
•• Neither they milked animals for dairy Indus Valley Civilization was the most
products. ancient urban civilization in this world
•• It was a transitional stage when both which flourished on the bank of Indus River
bronze, copper and stone tools were used during Bronze Age Period. The important
and humans started living settled life. cities under this civilizations were :
There is an evidence of livestock breeding at the end of middle stone age period.

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IMPORTANT SITES OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
Name of Sites Year of Excavators Features
Excavation
Harappa Punjab 1921 Daya Ram Sahni, • City followed grid planning
(Pakistan) River Madho Sarup • Row of six granaries
Ravi Vatsa, Wheeler • Only place having evidences of coffin
burial
• Evidence of fractional burial and coffin
burial
• Cemetery-H of alien people.
• Virgin-Goddess (Seal)
• Stone symbol of Lingam and Yoni
• Painted Pottery
Mohenjodaro 1922 R.D. Banerjee, • Great Granary, Great Bath Assembly
Sindh (Pakistan) Mackay, hall
River Indus Wheeler • Pashupati Mahadeva Seal
• Bronze image of nude woman dancer
• Human Skeltons huddled together
• Clay figures of Mother Goddess
• A fragment of woven cotton
• Brick Kilns and Dice
Chanhu-daro 1931 N. Gopal • A city without citadel
Sindh (Pakistan) Majumdar, • Inkpot, Lipstick
River Indus Mackay • Shell ornament makers’ shop and
bead makers’ shop
• Footprint of dog on a brick
• Terracotta model of a bullock cart,
Bronze toy cart
• Town was flooded more than seven times.
Kalibangan 1953 A. Ghosh, • Shows both Pre Harappan and Harappan
Rajasthan (India) B.V. Lal, phase
River Ghaggar B.K. Thapar • Evidence of furrowed land
• Evidence of seven fire altars and camel
bones
• Many houses had their own well
• Kalibangan stand for black bangles
• Evidence of wooden furrow
Lothal Gujarat 1953 S.R. Rao • A titled floor which bears intersecting
(India) River design of circles
Bhogava • Remains of rice husk
• Evidence of horse from a terracotta
figurine
• A ship designed on a seal
• Beads & trade ports
• An instrument for measuring angles,
pointing to modern day compass
• Dockyard
Barley was the first grown crop by human in the Middle East around 8000 B.C.

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Banwali Hisar 1974 R.S. Bisht • Shows both Pre-Harappan and Harppan
Haryana phase
• Good quantity of barley found here
Amri Sindh 1935 N.G. Majumdar • Evidence of antelope
Dholavira Gujarat 1985-90 R.S. Bisht • Seven cultural stages
• Largest site
• Three part of city
• Unique water management
Rangpur Gujarat 1953 M.S. Vats, B.B. • Rice was cultivated
River Mahar Lal & S.R. Rao
Ropar Punjab 1953 Y.D. • Evidence of burying a dog below the
River Sutlej Sharma human burial
• One example of rectangular mudbrick
chamber was noticed
• Five fold cultures - Harappan, PGW, NBP,
Kushana - Gupta and Medieval
Alamgirpur 1958 Y.D. Sharma • The impression of cloth on a trough is
Ghaziabad discovered
• Usually considered to be the eastern
boundary of the Indus culture
Early Vedic Period/ Aryan (1500– •• Samgrama meant that gram clashed
500 BCE) with one another and caused war.
•• The Aryans were pastoral people and
•• The earliest specimen of Indo-European fought most of the war for it. Rig Veda
language is Rig Veda. Aryans were
is “gavisihthi” or search for cows as
the people who spoke Indo-European
they were the most important form of
languages basically belonging to wealth.
Central Asia, migrated to India.
•• The concept of women slave was most
•• They settled themselves in Sapta
common. Women and cows were gifted
Sindhu the land of seven rivers in
to the priests in those days.
north-western region of India which
•• Voluntary offering to the chief was
included Kubha river of Afghanistan
known as bali.
along with Indus and its five tributaries.
•• Two priests who played important role
•• According to the oldest Vedic literature
during this time were Vasishtha and
(Rig Veda) the Aryan king came into
Vishvamitra.
conflict with Dasa (branch of early
•• The people of Vedic period were theists.
Aryans) and Dasyus (original inhabitants
Vedic literature shows the existence
of the country). They were soft to Dasas
of god. The religion of the Vedic Aryan
but strongly hostile to Dasyus.
•• Gradually the region came to be known worshipped nature with one in many
as Bharatavarsha named after the concepts.
tribe Bharata. This clan consists of 5 •• Indra (rain god) was important as he
Aryan chiefs and 5 non-Aryan chiefs. played role of a warlord. 250 hymns
Dasrajna Yudha or Battle of ten Kings were devoted to him.
has been mentioned in hymns of Rig •• Agni (fire god) was devoted 200 hymns.
Veda. Varuna, Soma (plant god), female
•• The battle was fought on the bank of divinities like Aditi and Usha were
river Parusni, identical to river Ravi also worshipped but were not given
and was won by Bharatas. importance as the male gods.
First evidence of human in India was found in western Narmada region in Madhya Pradesh.

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•• The administrative machinery worked Yajur Veda: Shatapatha (The oldest and the
under tribal chief called as Rajans. Clan largest Brahmana) and Taittariya.
based assemblies were found such as Atharva Veda: Gopatha
sabha, samiti, vidatha, gana. Women
attended sabha and vidatha. Jainism
•• Social structure of the society was based •• There were 24 Thirthankaras according
on the kinship. Common term for nephew, to Jain tradition. Rishabha Adinath
grandson and cousin was naptri. (symbol-Bull) was the first and Mahavira
Later Vedic Period (symbol-Lion) was the last Thirthankara.
•• There is historical proof of only the last two
Vedic Literature Thirthankaras, Parshwanath (23rd) and
(1500 BC - 500 BC) Mahavira (24th) while rest are obscure.
•• It is believed that the Rig Veda was
Parshvanatha
composed while the Aryans were still in
Punjab. He was a prince of Benaras who led the life
•• Vedic Literature comprises of four of a hermit and died at Shikharji, Giridih,
literary productions: Jharkhand. His four main teachings were
1. The Samhitas or vedas called chaturthi.
2. The Brahamans 1. Ahimsa (Non-injury)
3. The Aranyakas 2. Satya (Non-lying)
4. The Upanishads
3. Asteya (Non-stealing)
•• There are four vedas- Rig Veda, Sama
4. Aparigraha (Non-possession)
Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda.
The first three vedas are jointly called Mahavira
Vedatrayi (trio of vedas).
Rig Veda (collection of lyrics) is the oldest He adopted all these four teachings and
text in the world. It contains 10,500 verses added Brahmacharya (Chastity) to it.
and 1028 hymns, divided into 10 mandalas. Mahavira was born in 540 BC in a village
The hymns of Rig Veda were recited by called Kundagram near Vaishali in Bihar.
Hotri. It is the tenth mandalas which •• He renounced his family at the age of 30
explains the four varnas. and became an ascetic.
Sama Veda (Book of chants) is important •• He attained kaivalya (perfect knowledge)
for Indian music. The hymns of sama veda at the age of 42 under a sal tree at
were recited by Udgatri. Jambhika grama on the bank of river
Yajur Veda (book of sacrificial prayers) is Rijupalika.
a ritual veda. It has both verses and prose in •• He came to be known as Kevalin (perfect
contrast with the fist two vedas. Its hymns
learned), Jina (one who conquered his
were recited by Adhveryus. It is divided into
senses), Nirgrontha (free from all bonds),
two parts- Krishna Yajur and Shukla yajur.
Arhant (blessed one) and Mahavira (the
Atharva veda (book of magical formulae)
contains charms and spells to word of evils brave).
and diseases. •• He delivered his first sermon at Pava to his
Every veda has several Brahmanas attached 11 disciples who were called Gandharas.
to it: •• He passed away at Pavapuri near Bihar
Rig Veda: Aitareya and Kaushitiki Sharif, Bihar at the age of 72 in 468 BC.
Sama Veda: Panchvisha, Shadvinsh, •• Sudharma was the only Gandhara who
Chhandogya and Jaiminaya survived after his death.
Lahuradeva in Uttar Pradesh are the site for oldest agricultural region in the Indian sub-continent.

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Jain Council Year Venne Chairman Result
1st 300BC Patliputra Sthulabhadra Compilation of 12 Angas
2nd 512 AD Vallabhi Devardhi Final compilation of 12 Angas
Kshmasramana and 12 Upangas
Buddhism Sambharnath Horse

Gautama Buddha Abhiaandam Monkey
He was the founder of Buddhism. He was Sumatinath Curlew
born in 563 BC on the vaisakha purnima
Padmaprabhu Red Louts
day at Lumbinivana, Nepal in the Sakya
Kshatriya clan. Suparswanath Swastik
•• At the age of 29, he renounced home, Chandraji Prabhu Moon
this was his Mahabhinish Kramana
Suvidhinath Crocodile
(great going forth) and became a
wandering ascetic. Shitalnath Srivatsa
•• After 49 days of continuous meditation Shreganath Rhinoceros
under a pipal tree at Uruvella (Bodh
Vasupujya Buffalo
Gaya) on the bank of river Naranjana
(modern name Falgu) he attained Vimalnath Boar
Nirvana (enlightment). Anantnath Falcon
•• Buddha delivered his first sermon at
Dharamanath Vajra
Sarnath (Deer Park) to his five disciples,
this is known as Dharamachakro Shantinath Deer
Pravartana. Kuntunath He-Goat
•• He died at the age of 80 in 483 BC Arnath Fish
at Kushinagar. This is known as
Mahaparinirvana. Mallinath Waterpot
Muniswasth Tortoise
Important event of Symbols
Buddha’s life Neminath Blue Lotus
Janma (Birth) Lotus and Bull Arishtanemi Conch Shell
Mahabhinish Kraman Horse Parshwanath Serpent
(Renunciation)
Mahavira Lion
Nirvana/Sambodhi Bodhi tree
(Enlightenment)
Mahajanapadas
Dharamachakra Wheel
Pravartana (First Sermon) During the age of Buddha whole of northern
territory especially north of Vindyan was
Mahaparinirvana (Death) Stupa
divided into sixteen states called Sodasha
24 Tirthankaras Mahajanapadas either monarchical or
Name Symbol republican in character. The kingdoms of
Rishabha Bull Magadh, Koshala, Vatsa and Avanti were
considered powerful. Buddhist literature
Ajitnath Elephant
“Anguttara Nikaya” listed them as:
The original script of the Rigveda is in Brahmi.

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Mahajanapadas Capital Present place
Gandhara Taxila A part of Afghanistan
Kamboja Rajauri Part of Kashmir and Afghanistan
Asmaka Potana Godavari Valley
Vatsa Kaushambi Allahabad
Avanti Ujjain Malwa and a part of M.P
Surasena Mathura Mathura in U.P
Chedi Shuktimati Bundelkhand in M.P
Malla Kushinara, Pawa Eastern U.P
Kurus Hastinapur/Indraprashta Delhi and Meerut
Matasya Virat Nagari Jaipur and Alwar
Vajjis Vaishali North Bihar
Anga Champa Bhagalpur and Munger in Bihar
Kashi Banaras Banaras
Kosala Shravasti Oudh in U.P
Magadha Girivraja/Rajgriha Patna and Gaya in Bihar
Panchala Ahichhatra/Kampilya Rohilkhand in U.P
Magadha Empire Kasi village made to Bimbisara. This brought

Magadha eventually emerged as one of about a war between Magadha and Kosala.
the most powerful Mahajanpadas mainly The war ended in a truce. Ajatasatru got
because of its peculiar geographical back Kasi and married Prasenjit’s daughter,
location. It was bordered by Ganga River in Vajira Kumari. After 16 years-long battle
north, Son River in west, Vindhya ranges in with the Lichchavis, he conquered Vaishali.
south and Champa in East. Kosala too, fell to him. Gradually, the whole
The various dynasties which ruled over of north Bihar came under his control and
Magadh are as follows: Magadha held its sway over Eastern India.
Haryanaka Dynasty Ajatasatru was succeeded by his son,
(544 BC-412 BC) Udayabhadra (459 B.C). He shifted the
capital to Pataliputra at the confluence
King Bimbisara
of the Ganges and the Son rivers. Later
He was the founder of the Haryanka
Pataliputra became the capital of India. A
dynasty. He was a contemporary of Lord
succession of three weak kings, Anuruddha,
Buddha. Bimbisara married Kosala Devi,
Munda and Nagadasaka ascended the
sister of the Kosalan king Prasenajit, and
throne after him.
obtained a portion of Kasi as dowry. He also
In 430 B.C., the last Haryanka ruler,
married Chellana, the Lichchavi princess
Nagadasaka, was killed by his courtier,
of Vaishali, Vasavi, the Videha princess and
Shishunaga, who became the king and
the Madra princess, Khema, thus increasing
founded the Shishunaga dynasty.
Magadha’s powers by marital ties.
Ajatshatru Shishunaga Dynasty (412-344 BC)
Ajatshatru, Bimbisara’s son, killed him to Shishunaga made Grivraja his residence
ascend the throne in 493 B.C. As a result, and deputed his son to Banaras. Shishunaga
Kosalan king Prasenjit revoked the gift of was succeeded by Kalasoka. During
Yapniya was the sect of Jainism which originated from Digambar sect but followed certain Svetambar beliefs too.

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Kalasoka, Pataliputra became the capital by Chandragupta Maurya thus founding
of Magadha. In Puranas he is mentioned Mauryan Empire in 321 BC.
as Kakavarna and in Sri Lankan texts he is Alexander, the great invaded India in
mentioned as Kalasoka. 326 BC during the rule of Dhanananda.
Kalasoka & Second Buddhist Council Dhanananda is mentioned as Xandrames
The second Buddhist Council was sponsored or Aggrammes or Ganderites in the Greek
by Kalasoka at Vaishali in 383 BC. This historical texts.
council was invited by a Buddhist monk
Yasa, who saw the local monks of Vaishali Mauryan Empire (322-185 BC)
following the teaching carelessly. The The Maurya Empire was founded by
dispute was on 10 points such as storing Chandragupta Maurya, with the help
salt in horn, eating after midday, eating from Chanakya, a Brahmin teacher at
once and going to villages for alms, eating Takshashila who dethroned the last Nanda
sour milk after one’s meal etc. It was not ruler Dhana Nanda.
settled and Buddhism sects appeared for • Chandragupta Maurya defeated
the first time. President of this council was Seleucus Nicator in 305 BC, who
Sabakami. The last rulers of Shishunaga surrendered a vast territory and the
Dynasty were 10 sons of Kalasoka who Hindukush became the boundary of
ruled simultaneously. Out of them one son their states.
Nandivardhana is mentioned in Puranas. • A Greek ambassador Megasthenes
was sent to the Court of Chandragupta
Nanda Dynasty (344-321 BC) by Seleucus Nicator.
Mahapadmananda was the first ruler of the • In the last stage of his life Chandragupta
Nanda Dynasty. There are several theories Maurya accepted Jainism and went to
about the birth of Mahapadmananda. The Sravanbelagola in Karnataka with
Purana theory say that Mahapadmananda Bhadrabaha.
was son of Nandivardhana & a Shudra • He was as sandrocottus by strabo and
Woman. Another theory says that there recognised/discovered by William
was a good-looking barber, who won the Jones.
heart of the queen who subsequently killed Bindusara (298-273 BC)
the king. Mahapadmananda was the son of • He succeeded Chandragupta Maurya.
this barber. Whatever may be correct but Bindusara was know as Amitrochates
this was the line which started the trend of to the Greeks, probably derived from
lowborn (as of contemporary conditions) the Sanskrit world Amitraghata. He
rule started in Magadha. is believed to have raided the Deccan
Mahapadmananda had a large army and (upto Mysore).
that is why he is called Ugrasena. His army • He patronised Ajivikas.
might have been so large that it could be
Ashoka (273BC- 232BC)
arranged in a Lotus shape: Padmavyuh. He
might have been so wealthy that his wealth • Ashoka was the son of Bindusara who
was in Padama, a unit of counting equivalent successed him, by usurping the throne
to a million multiplied by a billion. after killing his 99 brothers and
spared Tissa, the youngest one.
Mahapadmananda subdued all the major
• Ashoka fought the Kalinga war in
powers such as Ikasvakus, Kurus, Panchals,
261 BC. He abandoned the policy
Kasis, Surasens, Maithilas, kalingas, Asmakas of physical occupation after he was
etc. and that is why Puranas mentioned his moved by the massacre in this war.
name Sarvakhstrantaka (destroyer of all • The last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha
Kshtras) equivalent to Parshurama. was assasinated in 185 BC by his
The Nandas were the first Non Kshatriya Commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra
rulers in the history of India. The last ruler Sunga who established his own Sunga
was Dhana Nanda who was over thrown dynasty.
Shyadvade also known as Anekantvada is the theory and Philosophy of Jainism of ancient times.

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Ashokan Edicts and Information Place
Inscriptions
I. Rock Edicts
14 Major Rock Edicts Various Principles of Manshera (Pakistan) Shahbajgarhi (Mardan,
Dhamma Pakistan), Kalsi (Dehradun, Uttarakhand), Junagadh
(Girnar, Gujarat), Sopara (Thane, Maharashtra),
Yerragudi (Kurnul, Andhra Pradesh), Dhauli (Khurda,
Odisha), Jaugada (Ganjam, Odisha)
2 Kalinga Rock New system of Dauli or Tosali (Khurda, Odisha), Jaugada (Ganjam,
Edicts administration after Odisha)
the Kalinga war
Minor Rock Edicts Personal history of
Sasaram (Bihar), Maski (Andhra Pradesh), Bhabru-
Ashoka and summary
Bairat (Rajasthan), Rupanath (MP), Gavimath,
of his dhammaPalkig-undu, Siddhpur, Jating Rameshwar,
Brahmagiri (Karnataka)
Bhabru-Bairat Rock Ashoka’ conversion to Bhabru-Bairat (Rajasthan)
Edicts Buddhism
II. Pillar Edicts
7 Pillar Edicts Appendix to rock Edicts Meerut-Delhi (Chhoti Lata), Topra-Delhi (Badi
Lata), Allahabad (UP); Lauriya Nandangadh,
Lauriya Areraj and Rampurva (Bihar)
4 Minor Pillar Edicts Signs of Ashoka’s Sanchi (MP), Sarnath and Allahabad (UP)
fanaticism to Dhamma
2 Tarai Pillar Edicts Ashoka’s respect for Rummandei/Lumbini and Nigaliva (Tarai of Nepal)
Buddhism
III. Cave Edicts
3 Barabar Cave Edicts Ashoka’s toleration Barabar Hills (Gaya, Bihar)
ASHOKAN 14 MAJOR ROCK EDICTS

S. No. Informations
1. Prohibition of animal sacrifices and festive gatherings.
2. Measures of social welfare.
3. Respect to Brahamanas.
4. Courtesy to relatives, elders, consideration for animals.
5. Appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras and their duties.
6. Need for efficient organisation of administration (orders to Dhamma Mahamatras).
7. Need for tolerance among all religious sects.
9 System of Dhamma-yatras.
9. Attack on meaningless ceremonies and rituals.
10. Conquest through Dhamma instead of war.
11. Explanation of Dhamma-policy.
12. Appeal for tolerance among all religious sects.
13. Kalinga war, mention 5 contemporary Hellenic (Greek) kings.
14. Inspiration to spend religious life.
Ujjain was known as Avantika in the ancient times.

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Shunga (Sunga) Dynasty The Capital of Kushans is Purushpura
(185 BC–73 BC) (Peshawar). Kanishka is considered to
Four rulers of Shunga or Sunga Dynasty have conflicted with the Pataliputra. He was
a patron of Buddhism and convened the
were Pushyamitra Sunga (185 BC to 151 BC),
4th Buddhist council in the Kundalvana of
Agnimitra (149 BC-141 BC), Bhagabhadra
Kashmir in 78 AD. Scholars in the Court of
(114 BC-83 BC) and Devabhuti (87-73 BC).
Kanishka were Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa,
Pushyamitra Sunga (185 BC to 151 BC) Nagarjuna, Charaka and Mathara. Sushruta
Pushyamitra Shunga was the founder and who wrote Sushruta Samhita, has also been
hero of the Shunga dynasty. He was viceroy connected to Kanishka.
of the Mauryas at Ujjain and was a real
The Gupta Empire (320-550AD)
war hero. He was not happy with his king
Brihadratha, who failed in containing the This period is known as Golden Era.
Yavanas and attacks from the western sides. Chandragupta I (319-335 AD)- was the
Pushyamitra is also known to have repelled founder and an important ruler of the Gupta
the Kalinga’s king Kharvela conquest. The dynasty. He was married to Kumaradevi
Ayodhya Inscription of Dhandeva mentions princess of lichchhavi clan, in order to
that he performed two Ashwamedha Yagyas strengthen his position.
(Horse Sacrifices). Samudragupta (335-380 A.D.)- Expanded
Agnimitra, the second king of Shunga dynasty, the kingdom as he was very much
succeeded his father Pushyamitra Shunga and delighted by violence. The poet in his
reigned for a short period of 8 years. He is court “Harisena” in his works Prayag and
the hero of Malvikagnimitram of Kalidasa in Prashasti have described glowing account
which he has been referred to as Raja. of the military exploits of the patron. Thus,
he was known as “Indian Napoleon”.
Bhagabhadra Chandragupta II- He succeeded Samundra-
We know about the king Bhagabhadra gupta. Extended his empire by marriage
by a Heliodorus pillar, which has been alliances and conquers. He married his
found in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh near daughter Prabhavati with a Vakataka prince
modern Besnagar. Heliodorus was a Greek who belonged to the Brahmana caste and ruled
ambassador and he dedicated this pillar in central India. He patronized the famous
to God Vasudeva (Vishnu). The Heliodorus Navaratnas. Kalidasa and Amarasimha were
pillar has a surmounted figure of a Garuda. among them. He conquered western Malwa
and Gujarat, ruled by the Saka Kshatrapas for
Devabhuti
about past four centuries and adopted the
Devabhuti was the last Shunga Ruler who title of Vikramaditya after conquering Ujjain.
was killed by his own minister Vasudeva Chinese pilgrim Fa-hien came to India during
Kanva in around 73 BC and founded the his reign.
Kanva Dynasty. •• His son Kumaragupta succeeded him.
Kumaragupta’s dominion suffered
Satvahana Dynasty (167–196 AD) severely from the invasion of Huna Hordes,
Simuka was the founder of this dynasty. It all over North India. Skandagupta, son of
was situated between the region of Krishna Kumaragupta defeated Pushyamitra who
and Godavari rivers. Most powerful king of became powerful during Kumaragupta
the dynasty was Gautamiputra Satakarni time. He also defeated the White Hunas.
(A.D. 106-130). He defeated the Sakas, •• Nalanda University was built by
Yavanas (Greeks) and Pahlavas (Parithans). Kumargupta.
•• The great Mathematician Aryabhata
Kushan Dynasty (30–375 AD) lived during this period. He discovered
Kanishka was the greatest ruler of this the number “0” and value of Pi. He wrote
dynasty and is known for his military powers. “Aryabhatiya” and “Suryasiddhanta.
Bhagwat were the first to worship Vasudev Krishna.

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•• Poets Kalidasa, Dandi, Visakhadatta, Southern Kingdoms
Shudraka, and Bharavi, all belonged to •• The Pallavas of Kanchi, the Chalukyas
the Gupta Age.
of Badami and the Pandyas of Madurai
•• Tamralipti, a port in Bengal , was an
emerged as powerful states in southern
important trade centre during Gupta period.
India in the beginning of seven century.
•• The empire was divided into divisions:
bhuktis (under the charge of an uparika) Pallavas
and vishayas (Districts) under the charge Pallavas constructed temples of Shiva and
of vishyapati. Vishnu in Tamil Nadu.
•• Epigraphs found in Andhra Pradesh
Harshavardhana (606-647 A.D.)
and Karnataka between second and
•• Fall of Gupta’s and Huna invasion left third century B.C. were mostly written
northern India in a disorder and chaotic in Prakrit but around 400 A.D. Sanskrit
situation. It gave rise to small kingdoms
became official language.
like Thaneswar, near Kurukshetra under
•• Pallavas ruled over southern Andhra
the leadership of Prabhakarvardhana
and his son Harsha. Pradesh and northern Tamil Nadu.
•• He made Kanauj his capital and his Made Kanchi their capital identical to
kingdom spread over northern India present Kanchipuram and made it a
except Kashmir. city of temple and vedic learning.
•• Banabhatta was a poet in his court Chalukyas
who wrote Harshacharita describing
•• The Chalukyas setup their sovereign
early history of his reign.
•• Chinese pilgrim Hsuan Tsang who state at Vatapi (modern Bijapur district).
visited India during his reign has thrown •• Pulakesin I (543-567 A.D.) established
great deal of light on the administrative, this dynasty and Pulakesin II (608-
political and social life of that time. He 647AD) was greatest of all rulers.
spent his six years of life in India (606- •• Well known Kasivisvesvara Temple
612 A.D.). at Lakkundi, the Mallikarjuna Temple
•• Harsha himself wrote Ratnavali, at Kuruvatti, the Kallesvara Temple at
Naganandam and Priyadarshika Bagali and the Mahadeva Temple at
plays in Sanskrit. Itagi were built during Chalukyas reign.
•• The Pallavas and Chalukyas were
The Pala Empire (750–1174 B.C.) in conflict during Pulakesin II.
Golden era of Bengal Narasimhavarman captured his capital
•• It was Buddhist dynasty from Bengal during their second clash between the
founded by Gopala I. The empire two. Narasimhavarman then assumed the
reached its peak under Dharmapala title of vatapikonda (conquer of Vatapi).
and Devapala. Dharmapala conquered
Kanauj and extended his sway up to the
Chola Dynasty
farthest limits of India in the northwest. Vijayalaya was the founder of Chola
•• Palas were followers of the Mahayana and Dynasty. Most powerful kings of Chola
Tantric schools of Buddhism, they also Dynasty was Rajaraja (985-1014) and his
patronised Shaivism and Vaishnavism. son, Rajendra I. Rajendra I founded a new
•• Dharmapala founded the Vikramashila capital of Gangai Kondacholapuram. He
and revived Nalanda. They maintained defeated the kings of Sumatra in a naval
close cultural and commercial ties with campaign and annexed a part of Sumarata
countries of Southeast Asia and Tibet. kingdom to his kingdom. Rajendra Chola
Sea trade added greatly to the prosperity III was the last king of the dynasty. Under
of the Pala kingdom. The Arab merchant the Cholas, the South India reached new
Suleiman notes the enormity of the Pala heights of excellence in art, religion and
army in his memoirs. literature.
Birth, Karma and Bhakti hold the same significance to achieve Moksha according to Bhagvad Gita.

101
MEDIEVAL HISTORY
Delhi Sultanate
Delhi sultanate begins with Turkish invasion in India by Muhammad Ghori in 1173 to
1202. He nominated his faithful slave Qutub ud-Din Aibak as the governor of the newly
possessed region called India. During this period Delhi became the centre of Turkish and
Afghan Power.
Dynasty Sultan / Agent Event Highlights
Muhammad •• Qutub-ud-din Aibak (1206–1210) •• Construction of world famous
Ghori slave •• Aram Shah (1210–1211) monument Qutub Minar by Qutub-
dynasty •• Shams ud din Iltutmish (1211–1236), ud-din Aibak and finished by his
(1193-1290) •• Rukn ud din Firuz (1236) successors. They attacked temples
•• Raziyyat-ud-din Sultana (1236–1240) of Ajmer, Samana, Kuhram, Delhi,
•• Muiz ud din Bahram (1240–1242) Kol, Benaras
•• Alauddin Masud (1242–1246), •• Construction of Quwat ul-Islam at
•• Nasiruddin Mahmud (1246–1266), Delhi, Adhai din ka Jhopra at Ajmer.
•• Ghiyas uddin Balban (1266–1286),
•• Muiz uddin Qaiqabad (1286–1290),
Khilji •• Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji (1290–1296) •• Known for their cruelty as they
(1290-1320) •• Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316) levied taxes on the defeated
•• Umar Khan Khilji (1316) community. During the period of
•• Qutb ud din Mubarak Shah (1316- Alauddin Khilji the famous Koh-i-
1320) noor Diamond of Warangal was
•• Khusro Khan (1320) looted somewhere around 1310
Tughluq •• Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq (1320-1325) •• Geographically the largest dynasty;
(1320-1395) •• Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351) Muhammad bin Tughluq was
•• Mahmud Ibn Muhammad (March 1351) one of the powerful sultans who
•• Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351–1388) changed the capital from Delhi
•• Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq II (1388– to Daulatabad (present Deogir in
1389) Maharashtra) to rule the empire
•• Abu Bakr Shah (1389–1390) more proficiently thus ordered
•• Nasir ud din Muhammad Shah III for forceful migration of common
(1390–1393) masses. Though a good idea but he
•• Sikander Shah I (March-April 1393) failed to execute.
•• Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq •• Secondly his ideas to introduce
(1393–1413) bronze coin instead of silver coin
•• Nasir-ud-din Nusrat Shah Tughluq also failed as the bronze coins were
(1394–1414), easy to forge
Sayyid •• Khizr Khan (1414–1421) •• The vast Tughlaq dynasty shrunk
(1400-1442) •• Mubarak Shah (1421–1434) within 10 miles of Delhi during this
•• Muhammad Shah (1434–1445) period.
•• Alam Shah (1445–1451)
Lodi •• Bahlul Lodi (1451–1489) •• The dynasty had fought one of the
(1457-1518) •• Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517) greatest battles in India- Battle
•• Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526), of Panipat in 1526 with Babur
who was invited by Daulat Khan
Lodi to enter India and at the end
Ibrahim Lodi lost the battle.
S.A. Dange started the publication of an English Weekly Socialist in 1923.

102
LITERATURE OF DELHI SULTANATE
Book Author Historical Importance
Tabqiq-i-Hind Alberuni Alberuni was an Arabian scholar who wrote
about the Slave dynasty
Tabaqat-i-Nasiri Minhaj-us-Siraj Gives an account of Iltutmish’s region
Laila-Majnu Amir Khusrau Court poet of Alauddin Khilji
Khazain-ul-Futuh Amir Khusrau Describes conquests of Alauddin Khilji
Tughlaq-Nama Amir Khusrau Gives account of Ghiyasuddin’s reign
Nuh-Siphir Amir Khusrau Poetic description of Alauddin Khilji
Fatawa-i-Jahandri Ziauddin Barani Gives an account of the Tughlaq dynasty
Tarikha-i-Firoz Shahi Ziauddin Barani Gives an account of Firoz Shah’s reign
Fatwah-i-Firoz Shahi Firoz Shah Gives an account of his reign
Kitab-fi-Tahqiq Alberuni About Indian Sciences
Qanun-e-Masudi Alberuni About astronomy
Jawahar-fil-jawahir Alberuni About mineralogy
Qamas Firozabadi Arabic words dictionary
Taj-ul-Maathir Hasan Nizami History of IIbaris, the slave dynasty
Chach Namah Abu Bakr History of Sindh region
Lubab-ul-Alab Bhukhari Persian anthology
Khamsah Amir khusrau Literature and Poems
Shah Namah Firdausi About Mahmud Ghazni’s reign
Kitab-ul-Rehla lbn Battutah A travelogue with stories
Miftah-ul-Futuh Amir Khusrau Jalaluddin’s conquest and life
Multa-ul-Anwar Amir Khusrau Literary masterpieces
Ayina-i-Sikandari Amir Khusrau Literary masterpieces
Hasht Bihisht Amir Khusrau Literary masterpieces
Shirin Khusrau Amir Khusrau Literary masterpieces
Tarik-i-Firoz Shahi Shams-i-Shiraj Afif History of Tughlaqs
Futuh-us-Salatin Isami About Bahmani Kingdom
VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE
Dynasty Emperors Important Highlights
Sangama •• Harihara Raya I(1336–1356) •• The rise of Vijayanagar dynasty was
Dynasty •• Bukka Raya I (1356–1377) the result of political and cultural
•• Harihara Raya II (1377–1404) movement against the Tughlaqs.
•• Virupaksha Raya (1404–1405) •• Presumably Harihar I and Bukka I were
•• Bukka Raya II (1405–1406) the founders of this dynasty.
•• Deva Raya I (1406–1422) •• This dynasty had to face the invasion
•• Ramachandra Raya(1422) from Bhamani Sultan Ahmed Lin.
•• Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya (1422–1424) •• The kings of this dynasty were generous
•• Deva Raya II (1424–1446) and worked for the social welfare of the
•• Mallikarjuna Raya (1446–1465) people.
•• Virupaksha Raya II (1465–1485) •• Some of the kings were great patronage
•• Praudha Raya(1485) of literature.
Great philosopher and political thinker Chanakya was known with other names such as Kautilya and Vishnugupta.

103
Saluva •• Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya ( 1 4 8 5 – •• The Saluva started ruling soon after
Dynasty 1491) Saluva Narasimha had a fight with
•• Thimma Bhupala (1491) the Sambetas of Peranipadu and the
•• Narasimha Raya II (1491–1505) Paligers of Ummattur but they couldn’t
sustain power for a very long period
•• Tuluva Narasa Nayaka (1491–1503) •• Founded by Tuluva Narasa Nayak, the
•• Vira Narasimha Raya (1503–1509) third Hindu dynasty of Vijayanagar
•• Krishna Deva Raya (1509–1529) Empire seemed to be the most powerful
•• Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542) dynasties.
Tuluva •• Venkata I 1542 •• Krishan Deva Raya the most powerful
Dynasty •• Sadasiva Raya (1542–1570) king of this dynasty.
•• Believed to be the golden period of
Telugu literature
•• Worshipped Nagaraja Vasuki hence
called as Nagavanshis
•• Aliya Rama Raya 1542–1565 •• The last dynasty of Vijayanagar empire
•• Tirumala Deva Raya 1565–1572 founded by Tirumal Deva Raya
•• Sriranga I 1572–1586 •• The battle of Raksa –Tangadi happened
Aravidu •• Venkata II 1586–1614 hence the Aravidu dynasty as well as
Dynasty •• Sriranga II 1614 Vijayanagar empire came to an end by
•• Rama Deva Raya 1617–1632 the combined forces of Bijapur muslims
•• Venkata III 1632–1642
•• Sriranga III 1642–1646
Religious Movements •• Kabir was an ardent disciple of

During fifteenth and sixteenth century Ramananda. He wanted unity between
religious movements have emerged in India the Hindus and the Muslims.
so as to liberate people from dogmatic beliefs, •• He preached that both the Hindus and the
ritualism, caste and communal hatred, etc. Muslims are the children of a single God.
Two major movements that carried out •• The devotees of Kabir were known as
juxtaposing by both Hindu and Muslim Kabir Panthis.
communities were Bhakti and Sufi Movement. •• Namdeva was a waterman by birth. He
composed beautiful hymns in Marathi.
Bhakti Movement •• Nanak was the founder of the Sikh
•• Bhakti means personal devotion to God. religion.
It stresses the union of the individual •• Nanak’s teachings were in the form of
with God. verses. They were collected in a book
•• Bhakti movement originated in South called the Adi Granth.
India between the 15th and the 17th •• Later Adi Granth was written in a script
centuries AD. called Gurmukhi.
•• The Nayanars, who worshipped Shiva, •• Chaitanya, a great devotee of Lord
and the Alwars, who worshipped Vishnu, Krishna, was a saint from Bengal.
preached the idea of Bhakti. •• Meerabai was a Rajput princess. She
•• Saints like Sankara, Ramanuja and married the Rana of Mewar. She was a
Madhwa gave their concepts of God and pious devotee of Lord Krishna.
the individual soul. •• Chatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha
•• Teachings of Ramanuja were based on ruler, was a follower of Ramdas.
the Upanishads and Bhagwad Gita. •• Tukaram was a saint who lived in
•• Ramananda was disciple of Ramunaja. He Maharashtra. He composed a large
was the first reformer to preach in Hindi. number of verses called Abhangas.
Vinay Pitaka literature contains the rules and regulations of the Sangha in Buddhism.

104
•• Tulsidas composed the famous •• Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya
Ramcharitamanas in Hindi, expounding (1182-1262): He was the founder of
the various aspects of Hindu dharma. Suhrawardi order who founded first
•• Surdas was a devotee of Lord Krishna leading Khanqah in India at Multan.
and Radha. His works include Sursagar, •• Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti (1141-
Sahitya Ratna and Sur Sarawali. 1236): He was the founder of the
•• Dadu Dayal was a disciple of Kabir. His chisti order which is the first and most
followers were known as Dadu Panthis. popular liberal sufi order in India. He
•• Eknath was a devotee of Vithoba. He settled down at Ajmer. Other chisti Sufi
wrote commentary on verses of the Saints who followed Khwaja Muinuddin
Bhagavad Gita. Chisti were:
Sufi Movement (1) Sheikh Hamiduddin Nagauri
(1192-1274);
Sufism or tasawwuf, as it is called in
(2) Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar
Arabic, is generally understood by scholars
Kaki in whose memory Qutub
and Sufis to be the inner, mystical, or
Minar was built;
psycho-spiritual dimension of Islam. Today,
however, many Muslims and non-Muslims (3) Baba Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar
believe that Sufism is outside the sphere of (1175-1265) popularly known as
Islam. Baba Farid. He built his Khanqah
In Sufism, a perfect being is also called a at Ajodan (Punjab). He was also
Wali (saint), a word that literally means the first Punjabi poet of Sufism;
‘sincere friend’. The superstructure of (4) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
Sufism is built upon the concept of teacher, (1236-1325): He was known
pir or murshid. as Mehboob-i-ilahi, built his
The cardinal doctrines of the Sufism include khanqah in Delhi and became
1. Absorbed variety of ideas and practices the most famous Sufi Saint of the
from Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism Chisti order.
and Zorastrianism. (5) Shaikh Nasiruddin Mahmud
2. It aimed at services of mankind (death 1365) was a chisti saint
3. Building cultural synthesis came to known as Chirag-i-Delhi;
4. It opposed orthodoxy and preached (6) Syed Muhammad Gesu Daraz
devotion to God (death 1421) settled down at
5. Discouraged materialistic life but did Gulbarga (Karnataka). He was
not support complete renunciation popularly known as Bandanawaz.
These cardinal principles altogether •• Shaikh Badruddin Samarkandi (13th
make the Doctrine of Fana which means century): He founded Firdausi order
annihilation of human attributes through which thrived only in Bihar.
Union with God. Sufism had succeeded in •• Shah Nayamatullah Qadri and Shah
inculcating the sentiments of fraternity, Abdullah Shuttari (15th Centry):
equality and equity, coupled with sense Shah Nayamattullah Qadri founded
of service to humanity, in the followers,
the Qadiriya order. It spread in Uttar
irrespective of race, community, caste, creed
Pradesh and Deccan. Miya Mir (1550-
and colour.
1635) was its popular Saint. Shah
Sufi Saint Abdullah Shuttari (dealth 1458)
•• Khwaja Ali Hujjwiri (11th century): founded the Shuttari order. It spread
He was also known as Data Ganj mainly in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Baksh. He wrote a manual of Sufism •• Khwaja Baqi Billah (1536-1603) He
called ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’. founded Naqsbandiah order.
Borobudur in Central Java, Indonesia is the world’s largest Buddhist temple.

105
MUGHAL DYNASTY
Sultans Important accomplishments
•• Babur won Delhi sultanate by defeating the last king of Lodhi dynasty,
i.e. Ibrahim Lodhi.
•• Two major battles won by Babur were Battle of Panipat I (April 1526)
and Khanwa Battle (March 1527).
•• Continued to conquer places in the coming years and his territory
extended almost up to the northern part of India.
Babur (1526-1530)
•• Came to power soon after the death of his father Babur in 1530.
•• Forcefully driven to Afghanistan by the Muslim rebel Sher Shah in
1540 and returned to India after 15 years in 1555.
•• Encouraged Persian artists for their fine arts; brought two of them
from the school of Bihzad to teach Akbar, the lessons of drawing.
•• Died accidentally by falling down from stone staircase.
Humayun
(1530-40 to 1555-56)
•• Ruled from 1556 till his death.
•• His power influenced entire country because of the dominance of
Mughal military, politics, culture and economy.
•• Was quite different from other mughal emperors in terms of his liberal
behaviour with the society, religious practices and administrative policies
•• Abolished pilgrimage tax which the common people had to pay while
Akbar visiting to pilgrim spots
(1556-1605) •• Rajputs were made equal partners in government.
•• Driven by the thought of religious equality, formulated his own
religion Din-i-Ilahi which focused on universal harmony.
•• His great passion about knowledge made him appoint intellectual
people in his court and name them as Navratna.
•• The only heir that survived and ruled the mughal dynasty after Akbar.
•• First military expedition was against Rana Amar Singh, son of Rana
Pratap of Mewar.
•• Art, literature, and architecture prospered under Jahangir’s rule, and
the Mughal gardens in Srinagar remain an enduring testimony to his
artistic taste.
Jahangir (1605-1627)
•• The fifth ruler of Mughal dynasty and famous for his great
administration
•• As a great lover of art and culture took interest in the construction and
architecture and the master piece is Taj Mahal built in the memory of
his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal
Shah Jahan
(1628-1658)
•• Started ruling the dynasty as its sixth emperor.
•• Was a ruler with religious orthodoxy and used to support Islam
•• Was not much passionate about art and culture, so during his tenure
only few monuments have been developed - the exquisite Moti (Pearl)
Mosque at Delhi.
•• Reintroduced Jaziya, i.e. taxation on non-muslims.
Aurangzeb
(1658-1707)
Bodhisatva Avalokiteshwara of Mahayana Buddhism is also known as Padmapani.

106
LITERATURE OF MUGHAL PERIOD
Book Author Contents
Tuzuk-i-Baburi Babur Describes military tactics and
administrative organisation during
Babur’s reign
Qanun-i-Humayu Khwand Amair Describes Humayun’s administration,
festivities and buildings of that period
Humayun Nama Gulbadan Begum Biography of Humayun
Akbar Nama Abul Fazl Gives a history of Akbar’s reign
Tobaqat-i-Akbari Khwajah Nizamuddin -do-
Ahmad Baksh
Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri Jahangir Memoirs of his own reign
Iqbalnama-i-Jahangiri Muhammad Khan History of Jahangir's reign
Chahar Chaman Chandra Bhan History of Shah Jahan's rule
Brahman
Alamgir-nama Munshi Mirza Gives an account of Aurangzeb's first 10
Muhamma Kazin years of rule
Massir-i-Alamgiri Saqi Mustaid Khan Official history of Aurangzeb’s reign
written after his death
Ain-i-Akbari Abul Fazl History of Akbar's reign
Muntakhab-ul-Tawarikh Badauni History of Akbar's rule
Tawarikh-i-Alfi Mulla Daud -do-
Nuriyya-i-Sultaniyya Abdul Haq Theory of Kinship during Mughal Period
Waqt-i-Hyderabad Nimat Khan Ali Aurangzeb's Golconda conquest
Futuhat-i-Alamgiri Ishwar Das Aurangzeb's history
Nuskha-i-Dilkusha Bhimsen Saxena Analysis of Aurangzeb's rule and character
Khulasat-ul-Tawarikh Sujan Raj Khatri History of Aurangzeb's rule
Padshah Namah Abdul Hamid Lahori History of Shah Jahan's reign
Padshah Namah Muhammad Waris -do-
Shahjahan Namah Muhammad Salih -do-
Shahjahan Namah Inyat Khan -do-
Hamlai-Haidri Muhammad Rafi Khan History of Aurangzeb's rule
Namah-e-Alamgiri Aquil Khan Zafar -do-
Sirr-i-Akbar Dara Shikoh Urdu translation of Upanishad
Safinat-ul-Auliya -do- Biographies of Sufi Saints
Majma-ul-Bahrain -do- Philosophical ideas discussed
Raqqat-e-Alamgiri Aurangzeb A compendium of his letters
Hasmat-ul-Arifin Dara Shikoh Religious ideas discussed
The Bhumisparsha mudra statue of Buddha of Sarnath is dated to Gupta period.

107
Advent of European Commerce in in the year 1565. The expedition aimed at
India opening spice roots to India. However, in between
1595 to 1601 several such expeditions were
The Portuguese made to monopolize the entire spice trade to
Vasco de Gama discovered new sea route Europe with their skill administration and
to India via coast of South Africa and vigour commercialization.
reached Calicut coast on 20th May 1498 The French
and established factories at Cochin.
The very first attempt of the French community
Successively Francis co de Almeida
to enter Indian coast was in the early days of
reached India in September 1505 and
16th century but they failed to do so due to
became the Portuguese governor in India. the monopoly of Dutch Territory. Later on
He built a fort and settled there and named
they discovered land routes through Asia
it as Anjadiav.
minors under the guidance of Richelieu.
The Dutch They were permitted to sail to Madagascar
The first Dutch expedition reached East Indies and the neighbouring islands and establish
under the leadership Cornelius Houtman colonies and trade there.
THE KINGDOM OF THE GREAT MARATHA
Eminent Persons Notable accomplishments
•• Known as the father of Maratha nation.
•• Before killing Adilshahi general Afzal Khan in 1647, he gradually started
capturing forts in the region like Purandar, Rajgad, Torna.
•• The guerrilla tactics and brilliant military strategies were his key to
success in every war.
•• Fought with Jai Singh, general of Aurangzeb in which he lost and was
Shivaji Bhonsle arrested in 1666, but soon he escaped and regained his lost territory.
(1630-80 A.D) •• Assumed the title of “Chhatrapati” at his elaborate coronation in 1674.
•• Died in 1680 and at that time had control over most of western
Maharashtra and had made ‘Raigad’ capital.
•• Was the first son of Chhatrapati Shivaji and succeeded his father after his
death in the first week of April 1680.
•• Gave shelter to Sultan Muhammad Akbar, the fourth son of Aurangzeb, who
sought Sambhaji’s aid in winning the Mughal throne from his emperor father.
•• During this period Mughals sieged the Maratha fort of Ramsej in 1682, but
after five months of failed attempts, including planting explosive mines
Sambhaji and building wooden towers to gain the walls, the Mughal siege failed.
•• Was imprisoned and executed by Aurangzeb, in 1689.
•• After the execution of Sambhaji, Rajaram, the second son of Shivaji had
taken the charge of Marathas in 1689 but soon died in 1700.
•• Tarabai the widow of Rajaram, put her young son Sambhaji II on the
throne after his father’s death, at the tender age of ten, and continued the
fight against Mughals until the death of Aurangzeb in 1707.
Rajaram
•• Sahuji the son of Sambhaji was released from Mughals captivity in 1707.
•• He attacked Tarabai and Sambhaji II from the throne of Maratha with the
help of Peshwa Balaji Biswanathan and won the battle. Soon had his own
territory.
•• Didn’t posses a strong affinity towards politics he settled down in Satara.
Sahuji
Gautam Buddha was raised to the position of God during the reign of Kanishka.

108
•• He was appointed as Prime Minister of Sahuji and assisted him on
political issues.
•• This was the beginning of another great dynasty in 1718 known as
Peshwa dynasty.
•• He died in 1721.
Balaji
Vishwanath
•• As the eldest son to his father Balaji Vishwanath, Bajirao Peshwa I took
the charge of Peshwa dynasty after his death in 1721.
•• During his tenure, Pune regained the status of capital Maratha Kingdom
from Raigad.
•• In 1734, captured the Malwa territory in the north, and in 1739, drove out
the Portuguese from nearly all their possessions in the Western Ghats.
•• He died in 1740.
Bajirao Peshwa I
•• Succeeded as Peshwa after his father Bajirao Peshwa’s Death.
•• Fought the third war of Panipat with Ahmad Shah Abdalli in 1761 but
lost the war.
•• Was shattered by the loss of his elder son and brother in the war and died
soon after the war ended.
Balaji Bajirao
(Nanasaheb)
•• Assumed the title of Peshwa in 1761.

•• His leading achievements included the defeat of Nizam of Hyderabad,
Hyder Ali of Mysore and Bhosle of Nagpur.
•• Defeated Jats and took the hold of Agra and Mathura in 1769 with the
help of Mahadaji Shinde and Nana Phadnis.
•• In 1772, died at an early age of 27 years.
Madhav Rao
•• Was a trusted lieutenant of the Peshwa and one of the three pillars of
Maratha Resurrection
•• Wiped out the power of Jats of Mathura and during 1772-73 and
destroyed the power of Pashtun Rohillas in Rohilkhand and captured
Najibabad.
•• Died of typhoid fever, at his camp at Wanavdi near Pune on 12 February
1794 while he was at the zenith of power.
Mahadaji Shinde
•• Was a prominent minister and statesman of the Maratha Empire during
the Peshwa administration in Pune.
•• Handled the Peshwai well and with great unity among Maratha chiefs.
•• The then rising powers have been halted by his great efforts and
continued to serve the Peshwas until his death in 1800 AD.
Nana Phadnavis
Chamundarai, minister under Ganga ruler Rachmalla constructed Jain statue of Bahubali (Gomat) in 983 A.D.

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MODERN HISTORY
British India (1612–1947) The border dispute between Nepal and
In 1617, the British East India Company British India, which sharpened after 1801,
was given permission by Mughal Emperor had caused the Anglo-Nepalese War
Jahangir to trade in India. As a result of of 1814–16 and brought the defeated
three Carnatic Wars, the British East India Gurkhas under British influence. In 1854,
Company gained exclusive control over Berar was annexed, and the state of Oudh
the entire Carnatic region of India. The was added two years later. Their policy was
Anglo-Mysore Wars (1766–1799) and sometimes summed up as Divide and Rule,
later the Anglo-Maratha Wars (1772– taking advantage of the enmity festering
1818) led to control of the vast regions of between various princely states and social
India. Ahom Kingdom of North-east India and religious groups.
first fell to Burmese invasion and then to
In 1757, Clive was appointed by the
British after Treaty of Yandabo in 1826.
company as its first ‘Governor of Bengal’.
Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, and
Kashmir were annexed after the Second In same year Treaty of Allahabad was
Anglo-Sikh War in 1849; however, Kashmir concluded by which the Mughal Emperor
was immediately sold under the Treaty of granted the Diwani rights to the English
Amritsar to the Dogra Dynasty of Jammu East India Company. Thus, the British
and thereby became a princely state. power in India was thoroughly established.
GOVERNORS (1757–1854)
• Robert Clive 1757–1760 • Henry Vansittart 1760–1764
• Robert Clive 1765–1766 • Harry Verelst 1767–1769
• John Cartier 1769–1772 • Warren Hastings 1772–1774
• Charles Cornwallis 1786–1793 • Richard Wellesley 1798–1805
• Charles Cornwallis 1805–1805 • James Broun-Ramsay 1848–1854
EAST INDIA COMPANY BEFORE 1857

Event Involved Consequences
First Carnatic War French La Bourdonnais and British victory
(1746-1748) British Admiral Edward Peyton
fought at Negapatam
Second Carnatic Nasir Jung aided by France while •• Ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry
War (1749-1754) England aided Muzaffar Jung in 1754 and Muzafar Jung became the
Nizam.
•• Dupleix was replaced by Godeheu as
the French governor.
Third Carnatic At Wandiwash (1760) Count de •• Defeat of French
War (1758-1763) Lally French commander was •• Treaty of Paris (1763) was signed,
defeated by British General Sir which returned Chandernagore and
Eyre Coote Pondichérry to France.
Battle of Plassey French supported Siraj-ud-Daula •• Paved way for British mastery of
(23 June 1757) and East India Company led by Bengal and eventually whole of India.
Robert Clive. •• Rich revenue of Bengal helped British
to maintain strong army.
Battle of Buxar, East India Company led by Hector •• Treaty of Allahabad secured Diwani
22nd October, Munro and Mughal Emperor along Rights for the Company to collect and
1764 with the Nawab of Bengal manage the revenues of real estate.
The Hathigumpha inscription tells us that Kharvela defeated three Southern Kingdom-Cholas, Cheras and Pandayas.

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1781 War Forces of the Kingdom of Mysore •• Eyre Coote defeated Haider Ali at Port
and Great Britain. Novo.
1784, Pitt’s Act •• British government got supreme
control over the company’s affair and
its administration.
War 1789 -1792 Tipu Sultan and East India •• Treaty of Seringapatam was signed.
Company Tipu had to cede half of his territories
to English and paid ` 330 lakhs as
indemnity.
Awadh annexation Lord Dalhousie •• Introduced the famous Doctrine of
1856 Lapse.
The rebellion East India Company and united force of Indian leaders like (Bahadur
of 1857 Sepoy Shah, Bakt Khan, Begum Hazart Mahal of Avadh, Tanti Tope, Nana Saheb,
Mutiny Azimullah, Rani Lakshmibai, Kunwar Singh etc.), The revolt marked the end
of the East India Company’s rule, and India came under the direct rule of
the British Crown.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REFORMS

Date Person Event
1815 Raja Ram Mohan Roy Established Atmiya Sabha. He was the first
Indian to start an agitation for social, religious and
political reforms.
1828 Raja Ram Mohan Roy Established Brahmo Samaj to preach monotheism
and purify Hinduism.
1839 Debendranath Tagore Founded Tatvabodhini Sabha to propagate Ram
Mohan Roy’s ideas.
1850 Vidyasagar Protest against child-marriage and promoted
women education.
1850 Vishnu Shankar Pundit Founded widow remarriage association.
1851 Naoroji Furdonji, Dadabhai Rehnumai Mazdayasan Sabha or Religious Reform
Naoroji and S.S.Bengalee Association.
1852 Kassondas Mulji In Gujarat advocated widow remarriage.
1866 Dadabhai Naoroji Established East India Association in London.
1872 Baba Ram Singh Namdhari Movement originated in north-west
corner of Sikh kingdom. It was also known as Kuka
movement.
23 September, Mahatma Jyotirao Formed Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of
1873 Govindrao Phule Truth).
1875 Swami Dayanand Founded Arya Samaj in Bombay. Called Vedas to
Saraswathi be source of “true knowledge” and gave the motto
“back to Vedas”. Was against idol worship, child
marriage and caste system.
1897 Vivekananda Founded the Ramakrishna Mission to carry out
humanitarian relief and social work.
1902 Swami Shradhananda Started Gurukul near Haridwar to propagate more
traditional idea of education.
Yuktisastika (Sixty stanzas on Reasoning) was written by Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna.

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THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE TIME LINE
1885 Pherozeshah Mehta, K.T. Telang, Badruddin Tyabji formed Bombay Presidency
Association.
28 Dec. 1885 Indian National Congress was formed by Allan Octavian Hume.
28-31 Dec. 1885 First session of Indian National Congress was attended by 72 delegates under
the presidency of W.C. Bonnerjee.
1896-97 Bal Gangadhar Tilak initiated a no-tax campaign in Maharashtra.
20 July, 1905 Partition of Bengal order was passed by Lord Curzon.
Dec. 1905 Gokhale then the president of Congress condemned the partition of Bengal
and supported Swadeshi and Boycott movement.
1906 Dadabhai Naoroji became the president of National Congress and clearly
declared their goal to be self-government or Swaraj like the other colonies.
30 Dec. 1906 All India Muslim League was formed by Aga Khan III and the founding
meeting was hosted by Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah.
1909 The Indian Councils Act or Morley-Minto Reform was announced.
1911 Government announced the withdrawal of Partition of Bengal.
1913 Ghadar Party founded by Punjabi Indians in the United States and Canada
aiming at securing India’s independence.
April, 1915 First session of Hindu Mahasabha was held under the presidentship of
Maharaja of Kasim Bazar.
26 Dec. 1916 Lucknow Pact was signed dealing with the structure of the government of
India and with relation to the Hindu and Muslim communities.
1917 Indigo Satyagraha started by M.K. Gandhi in Champaran, Bihar.
1918 Edwin Montagu, then the Secretary of State and Lord Chelmsford, the
Viceroy produced a scheme of constitutional reform which was called as the
Montague-Chelmsford reforms.
1919 Enactment of the Government of India Act.
March, 1919 Rowlatt Act was passed which enabled government to imprison people
without trial.
13 April, 1919 Unarmed crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest against the arrest of
Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal was attacked by the British army as
commanded by General Dyer.
31 August, 1920 Khilafat Committee launched a non-cooperation Movement.
1 February, 1922 M.K. Gandhi announced mass Civil Disobedience movement.
5 Feb. 1922 Protesters participating in the Non-cooperation Movement turned violent,
leading to police opening fire in Chauri Chaura. Congress as a result halted
the non-cooperation Movement.
1925 Communist Party came into existence.
Nov. 1927 Simon headed commission was set up to submit report on working of Indian
constitution established by Government of India Act, 1919.
17 Nov. 1928 Lala Lajpat Rai died due to the injuries by the beating of local police during
a protest demonstration at Lahore.
Dec. 1928 Gandhi joined back the active politics at Calcutta session.
26 Jan. 1930 Was fixed as the First Independence Day and since then was celebrated
every year up to 1947.
Bali was a voluntary offering to the king but it became compulsory and oppressive tax during Gupta period.

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Feb. 1930 Chandra Shekhar Azad was shot dead in a park called Azad Park at Allahabad,
in an encounter with British police.
12 March, 1930 Dandi March lead by M.K. Gandhi took place. Together with 78 companions
he walked 375 km from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi.
6 April, 1930 Gandhi reached Dandi and broke the Salt law.
12 Nov. 1930 First round table conference was held in London, was chaired by British
Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
5 March, 1931 Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed between Gandhi and then viceroy of India
Lord Irwin. According to which British agreed to withdraw all ordinances and
end prosecutions and release all political prisoners.
24 August, 1932 Poona Pact was signed between Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at Yerwada
Central Jail.
1935 Government of India Act was passed according to which All India Federation
was established including British India and Princely States (representative
were appointed by the rulers) forming a bicameral federal legislature.
October, 1940 Gandhi gave an order for limited satyagraha (for few individuals only).
8 August, 1942 Quit India Movement was launched by M.K.Gandhi.
1945 Congress working committee adopted a resolution to abolish landlordism.
2 Sept. 1946 Interim government of India formed the newly elected Constituent
Assembly of India. This idea was rejected by Muslim league.
9 Dec. 1946 The Constituent Assembly met for the first time.
INTERIM GOVERNMENT
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations : Jawahar Lal Nehru
Defence : Baldev Singh
Home (including Information and Broadcasting) : Vallabhbhai Patel
Finance : Liaquat Ali Khan
Posts and Air : Abdur Rab Nishtar
Food and Agriculture : Rajendra Parsad
Labour : Jagjivan Ram
Transport and Railways : M. Asaf Ali
Industries and Supplies : John Matthai
Education and Arts : C. Rajagopalachari
Works, Mines and Power : C.H. Bhabha
Commerce : I.I. Chundrigar
Law : Jogindar Nath Mandal
Health : Ghazanfar Ali Khan
Mountbatten Plan
The Indian Independence Act 1947 also called 3 June Plan or Mountbatten Plan,
declared that power would be handed over by 15 August 1947. It gave India and Pakistan
a dominion status. The Act received the royal assent on 18 July 1947. The boundaries
between the two dominion states were determined by a Boundary Commission which
was headed by Sir Cyril Radcliff.
Katyayana, a smriti writer of Gupta period, was the first to use the expression Asprashya to denote the untouchables.

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SESSIONS OF INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
The Founding Years (1885-1900)
Session Place Date President
1st Session Bombay Dec. 28-30, 1885 Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee
2nd Session Calcutta Dec. 27-30, 1886 Dadabhai Naoroji
3rd Session Madras Dec. 27-30, 1887 Badruddin Tyabji
4th Session Allahabad Dec. 26-29, 1888 George Yule
5th Session Bombay Dec. 26-28, 1889 William Wedderburn
6th Session Calcutta Dec. 26-30, 1890 Pherozeshah Mehta
8th Session Allahabad Dec. 28-30, 1892 Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee
10th Session Madras Dec. 26-29, 1894 Alfred Webb
11th Session Poona Dec. 27-30, 1895 Surendranath Banerjee
12th Session Calcutta Dec. 28-31, 1896 Rahimatullah M. Sayani
13th Session Amraoti Dec. 27-29, 1897 C. Sankaran Nair
14th Session Madras Dec. 29-31, 1898 AnandaMohan Bose
15th Session Lucknow Dec. 27-30, 1899 Romesh Chunder Dutt
16th Session Lahore Dec. 27-29, 1900 N.G. Chandavarkar
7th Session Nagpur Dec. 28-30, 1891 P. Ananda Charlu
9th Session Lahore Dec. 27-30, 1893 Dadabhai Naoroji
The Pre Independence Era (1900-1947)

17th Session Calcutta Dec. 26-28, 1901 Dinshaw Edulji Wacha
18th Session Ahmedabad Dec. 28-30, 1902 Surendranath Banerjee
19th Session Madras Dec. 28-30, 1903 Lal Mohan Ghosh
20th Session Bombay Dec. 26-28, 1904 Henry Cotton
21st Session Benares Dec. 27-30, 1905 Gopal Krishna Gokhale
22nd Session Calcutta Dec. 26-29, 1906 Dadabhai Naoroji
23rd Session Surat Dec. 26-27, 1907 approx Rash Behari Ghosh
23rd Session (contd.) Madras Dec. 28-30, 1908 Rash Behari Ghosh
24th Session Lahore Dec. 27-29, 1909 Madan Mohan Malaviya
25th Session Allahabad Dec. 26-29, 1910 William Wedderburn
26th Session Calcutta Dec. 26-28, 1911 Bishan Narayan Dar
28th Session Karachi Dec. 26-28, 1913 Nawab Syed Mohammed Bahadur
30th Session Bombay Dec. 27-29, 1915 Satyendra Prasanna Sinha
31st Session Lucknow Dec. 26-30, 1916 Ambica Charan Mazumdar
32nd Session Calcutta Dec. 26-29, 1917 Annie Besant
(Special Session) Bombay Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 1918 Syed Hasan Imam
33rd Session Delhi Dec. 26-31, 1918 Madan Mohan Malaviya
Chandragupta II ‘Vikramaditya‘ was the first Gupta ruler to issue silver coins and adopted the title Sakari.

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34th Session Amritsar Dec. 26-30, 1919 Motilal Nehru
35th Session Nagpur Dec. 26-31, 1920 C. Vijayaraghavachariar
36th Session Ahmedabad Dec. 27-28, 1921 Hakim Ajmal Khan (Acting Presi-
dent for C.R. Das)
37th Session Gaya Dec. 26-31, 1922 C.R. Das
(Special Session) Delhi Abul Kalam Azad
39th Session Belgaum Dec. 26-27, 1924 M.K. Gandhi
40th Session Kanpur Dec. 26-28, 1925 Shri B.K. Hariprasad
41st Session Gauhati Dec. 26-28, 1926 S. Srinivasa Iyengar
42nd Session Madras Dec. 26-28, 1927 M.A. Ansari
43rd Session Calcutta Dec. 29, 1928-Jan. 1, 1929 Motilal Nehru
45th Session Karachi Mar. 29-31, 1931 Vallabbhai J. Patel
46th Session Delhi Apr.24,1932 (Banned) Ranchod Lal Amrit Lal
47th Session Calcutta March,1933(Banned) Nellie Sen Gupta
48th Session Bombay Oct. 24-28, 1934 Rajendra Prasad
51st Session Haripura Feb. 19-21, 1938 Subhash Chandra Bose
52nd Session Tripuri Mar. 10-12, 1939 Subhash Chandra Bose
53rd Session Ramgarh Mar. 19-20, 1940 Abul Kalam Azad
54th Session Meerut Nov. 23-24, 1946 J.B. Kripalani
The Post Independence Era (1947-1990)

55th Session Jaipur Dec. 18, 1948 B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
56th Session Nasik Sept. 21-22, 1950 Purushottam Das Tandon
60th Session Avadi (Madras) Jan. 21-23, 1955 approx. Shri Bharat Kumar
61st Session Amritsar Feb.11-12,1956approx. Shri Bharat Kumar
62nd Session Indore Jan. 5-6, 1957 approx. Shri Bharat Kumar
63rd Session Gauhati Jan. 18-19, 1958 Shri Bharat Kumar
64th Session Nagpur Jan. 9-11, 1959 Shri Bharat Kumar
65th Session Bangalore Jan. 16-17, 1960 N. Sanjiva Reddy
66th Session Bhavnagar Jan. 6-7, 1961 N. Sanjiva Reddy
71st Session Hyderabad Jan. 10-11, 1968 S. Nijalingappa
72nd Session Faridabad Apr. 27-28, 1969 S. Nijalingappa
73rd Session Bombay Dec. 28-29, 1969 Jagjivan Ram
74th Session Calcutta Dec. 28-29, 1972 Shankar Dayal Sharma
75th Session Chandigarh Dec.31,1975-Jan.1,1976 D.K. Barooah
76th Session New Delhi Jan. 1-2, 1978 Indira Gandhi
77th Session Calcutta Dec. 29-30, 1983 Indira Gandhi
78th (Centenary) Session Bombay December 28, 1985 Rajiv Gandhi
Harshavardhana was an accomplished author who wrote three sanskrit plays – Nagenanda, Ratnavali and Priyadarshika.

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THE POST LIBERALIZATION ERA (1990-2010)
79th Session Tirupati (A.P.) April 14-16, 1992 P.V. Narasimha Rao
Special Session Surajkund (Haryana) March 27-28, 1993 P.V. Narasimha Rao
Special Session Talkatora Stadium, June 10- 11, 1994 P.V. Narasimha Rao
New Delhi
80th Session Calcutta August 8-10, 1997 Sitaram Kesri
Special Session New Delhi April 6, 1998 Sonia Gandhi
Chintan Shivir Panchmarhi (M.P.) Sept. 4-6, 1998 Sonia Gandhi
Special session Talkatora Stadium, December 18, 1998 Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi
Special Session Talkatora Stadium, May 25, 1999 Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi
81st Session Bangalore February 14, 16, 2001 Sonia Gandhi
Chintan Shivir Shimla (H.P.) July 9, 10, 11, 2003 Sonia Gandhi
Special session Talkatora Stadium, August 21, 2004 Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi
82nd Session Hyderabad January 2006 Sonia Gandhi
83rd Plenary Session New Delhi 2010 Sonia Gandhi
Chintan Shivir Jaipur January 18-19, 2013-08-24 Sonia Gandhi
NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALS

Newspaper/Journal Name Founder
Bengal Gazette (1780) (India’s First Newspaper) James Augustus Hickey.
Kesari B.G.Tilak
Amrita Bazar Patrika Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh
Vande Mataram Aurobindo Ghosh, Madam Bhikaji Cama
Kavivachan Sudha Bhartendu Harishchandra
Rast Goftar(first newspaper in Gujarati) Dadabhai Naoroji
Statesman Robert Knight
Hindu Vir Raghavacharya and G.S. Aiyar
Yugantar Bhupendranath Data and Barinder Kumar
Ghosh
Bombay Chronicle Firoze Shah Mehta
Hindustan M.M. Malaviya
Mooknayak B.R. Ambedkar
Comrade Mohammad Ali
Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Pallavi ruler Narshimhavarman ‘Mammala’ invaded chalukyas and captured vatapi and adopted the title vatapikonda.

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Al-Hilal Abul Kalam Azad
Al-Balagh Abul Kalam Azad
Independent Motilal Nehru
Punjabi Lala Lajpat Rai
New India(Daily) Annie Besant
Pratap Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
Samvad Kaumudi (Bengali) Ram Mohan Roy
Mirat-ul-Akbhar Ram Mohan Roy (first Persian Newspaper)
Young India M.K Gandhi
Harijan M.K Gandhi
Hindustan Times K.M. Pannikar
GREAT TRAVELERS IN INDIAN HISTORY

Identity: Greek ethnographer & ambassador.
Time of Visit to India: During the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.
Duration of Stay: 302-298 BC.
Contribution: Wrote the book Indica.
Megasthenes
Identity: A Buddhist Monk who came from China.
Time of Visit to India: Reign of Harshvardhana.
Duration of Stay: 405-411 AD.
Contribution: Wrote ‘Record of Buddhist kingdoms’.
Fa Hsien
Identity: Chinese Buddhist monk.
Time of Visit to India: Reign of Harshavardhan.
Duration of Stay: 630-645 AD.
Contribution: Wrote Si-yu-ki or the ‘Records of Western World.
Hiuen Tsang-tsang/
Xuanzang
Identity: Muslim scholar and polymath from Persia
Time of Visit to India: Came along with Mahmud of Ghazni.
Duration of Stay: 1024-1030 AD
Contribution: Wrote Taharikh-al-Hind, about social religious,
political nature of India during that time.
Al-Biruni/Abu
Rayhan Muhammad
Identity: Italian merchant and traveller
Time of Visit to India: Came during the Period of Rudramani Devi
of Kakatiya Dynasty.
Contribution: Wrote “The book of Sir Marcopolo”, describing
about Indian Economy at that time.
Marco Polo
Vaishesika School of Philosophy was founded by Uluka Kanada.

117
Identity: Traveller of Morocco
Time of Visit to India: Came in India at the reign of Muhammad
bin Tughluq.
Contribution: write Kitab-ul-rahla, relating geographical, social
and economical behaviour of this time.
Ibn Battuta
Identity: Russian merchant Traveller
Time of Visit to India: Came to India during the reign of Bahmani
Sultanate.
Duration of Stay: 1469-1472
Contribution: ‘The Journey beyond Three Seas’.
Nicolo Conti
Identity: Ambassador of James II, king of England
Time of Visit to India: Came in India at the reign of Jahangir, the
great mogul along with William Finch.
Duration of Stay: First Visit: 1421, Revisited: 1430
William
Hawkins
Identity: Italian Traveller
Time of Visit to India: Came during the rule of Devaraya I of
Sangam dynasty of Vijaynagar empire.
Duration of Stay: First Visit : 1421 Revisited: 1430
Contribution: Author of “Voyage aux Indes.
Afanasy Nikitin
Identity: Persian traveller
Abdur Razzaq Time of Visit to India: Came to India during Bahmani Sultanate.
Identity: Arab navigator
Sulaiman Al Mahri Time of Visit: Middle of Ninth Century during the age of Palas and
Pratiharas
Contribution: Wrote an account on Pala Empire
Identity: Arab historian & geographer
Al-Masudi Time: Visited Gujarat in 915-16 during Pratiharas Kinghom.
Contribution: Testified the great power and prestige of the
Pratihara rulers.
Pallavas were instrumental in spreading Indian culture in South-East Asia. The Pallava types of Shikhara can be found
in temples of Java, Cambodia and Annam.

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WORLD HISTORY MIND MAP

WORLD HISTORY
Ancient Medieval Modern

 Mesopotamian Civilization  Medieval Europe  Renaissance
(5000-900 BC) Civilization  Reforms
 Egyptian Civilization  African Civilization  Major Revolutions of
(500-30 BC)  Mongol Empire Civiliza- World
 Israel Kingdom tion • Glorious Revolution
(1300-63 BC)  Arab civilization & Islam • Industrial Revolution
 Greek Civilization (776-  Medieval China • American Revolution
388 BC) • French Revolution
 Roman Civilization (753 • Russian Revolution
BC-476AD)  An insight into World Wars
 Christianity  Major wars of World
 Zoroastrianism (Parsi) • Trojan War
• Persian War
• Peloponnesian War
• Punic Wars
• Hundred Years War
• Russo-Japan War
• Vietnam War
• Iraq War
ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY
MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
5000-3500 BC The first city built by Sumerian people in southern Mesopotamia.
3500 BC Writing started with pictogram based script and took about a thousand year
to be evolved in full cuneiform script.
2300 BC The first akkadian ruler Sargon started to conquer Sumerian cities
2112-2095 BC The central city of Ur was built by Ur-Nammu and called as the third dynasty
of Mesopotamian.
1792-49 BC Development of Babylonian civilization by king Hammurabi along
Euphrates River.
1530 BC Kassite came into being in Hammurabi’s rule in 1750 BC and categorized
into minorities of Mesopotamia.
1500 BC Northern Mesopotamia is conquered by an Indo-European ruler called
Mittani. He has also conquered Syria and Asia Minor.
1200 - 900 BC Assyria started to lose its importance due to political instability engulfing
Anatolia, Syria, and the Levant coast.
Fahien, the Chinese pilgrim visited India during Chandragupta II and Hiuen-Tsang during Harshavardhana.

119
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
5000 BC Farming started along the bank of Nile river.
3500-3000 BC Starting of Pre dynastic period which was characterized by permanent
settlement.
2650 BC Old kingdom began to flourish which was known to be the era of dynamic
development of Egyptian art.
2575-2465 BC Pharaoh Khufu built Great pyramid of Giza having a height of 481 feet.
2381-2345 BC The Old Kingdom ended during the realm of Unas.
2055 BC-1650 BC The era of middle kingdom started with reunion of Egypt.
1539 BC With the expulsion of the Hyksos and reunification of Egypt, it became
the leading power in the Middle East.
1344-1328 BC The first ever instance of monotheism had been illustrated by the
religious reforms of pharaoh Akhenaton.
1336-1327 BC The realm of Tutankhamen.
1279-1213 BC The existence of Ramses Realm when Egypt experienced the height of
its power.
728 BC Nubian kings took over the power of Egypt.
639 BC The period of revival started with the expulsion of Assyrians by
Egyptians.
525 BC Persians started ruling the Egypt.
332 BC Alexander the great conquered Egypt.
305 BC A greek-speaking dynasty was established by one of the generals of
Alexander the Great.
30 BC The last queen of independent Egypt died and Roman empire occupied
Egypt.
THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

Time Period Events
1300-1200 BC The land of Canaan occupied by the Israelites.
1050-970 BC The kingdom was ruled by Soul followed by David.
970 BC David’s son Solomon became the new king.
931 BC The kingdom divided into north (Israel) and south(Judah) parts.
722 BC The Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom.
620 BC A religious revival took place in southern kingdom of Judah.
597-582 The destruction of both Judah and Jerusalem occurred.
538 BC The Persian king Cyrus repatriated the kings of Judah and Jerusalem and
encouraged them to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Jai Chand was the last Rajput king who was killed by Mohammad Ghori in the Battle of Chandawar.

120
164 BC The revolution broke out against the Seleucid kings under the leadership of
the Maccabbees brothers by Jews.
63 BC Judaea was conquered by Romans and the family of Herod the Great started
ruling.
GREEK CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
776 BC The first official date of Olympic Games.
750 BC Greek started planting colonies on the Mediterranean coast.
490-479 Athens and Sparta took lead for defending their land against invasion from
the huge Persian Empire.
447 BC Athenian Empire was at the height of its power.
431-404 Athens was defeated by Sparta in the Second Peloponnesian War.
399 Socrates, the famous philosopher of Athens was sentenced to death as he

was questioning conventional ideas.
338 The Greek city-states were defeated by King Phillip II of Macedon.
ROMAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
753 BC Rome was founded.
509 BC Roman republic was built.
390 BC Rome was sacked by the Gauls.
264-241 BC First Punic War between Carthage and Rome took place.
218-202 BC Second Punic War consisting of several small battles took place where Rome
was the ultimate winner.
83-31 BC Decline of Roman Republic due to the continuous phase of civil wars.
27 BC Augustus established himself as the first of the Roman emperors.
117 AD Roman Empire became the largest empire of its time.
312 AD Constantine the great got converted to Christianity.
410 AD Goths sacked Roman Empire.
476 AD The last Roman emperor was thrown out by German Tribes.
Christianity
•• It was founded by Jesus Christ (i.e. Merriah).
•• He was born on 25th December to Mother Mary (Marium) in Bethlehem (Nr. Jerusalam)
•• Bible is the holy book of Christians.
•• His crucifixion (hanging) on cross happened in about AD 33.
•• So, sign of ‘cross’ is considered holy for Christians.
Kanbana, Kuttana and Pugalendi are considered as ‘three gems of Tamil poetry’.

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MEDIEVAL WORLD HISTORY

MEDIEVAL EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
500-600AD •• A monastery was built in Italy.
•• Christianity was introduced in England.
•• The foundation stone of Roman Catholic Church was laid by Gregory the
Great.
650-700AD History of the English Church and People was written by Bede.
800AD Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, was crowned as Holy Roman Emperor.
850-900AD First Russian states founded at Kiev and Novgorod.
900-950AD Viking raids across Western Europe.
1000-1050 Medical school set up in Salerno, Italy (1030).
1050-1100 AD •• William of Normandy invaded England and becomes king.
•• First Crusade was proclaimed.
1150-1200 AD Construction of the cathedral of Notre Dame.
1200-1250 AD •• St Francis of Assisi sets up a monastic order, emphasizing austerity and
compassion.
•• Rebellion against the king by the Lords of England as he signed the Magna
Carta, accepting to rule according to law.
1250-1300 AD Establishment of the Hapsburg dynasty that continued to rule Austria till
1918.
Feudalism was a socio-political hierarchy which started in 8th century AD in Europe and
ended in 14th century AD.
Crusades were the series of military campaign organized under the banner of the cross so
as to recover the holy places of Palestine from Muslim occupation.
AFRICAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
830AD Ghana Empire was created.
1050-1100AD Expansion of Almoravid kingdom from Ghana to southern Spain.
1100-1150AD Emergence of Zimbabwe as a centre for producing gold and copper
artifacts and long distance trade.
1200-1250 AD •• Christian churches established in Ethiopia.
•• Kingdom of Mali was established in West Africa, with Timbuktu as a
centre of learning.
1375 AD Gao rebelled against and Songhai started to expand its realm.
1465 AD Songhai conquered Mema and after three years seized Timbaktu.
1588–91 AD Songhai was attacked by Moroccan forces with firearms and they kept on
conquering Tondibi, Timbuktu and Gao one after the other.
Qutubuddin Aibak patronised Hasan-un-Nizami, author of ‘Taj-ul-Massir’ and Fakhruddin, author of ‘Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi’.

122
MONGOL EMPIRE
Time Period Events
1206 AD Temüjin from the Orkhon Valley received the title Genghis Khan, and
started ruling the unified nomads of Mongolia homeland.
1227 AD Death of Genghis Khan.
1250–1350 AD Pax Mongolica or stabilization of Mongol empire.
1260-1294 AD Fragmentation of Mongol Empire into Ilkhanate Yuan dynasty, Chagatai
Khanate, Golden Horde.
1368 AD Fall of Yuan dynasty.
1687 AD Collapse of Chagatai Khanate.
ARAB CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
571AD •• The great Prophet of Islam, was born in Mecca
•• With the rise of new religion Islam, the Arab civilization started
expanding its realm
632AD After the death of Mohammad his successors continued to spread his
teachings and were known as Caliphs or Khalifas
13th Century AD The Islamic Empire came to end with the defeat of Abbasids by Seljuq Turks
Islam in Arab Civilization

•• Hazrat Prophet Muhammad Saheb founded Islam as a religion.
•• He was born on Monday, April 22nd, 571 A.D. (12th Rabi Al Awwal) in Mecca.
•• His father was Abdulsah & mother was Aminah.
•• His father died in Madina before Muhammad was born.
•• His grandfather was Abdul Mullahib.
•• He was suckled by Haleema (Dai).
•• His mother died when he was 6 year and grandfather died 2 years later.
•• His uncle – Abu Talib took cave of him.
•• Khadijah (a rich widow lady) of age 40 years married Muhammad (25 yrs).
•• Hijri Era started on 24th September 622 when he migrated to Medina.
•• He attained enlightment, i.e. the first revelation came to him on Monday, August 10th,
610 AD (21st of Ramadan) at 40 years of age at Gaare-Hira (Hira cave).
•• First persons who embraced Islam were–Khadija (wife), Zaid (slave), Ali (cousin), &
Abu Bakr (friend).
•• Prophet Muhammad died on Monday, 8th June, 623 AD and was buried at Medina.
•• Islam divided into shia and sunni cults after his death.
•• His successors were called Khalifa.
•• Eid-milad-un-Nabi is celebrated as the birthday of the prophet.
Harshavardhana called for a religious assembly at Kannauj which was joined by many learned people and presided over by Hiuen-Tsang.

123
MODERN WORLD HISTORY
Renaissance invention of several technological aids such

The European era between 14th to 17th as spinning jenny by James Hargreaves
centuries AD was designated as the Age of in 1764, water-powered spinning frame by
Renaissance generally known for “Revival Richard Arkwright in 1769, spinning mule
of Learning”. The Florence city of Italian by Samuel Crompton in 1779, power loom
region Tuscany was well known as the by Edmund Cartwright in 1785, steam
birth place of Renaissance. engine by James Watt in 1769 etc.
American Revolution
Reformation
It was the mutiny of people living in thirteen
Reformation was a social movement
colonies of England in North America in late
initiated by Martin Luther during 16th
18th century. Various factors such as French
century in Europe against Roman Catholic and Indian War, stamp act, Townshend
Church. He started criticizing the selling of Acts, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party/
self indulgence of higher authorities in the Intolerable Acts, can be considered as the
church by highlighting the fact that the Pope triggering fact of this revolution in 1775-83.
had no authority over the purgatory and
there was no evidence of catholic doctrine French Revolution
of the merits of the saints in the gospel. It was one of the greatest revolutions of
eighteenth century which put an end to
Major Revolutions French monarchy. It lasted from 1789 until
Glorious Revolution 1799, and partially carried forwarded by
It was otherwise known as the Bloodless Napoleon during the later expansion of the
Revolution primarily focused on securing French Empire.
freedom of worship from Catholics and Russian Revolution
unifying Whigs and Tories of Anglican Based on the ideology of Marxism,
church against the Roman Catholic ruler Russian revolution took place in 1917 and
James II. eventually ended up in creating the Russian
Industrial Revolution Soviet Union. The prime causes of these
It was the process of change in earning revolutions were the autocratic rule Czars,
livelihood by adopting industrial processes inefficient and vigorous use of power, low
rather than agriculture. It started during living standard of people in the society, to
mid 18th century in Britain with the support church forcefully.
WORLD WARS: I & II

Event World War I World War II
Countries Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey Britain, France, USSR, US, Other
Involved vs. France, Russia, Britain, US, Italy. nations vs. Germany, Italy, Japan
Duration of July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918 September 1, 1939 –
War September 2, 1945
Hiuen-Tsang spent about eight years (635-643 AD) in India and wrote a text called- Si Yu ki.

124
Causes Immediate Immediate
Murder of Austrian King Archduke Germany’s ultimatum and
Ferdinand at Serajevo by a Serbian which Poland’s rejection for surrender
resulted in strong hostility between Austria- of Port Dazing.
Hungary and Serbia Refusal of Poland to establish rail
Associated link between Germany and West
•• Militarism Prussia through Polish corridor.
•• Nationalism or Competitive Patriotism Associated
•• Economic Imperialism •• The treaty of Versailles (1919)
•• Anglo-German Rivalry and the charter of •• Nationalist movement of
William II Germany & Italy.
•• Lack of International Organization •• Ideological conflict between
Dictatorship and Democracy
•• Inefficiency of League of Nation
•• Colonial and commercial rivalry
•• Aggressiveness of Berlin-Rome
–Tokyo axis
Conse- •• End of the German, Russian, Ottoman and •• Collapse of Nazi Germany
quences Austro-Hungarian empires •• Fall of Japanese and Italian
•• Formation of new countries in Europe and Empires
the Middle East. •• Creation of the United Nations
•• Transfer of German colonies and regions •• Emergence of the United
of the former Ottoman Empire to other States and the Soviet Union as
powers superpowers
•• Establishment of the League of Nations •• Beginning of the Cold War
Major Wars in History Peloponnesian War

Trojan War Participants: Athens vs. Sparta
Duration of War: 431 BC – 404 BC
Participants: City of Troy vs City of Sparta
Causes of War: The war occurred due to
Duration of War: 10 years
the political fragmentation and mutual two
Causes of War: The war resulted due to city states of Greece, Athens and Sparta.
the kidnapping of Queen Helen from her
Outcome of War: Eventually Sparta
husband, the king of Sparta by the Trojan
registered its victory by defeating Athens in
Prince.
Decelean war (known to be the third phase
Outcome of war: The war ended with of Peloponnesian War), with the help of
victory of Greek and destruction of Troy. Persian Empire.
Persian War Punic Wars
Participants: Greek vs. Persia First
Duration of War: 499 BC – 449 BC Participants: Rome vs. Carthage
Causes of War: The king of Persia, Darius Duration of War: 264 BC -241 BC
I attacked Athens when the series of Greek Causes of War: The war broke out as the
uprisings were suppressed. Carthaginians established a base of island
Outcome of war: The Greek made its that seemed to be a potential threat to
victory against Persia. Rome.
Sher Shah Suri was known as Hazarat-i-Ala and he defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa in 1539.

125
Outcome of War: The Romans won the war. Russo-Japan War
Second Participants: Russia vs. Japan
Participants: Greek vs. Trojan Duration of War: 1904 – 05 AD
Duration of War: 218 BC- 201 BC Causes of War: The war fought for having
Causes of War: The war occurred when imperial authority over Manchuria and
Korea.
Carthage started expanding its power in
Spain and striving for the coastal city of Outcome of War: Japanese won the war.
Saguntum (the present day Sagunto) which Vietnam War
was allied with Rome. Participants: Democratic Republic of
Outcome of War: Finally Rome won over Vietnam allied with Soviet Union vs. China.
Carthage in the battle of Zama forcing the Duration of War: 1955 – 75 AD
Carthaginians to give up Spanish territories Causes of War: The war was fought for
and its navy. checking communism spread all over
South-Asia.
Third
Outcome of War: The war ended with the
Participants: Greek vs. Persian
victory of North Vietnam by empowering
Duration of War: 149 BC- 146 BC the Communist government in South
Causes of War: The fear of Carthaginian Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia with annexure
resurgence led to the war in the city streets of South Vietnam. The American-led forces
of Carthage had to back out from Indochina.
Outcome of War: Ultimately Romans Iraq–Iran War
destroyed the city of Carthage Participants: Islamic Republic of Iran and
Hundred Years War the Republic of Iraq
Duration of War: 1980 – 88 AD
Participants: France vs. England
Causes of War: The war started with the
Duration of War: 1337 BC -1453 BC
invasion of republic of Iran resulting from a
Causes of War: The war broke out after border dispute of two Republics.
King Edward III of England invaded the Outcome of War: Iraq failed to take over
country of France and continued to seize its the east bank of the Shatt al-Arab and
land and became its ruler. strengthen Arab separatism in the region of
Outcome of War: At the end France Khuzestan. The Iranian invasion failed and
managed to defy the England’s reign with the idea of deposing Saddam Hussein was
the help of Scotland. shattered.
Krishna Deva Rai took the titles of Yavanaraja Sthapancharya and also known as Andhra Bhoj and Andhra Pitamaha.

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89

This Section “Indian History” is taken from our:

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INDIAN HISTORY MIND MAP

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Pre Historic Ages Bronze Age

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Buddhism Sambharnath Horse

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Magadha Empire Kasi village made to Bimbisara. This brought

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ASHOKAN 14 MAJOR ROCK EDICTS

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S.A. Dange started the publication of an English Weekly Socialist in 1923.

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Religious Movements •• Kabir was an ardent disciple of

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The Bhumisparsha mudra statue of Buddha of Sarnath is dated to Gupta period.

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•• Assumed the title of Peshwa in 1761.

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EAST INDIA COMPANY BEFORE 1857

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SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REFORMS

Yuktisastika (Sixty stanzas on Reasoning) was written by Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna.

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The Pre Independence Era (1900-1947)

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The Post Independence Era (1947-1990)

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NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALS

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GREAT TRAVELERS IN INDIAN HISTORY

Vaishesika School of Philosophy was founded by Uluka Kanada.

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WORLD HISTORY MIND MAP

Ancient Medieval Modern

ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY

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THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

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776 BC The first official date of Olympic Games.

750 BC Greek started planting colonies on the Mediterranean coast.

447 BC Athenian Empire was at the height of its power.

431-404 Athens was defeated by Sparta in the Second Peloponnesian War.

399 Socrates, the famous philosopher of Athens was sentenced to death as he

338 The Greek city-states were defeated by King Phillip II of Macedon.

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MEDIEVAL WORLD HISTORY

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