Indian History

🏺 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.

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🔹 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: Agriculture, trade, crafts, seals, weights & measures.
• Script: Undeciphered pictographic script.
• Decline: Floods, invasions, climatic changes (still debated).

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🔹 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.

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🔹 Mahajanapadas (600–321 BCE)

• 16 major kingdoms: Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa, Avanti, etc.
• Magadha (modern Bihar) rose as the most powerful due to:
  • Fertile soil, iron ore, elephants, strong rulers (Bimbisara, Ajatashatru).

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🔹 Religious Movements

• Jainism: Founded by Rishabhadeva, propagated by Mahavira (6th century BCE).
  • Teachings: Ahimsa, Satya, Aparigraha, Anekantavada.
  • Sacred texts: 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.

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🔹 Mauryan Empire (321–185 BCE)

• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya (with Chanakya/Kautilya).
• Capital: 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.

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🔹 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.

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🔹 Post-Gupta & Regional Kingdoms

• Harsha (606–647 CE): Last great Hindu ruler of North India.
• South India:
  • Cholas: Strong navy, Rajaraja I, Rajendra I.
  • Pallavas: Mahabalipuram temples.
  • Chalukyas: Badami caves.
  • Rashtrakutas: Patronized art & literature.

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⚔️ 2. MEDIEVAL INDIA

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🔹 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).

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🔹 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.

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🔹 Vijayanagar Empire (1336–1565 CE)

• Founded by Harihara and Bukka (Sangama dynasty).
• Famous rulers: Krishnadeva Raya (Tuluva dynasty) → cultural peak.
• Hampi: capital, architectural marvels.

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🔹 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.

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🔹 Regional Kingdoms

• Marathas: Shivaji (1674) – founder; Ashta Pradhan system; guerrilla warfare.
• Sikhs: 10 Gurus; Guru Nanak founder; Guru Gobind Singh formed Khalsa (1699).

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🚩 3. MODERN INDIA

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🔹 Advent of Europeans

• Portuguese (1498): Vasco da Gama at Calicut.
• Dutch (1605): Lost to English later.
• British (1600): East India Company established.
• French (1664): Competed with British.

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🔹 British Expansion in India

• Battle of Plassey (1757): British defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah → Bengal under control.
• Battle of Buxar (1764): British got Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa.
• Subsidiary Alliance (Lord Wellesley).
• Doctrine of Lapse (Lord Dalhousie).

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🔹 Reforms & Revolts

• Social Reformers: 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).

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🔹 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)

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🔹 Towards Independence

• Cripps Mission (1942)
• Cabinet Mission (1946)
• Mountbatten Plan → Indian Independence Act (1947)
• India & Pakistan formed (15 August 1947)

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🏆 Key Takeaways

• Ancient India → cultural & intellectual foundation.
• Medieval India → religious, artistic, and architectural diversity.
• Modern India → rise of nationalism, end of colonialism, independence.