Page 1 : Page |1, , SOURCES OF ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY, , , , , , Literary and Archaeological records are the two main categories that give evidences of Ancient Indian, History., The literary source includes literature of Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, and other literature along with, other foreign accounts., The archaeological source includes epigraphic, numismatic, and other architectural remains., The archaeological explorations and excavations have opened the great landscapes of new, information., , Indian Literary Sources, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , The ancient Indian literature is mostly religious in nature., The Puranic and Epic literature are considered as history by Indians, but it contains no definite dates, for events and kingdoms., The effort of history writing was shown by a large number of inscriptions, coins, and local chronicles., The principles of history are preserved in the Puranas and Epics., The Puranas and epics narrate the genealogies of kings and their achievements. But they are not, arranged in a chronological order., The Vedic literature contains mainly the four Vedas i.e. Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and, Atharvaveda., The Vedic literature is in a different language called as the Vedic language. Its vocabulary contains a, wide range of meaning and is different in grammatical usages. It has a definite mode of pronunciation, in which emphasis changes the meaning entirely., The Vedas give reliable information about the culture and civilization of the Vedic period, but do not, reveal the political history., Six Vedangas are the important limbs of Vedas. They were evolved for the proper understanding of, the Vedas. The Vedangas are:, o Siksha (Phonetics), o Kalpa (Rituals), o Vyakarna (Grammar), o Nirukta (Etymology), o Chhanda (Metrics) and, o Jyotisha (Astronomy)., Vedanga has been written in the precepts (sutra) form. This is a very precise and exact form of, expression in prose, which was developed by the scholars of ancient India., Ashtadhyayi (eight chapters), written by Panini, is a book on grammar that gives excellent, information on the art of writing in sutra (precepts)., The later Vedic literature includes the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads., Brahmanas gives a description of Vedic rituals., Aranyakas and Upanishads give speeches on different spiritual and philosophical problems., Puranas, which are 18 in numbers, give mainly historical accounts., The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are epics of great historical importance., The Jain and the Buddhist literature had been written in Prakrit and Pali languages., Early Jain literature is mostly written in Prakrit language., Prakrit language was a form of Sanskrit language., Pali language was a form of Prakrit language which was used in Magadha., Most of the early Buddhist literature is written in Pali language., Pali language reached to Sri Lanka through some of the Buddhist monks where it is a living language., Ashokan edicts had been written in Pali language., Mahavira and Buddha are considered as the historical personalities (equivalent to the God). They, have created Jain and Buddhist religious ideology respectively., , Ancient Books, , , The Buddhist books are called as Jataka stories. They have been given some historical importance, because they are related with the previous births of the Buddha. There are more than 550 such, stories., , © 2019 Pratiyogita Abhiyan | All Rights Reserved | pratiyogitaabhiyan.in

Page 2 : Page |2, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , The historic information mentioned in Jaina literature also help us in reconstructing the history of, different regions of India., The Dharmasutras and the Smritis were the rules and regulations for the general public and the, rulers. It can be equated with the constitution and the law books of the modern concept of polity and, society. For example, Manusmriti., Dharmashastras were compiled between 600 and 200 B.C., Arthashastra is a book on statecraft written by Kautilya during the Maurya period. The book is, divided into 15 parts dealing with different subject matters related to polity, economy, and society., The final version of Arthashastra was written in the 4th century B.C., Kautilya acknowledges his debt to his predecessors in his book, which shows that there was a, tradition of writing on and teaching of statecrafts., Mudrarakshasha is a play written by Visakha datta. It describes the society and culture of that period., Malavikagnimitram written by Kalidasa gives information of the reign of Pusyamitra Sunga dynasty., Bhasa and Sudraka are other poets who have written plays based on historical events., Harshacharita, written by Banabhatta, throws light on many historical facts about which we could not, have known otherwise., Vakpati wrote Gaudavaho, based on the exploits of Yasovarman of Kanauj., Vikramankadevacharita, written by Bilhana, describes the victories of the later Chalukya king, Vikramaditya., Some of the prominent biographical works, which are based on the lives of the kings are:, o Kumarapalacharita of Jayasimha,, o Kumarapalacharita or Dvayashraya Mahakavya of Hemachandra,, o Hammirakavya of Nayachandra, o Navasahasankacharita of Padmagupta, o Bhojaprabandha of Billal, o Priihvirajacharit of Chandbardai, Rajatarangini, written by Kalhana, is the best form of history writing valued by modern historians. His, critical method of historical research and impartial treatment of the historical facts have earned him a, great respect among the modern historians., The Sangam literature is in the form of short and long poems consisting 30,000 lines of poetry, which, arranged in two main groups i.e. Patinenkilkanakku and the Pattupattu. It describes many kings and, dynasties of South India., The Sangam was the poetic compilation by a group of poets of different times mainly supported by, chiefs and kings., The Sangam literature was composed by a large number of poets in praise of their kings. Some kings, and events mentioned are also supported by the inscriptions., The Sangam literature generally describes events up to the 4th century A.D., , Foreign Accounts, , , , , , , , , , , , , , Herodotus was dependent upon the Persian sources for his information about India., Herodotus in his book Histories (written in many volumes) describes about the Indo-Persian relations., A detailed account of the invasion of India by Alexander was written by Arrian., The Greek kings send their ambassadors to Pataliputra. Megasthenes, Deimachus, and Dionysius were, some of them., Megasthenes came in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. He had written about the Indian society, and culture in his book called as ‘Indica’. Though the original work has been lost, but it had been, frequently quoted in the works of later writers., A book ‘Periplus of the Erythrean Sea’ written by an anonymous Greek author who settled in Egypt on, the basis of his personal voyage of Indian coast in about A. D. 80 gives valuable information about the, Indian coasts., In the second century A. D., Ptolemy had written a geographical treatise on India., The Greek writing about India, however, is based on secondary sources. They were ignorant of the, language and the customs of the country and hence their information is full of errors and, contradictions., Many Chinese travellers visited India as Buddhist pilgrims from time to time; three important pilgrims, were:, , © 2019 Pratiyogita Abhiyan | All Rights Reserved | pratiyogitaabhiyan.in

Page 6 : Page |6, 37. Which is the earliest Smriti?, (A) Yajnovalkya Smriti, (B) Manu Smriti, (C) Narad Smriti, (D) Parashar Smriti, Correct Answer: (B) Manu Smriti, 38. Which Smriti describes the classes of, Brahmanas who were against accepting, alms., (A) Narad Smriti, (B) Yajnalkya Smriti, (C) Parashar Smriti, (D) Manu Smriti, Correct Answer: (C) Parashar Smriti, 39. Who wrote Asva Chikitsa?, (A) Palkappya, (B) Charka, (C) Dhanvantri, (D) Salihanna, Correct Answer: (D) Salihanna, 40. Which of the following is correct., (i) Rig means Hymns., (ii) The third Mandal of Rigveda is, composed by Viswamitra., (iii) The tenth Mandal is dedicated to, Soma., (iv) Philosophy about the unity of Atma &, Parmatma has been described in, Upanishads., (A) All of the above, (B) iii only, (C) i, ii & iv, (D) None of the above, Correct Answer: (B) iii only, 41. Which of the following Greek Explorers is, considered to have left the earliest, account of India?, (A) Herodotus, (B) Ctesias, (C) Scylax, (D) Hippalus, Correct Answer: (C) Scylax, 42. The earliest evidence of rice cultivation, comes from which among the following, valleys?, (A) Central Ganga Valley, (B) Belan Valley, (C) Gomal Valley, (D) Bolan Valley, Correct Answer: (B) Belan Valley, , 43. The oldest evidence in human history for, the drilling of teeth in a living person was, found in which of the following cultures?, (A) Ahar banas, (B) Mehrgarh, (C) Sohn Valley, (D) Malwa, Correct Answer: (B) Mehrgarh, 44. The earliest evidence of domestication of, animals has been provided by, Adamagarh. In which of the following, states is located Adamgarh?, (A) Rajasthan, (B) Madhya Pradesh, (C) Gujarat, (D) Maharashtra, Correct Answer: (B) Madhya Pradesh, 45. At which among the following sites the, where first evidence of cultivation of, cotton has been found?, (A) Piklihal, (B) Hathonora, (C) Nal, (D) Ghaligai, Correct Answer: (C) Nal, 46. Which among the following is the correct, location of an ancient site Deh Morsai, Ghundai?, (A) Northern Pakistan, (B) Eastern Persia, (C) Modern Turkey, (D) Afghanistan, Correct Answer: (D) Afghanistan, 47. World’s first oil paintings been found in, which of the following countries?, (A) India, (B) Pakistan, (C) Afghanistan, (D) Iran, Correct Answer: (C) Afghanistan, 48. Which among the following places has, given the earliest evidence of agriculture, in Indian Subcontinent?, (A) Brahmagiri, (B) Chirand, (C) Mehrgarh, (D) Burzahom, Correct Answer: (C) Mehrgarh, 49. Which among the following have been, proved the best source of info regarding, ancient India?, (A) Religious literature, (B) inscriptions, , © 2019 Pratiyogita Abhiyan | All Rights Reserved | pratiyogitaabhiyan.in

Page 8 : Page |8, , List of Era’s in the Indian History, Name of Era, , Brief Description, , Vikram Era (56 BC), , Founded by King Vikramaditya who drove the Sakas out of Ujjain. Hence Era, celebrated as the symbol of Victory., , Sake Era (78 AD), , It was founded by the Sake King who occupied Ujjain 137 years after, Vikramaditya., , Gupta Era (320 AD), , It was founded by the Chandra Gupta I, , Harsha Era (606 AD), , It was founded Harshavardhana of Kannauj and was popular in North India for, a century after his death., , Kalachuri Era (248 AD), , Traikutakas was small dynasty founded this era, , Lakshmana Era of Bengal, (1119 AD), , Some of the sources quotes that it was founded by the King Lakshmana., , Era of the Kaliyuga (3102, BC), , It was after used for religious dates and rarely for political., , Buddha Era (544 BC), , It was in use in Ceylon from an uncertain date. Often use for religious, purposes., , Era of Mahavir (528 BC), , The Jainas use it for religious purposes., , Saptarsi or Laukika Era, , It was used in Kashmir region during middle ages and recorded in cycle of one, hundred years, each cycle commencing 76 years after each Christian century., , Nevar Era of Nepal (878, AD), , It is used in Nepal, , Kollam Era of Kerala (825, AD), , It was used in Kerala., , Era of Vikrmaditya VI, Chalukyas (1075 AD), , It was used early in medieval period., , © 2019 Pratiyogita Abhiyan | All Rights Reserved | pratiyogitaabhiyan.in

Page 9 : Page |9, , Time Line of Ancient Indian History, Phase, , Time Period, , Palaeolithic Age, , Up to 10000 BC, , Mesolithic Age, , 10000 to 4000 BC, , Neolithic Age, , 5000 to 1800 BC, , Chalcolithic Age, , 1800 to 1000 BC, , Iron Age, , 1000 BC onward, , Indus Valley Civilisation, , 2900 to 1700 BC, , Vedic Period, , 1500 to 600 BC, , Pre-Mauryan Age, , 6th Century to 4th Century BC, , Mauryan Age, , 321 to 184 BC, , Post-Mauryan Age, , 200 BC to 300 AD, , Gupta Period, , 4th Century to 6th Century AD, , Age of Harsha, , 606 to 647 AD, , Chalukyas of Badami, , 543 to 755 AD, , Pallavas of Kanchipuram, , 560 to 903 AD, , © 2019 Pratiyogita Abhiyan | All Rights Reserved | pratiyogitaabhiyan.in