🏺 1. ANCIENT INDIA
🔹 Prehistoric Period
| Period | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age) | Hunter-gatherers, used crude stone tools; no pottery/agriculture. |
| Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age) | Microliths (tiny stone tools), semi-nomadic, first domestication of animals. |
| Neolithic Age (New Stone Age) | Agriculture begins, polished tools, pottery, permanent settlements. |
| Chalcolithic Age | Use of copper & stone; rural settlements; Ahar, Kayatha cultures. |
🔹 Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BCE)
- Also called Harappan Civilization (after Harappa, first site discovered 1921).
- Urban civilization with planned cities, drainage system, brick houses.
- Major Sites: Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Lothal, Kalibangan, Dholavira.
- Features:
- Town planning with grid pattern.
- Great Bath (Mohenjo-Daro).
- Granaries (Harappa).
- Dockyard (Lothal).
- Economy:Â Agriculture, trade, crafts, seals, weights & measures.
- Script:Â Undeciphered pictographic script.
- Decline:Â Floods, invasions, climatic changes (still debated).
🔹 Vedic Period (1500–600 BCE)
- Aryans arrived from Central Asia (Indo-European origin).
- Early Vedic Period (1500–1000 BCE):
- Rig Veda composed.
- Tribal polity (Sabha, Samiti).
- Cattle = wealth.
- Later Vedic Period (1000–600 BCE):
- Other Vedas (Sama, Yajur, Atharva) composed.
- Kingdoms emerged (Mahajanapadas).
- Social stratification (Varna system).
- Iron use, agriculture developed.
🔹 Mahajanapadas (600–321 BCE)
- 16 major kingdoms:Â Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa, Avanti, etc.
- Magadha (modern Bihar) rose as the most powerful due to:
- Fertile soil, iron ore, elephants, strong rulers (Bimbisara, Ajatashatru).
🔹 Religious Movements
- Jainism: Founded by Rishabhadeva, propagated by Mahavira (6th century BCE).
- Teachings: Ahimsa, Satya, Aparigraha, Anekantavada.
- Sacred texts:Â Agamas.
- Buddhism: Founded by Gautama Buddha (563–483 BCE).
- Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path.
- Councils: Rajgir (I), Vaishali (II), Pataliputra (III), Kashmir (IV).
- Sects: Hinayana & Mahayana.
🔹 Mauryan Empire (321–185 BCE)
- Founded by Chandragupta Maurya (with Chanakya/Kautilya).
- Capital:Â Pataliputra.
- Ashoka (273–232 BCE):
- Expanded empire, later adopted Buddhism after Kalinga War.
- Issued Edicts in Prakrit; spread Buddhism abroad (Sri Lanka, etc.).
- Emphasized Dhamma (moral code).
- Arthashastra: Written by Kautilya — on politics & economics.
- Decline after Ashoka → weak successors.
🔹 Post-Mauryan Period
- Sungas, Kanvas, Satavahanas, Kushanas, Guptas.
- Kushanas (1st–3rd century CE): Kanishka — promoted Mahayana Buddhism, started Saka era (78 CE).
- Gupta Empire (319–550 CE):
- Founded by Chandragupta I.
- Samudragupta – “Napoleon of India.”
- Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) – Golden Age of India.
- Achievements:
- Decimal system, zero (Aryabhata).
- Sanskrit literature (Kalidasa).
- Ajanta paintings.
🔹 Post-Gupta & Regional Kingdoms
- Harsha (606–647 CE): Last great Hindu ruler of North India.
- South India:
- Cholas:Â Strong navy, Rajaraja I, Rajendra I.
- Pallavas:Â Mahabalipuram temples.
- Chalukyas:Â Badami caves.
- Rashtrakutas:Â Patronized art & literature.
⚔️ 2. MEDIEVAL INDIA
🔹 Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE)
| Dynasty | Important Rulers | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Slave (Mamluk) | Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultana | Qutub Minar started, Silver tanka introduced. |
| Khilji | Alauddin Khilji | Market control, expansion to South India. |
| Tughlaq | Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq | Token currency, capital shift to Daulatabad. |
| Sayyid | Khizr Khan | Weak rule. |
| Lodhi | Bahlol Lodhi, Ibrahim Lodhi | First Afghan dynasty; ended by Babur (1526). |
🔹 Bhakti and Sufi Movements
- Bhakti Movement: Promoted devotion over rituals; led by Kabir, Mirabai, Tulsidas, Surdas, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Sufi Movement: Islamic mysticism emphasizing love and devotion; saints like Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya.
🔹 Vijayanagar Empire (1336–1565 CE)
- Founded by Harihara and Bukka (Sangama dynasty).
- Famous rulers: Krishnadeva Raya (Tuluva dynasty) → cultural peak.
- Hampi: capital, architectural marvels.
🔹 Mughal Empire (1526–1857 CE)
| Emperor | Major Achievements |
|---|---|
| Babur (1526–1530) | Founded Mughal Empire after defeating Ibrahim Lodhi (First Battle of Panipat). |
| Humayun (1530–1540) | Lost to Sher Shah Suri; regained throne later. |
| Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545) | Introduced Rupiya, improved roads, postal system. |
| Akbar (1556–1605) | Expanded empire, abolished Jizya, Din-i-Ilahi, efficient administration, Mansabdari system. |
| Jahangir (1605–1627) | Justice, love of art, married Nur Jahan. |
| Shah Jahan (1628–1658) | Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Peacock Throne. |
| Aurangzeb (1658–1707) | Expanded empire to Deccan; reimposed Jizya; strict religious policy. |
| Decline: Post-Aurangzeb due to wars, weak rulers, European interference. |
🔹 Regional Kingdoms
- Marathas: Shivaji (1674) – founder; Ashta Pradhan system; guerrilla warfare.
- Sikhs: 10 Gurus; Guru Nanak founder; Guru Gobind Singh formed Khalsa (1699).
đźš© 3. MODERN INDIA
🔹 Advent of Europeans
- Portuguese (1498):Â Vasco da Gama at Calicut.
- Dutch (1605):Â Lost to English later.
- British (1600):Â East India Company established.
- French (1664):Â Competed with British.
🔹 British Expansion in India
- Battle of Plassey (1757): British defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah → Bengal under control.
- Battle of Buxar (1764):Â British got Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa.
- Subsidiary Alliance (Lord Wellesley).
- Doctrine of Lapse (Lord Dalhousie).
🔹 Reforms & Revolts
- Social Reformers:Â Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj), Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotiba Phule, Dayanand Saraswati (Arya Samaj).
- Revolt of 1857: First War of Independence; causes — political, economic, military, religious.
- Leaders: Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tantia Tope, Bahadur Shah Zafar.
- Result: Company rule ended; Crown rule began (1858).
🔹 Indian National Movement
| Phase | Features | Key Leaders |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate (1885–1905) | Constitutional methods | Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale |
| Extremist (1905–1919) | Mass movement, Swadeshi | Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal |
| Gandhian Era (1919–1947) | Non-violent resistance | Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Patel |
Major Events:
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)
- Civil Disobedience (1930–34)
- Quit India Movement (1942)
🔹 Towards Independence
- Cripps Mission (1942)
- Cabinet Mission (1946)
- Mountbatten Plan → Indian Independence Act (1947)
- India & Pakistan formed (15 August 1947)
🏆 Key Takeaways
- Ancient India → cultural & intellectual foundation.
- Medieval India → religious, artistic, and architectural diversity.
- Modern India → rise of nationalism, end of colonialism, independence.