History of Ancient India
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BIG LEARNINGS MADE EASY An initiative of Group HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA Civil Services Examination MADE EASY Publications Corporate Office: 44-A/4, Kalu Sarai (Near Hauz Khas Metro Station), New Delhi-110016 E-mail: [email protected] Contact: 011-45124660, 8860378007 Visit us at: www.madeeasypublications.org History of Ancient India © Copyright, by MADE EASY Publications. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the above mentioned publisher of this book. First Edition: 2017 Second Edition: 2018 Third Edition: 2019 © All rights reserved by MADE EASY PUBLICATIONS. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form without the written permission from the publisher. Contents History of Ancient India Unit – I: Different Shades of Civilization Family Life ..........................................................43 Social Life ...........................................................43 Chapter-1 Social Divisions ..................................................44 Indian Pre-History............................................2 Religious Life of Aryans ......................................45 1.1 Introduction ..........................................................2 Deities of Early Vedic Period ..............................45 1.2 Paleolithic Age .....................................................3 3.7 Yagnas or Sacrifices ..........................................46 1.3 Mesolithic Age (9,000 BC – 4,000 BC) .................6 3.8 Importance of this Phase....................................46 1.4 Neolithic Age (9000 BC – 1000 BC) .....................8 3.9 Limitations ..........................................................47 1.5 Chalcolithic Age (2800 BC – 700 BC) ................10 Advent of Aryans and Early Rig Vedic Phase: Important Facts ......................................47 Chapter 2 Chapter 4 Indus Valley Civilization................................14 2.1 Introduction ........................................................14 Later Vedic Phase..........................................51 2.2 Geographical Extent ..........................................14 4.1 Introduction ........................................................51 2.3 Phases of Indus Valley Civilization .....................15 4.2 Geographical Expanse .......................................51 2.4 Discovery ...........................................................16 4.3 Systematic Expansion ........................................51 2.5 Features .............................................................16 4.4 Reason for Expansion ........................................52 2.6 Harappa and Contemporary Cultures ................23 4.5 Political Condition...............................................52 2.7 Important Sites ...................................................23 4.6 Economic Condition ...........................................54 2.8 End of Civilization Theories ................................27 4.7 Social Condition .................................................54 4.8 Religious Practices .............................................56 Chapter 3 4.9 Vedic Literature ..................................................57 Aryans and Early Rig Vedic Phase ..............35 Vedas .................................................................57 3.1 Aryans ................................................................35 Sutras .................................................................59 3.2 Theories: Home and Migration of Aryans ...........35 4.10 Vedic Philosophy ................................................59 3.3 Aryans: Route of Migration, Spread and Nyaya Philosophy ...............................................59 Penetration in India ............................................37 Vaisesika ............................................................59 3.4 Aryans Administration ........................................39 Samkhya ............................................................60 3.5 Economic: Vedic Period .....................................41 Yoga ...................................................................60 Nature of Economy .............................................41 Mimamsa ............................................................60 Major Occupations and Ownership of Land .......42 Vedanta ..............................................................60 Industry ..............................................................42 Other Important Philosophies .............................61 Trade and Commerce ........................................42 4.11 Epics ..................................................................61 Transportation and Medium of Trade .................42 Ramayana ..........................................................61 Overseas Trade ..................................................42 Mahabharata ......................................................61 3.6 Aryan Society .....................................................43 Later Vedic Phase: Important Facts ...................62 (iii) Unit – II: Consolidation of Empires Chapter 6 Chapter 5 Mahajanapadas ..............................................79 Jainism and Buddhism .................................65 6.1 Rise of Mahajanapadas ......................................79 5.1 Rise of New Religion ..........................................65 6.2 Reasons for Rise ................................................79 5.2 Reasons for the Rise of New Religions ...............65 6.3 Changes with the Rise .......................................79 Four-Fold Stratification of Society .......................65 6.4 Ancient Indian Republics ...................................79 Rise of New Agricultural Economy .....................65 6.5 Sixteen Mahajanapadas .....................................80 Growth of Cities and Trade/Commerce in 6.6 Location of Mahajanapadas ...............................81 North-Eastern India ............................................65 6.7 Magadha Empire ................................................81 Material Life to Simple Life .................................65 Rise of Magadha Empire ....................................81 Language ...........................................................66 Reasons for the Rise of Magadha ......................82 Curiosity, Debates and Discussions ...................66 Mahajanapadas: Important Facts .......................83 5.3 Jainism ...............................................................66 Tirthankaras .......................................................66 Chapter 7 Doctrines of Jainism ...........................................67 Iranian and Macedonian Invasions ..............84 Two Sects of Jainism ..........................................67 7.1 Iranian Invasion ..................................................84 Spread of Jainism ..............................................68 7.2 Importance of North-West ..................................84 Main Followers of Jainism ..................................68 7.3 Influence of the Contacts ...................................84 Jain Councils ......................................................68 7.4 Alexander’s Invasion ..........................................84 Jain Literature ....................................................68 Alexander ...........................................................84 Contributions of Jainism .....................................68 Effects and Importance of Alexander's Invasion 85 Jain Architecture ................................................68 Iranian and Macedonian Invasions: Contribution in Trade ..........................................69 Important Facts ..................................................86 Causes of Limited Spread ..................................69 Causes of Decline ..............................................69 Chapter 8 5.4 Buddhism ...........................................................69 Mauryan Empire.............................................87 Gautama Buddha ...............................................69 8.1 Introduction ........................................................87 Social Orders and Legislation ............................70 8.2 Chandragupta Maurya (322 BC – 297 BC) ........87 Five Events in Buddha’s Life ..............................70 8.3 Imperial Organization of Chandragupta Maurya 88 Teachings ..........................................................70 8.4 Chanakya ...........................................................88 Doctrines of Buddhism .......................................71 8.5 Bindusara (297 BC – 272 BC) ............................89 Spread of Buddhism ..........................................71 8.6 Asoka .................................................................89 Main Followers of Buddhism ..............................72 Rise of Asoka .....................................................89 Special Features of Buddhism ...........................72 Kalinga War ........................................................89 Sects of Buddhism .............................................73 Impact of Kalinga War ........................................89 Buddhist Councils ..............................................73 Asoka’s Dhamma ...............................................90 Administration during the Period ........................74