Indian Ancient History
Contents
Indian Ancient History
Pre historic Ages
Prehistoric period is divided into three sections.
- Stone age
- Bronze age
- Iron age
Stone Age
Stone age is divided into three periods.
- Paleolithic age
- Mesolithic age
- Neolithic age
Paleolithic age
In starting of paleolithic age the tools where usually made of hard rock.
In middle period of paleolithic age a bit change account in the shape of tools made of stones are bones.
At last of this period human lives as Nomadic hunter gatherers.
Mesolithic age
It ended with the introduction of agriculture.
Neolithic age
It was an age of polished tool culture. Tool making became an important profession and a variety of polished tools were manufactured.
They learnt the art of poetry and their parts where will made and decorated with paintings.
They discovered the art of producing fire by friction of stones.
the wheel was also and important discovery of this age.
Bronze Age
It begin with the development of Indus Valley Civilization around 3000 BC to 1300 BC.
Pupil started using weapons and agriculture tools made of bronze,Copper and Tin.
It had opened the trade network of Mesopotamian Civilization to reach out in various directions.
Iron Age
Peopil started using weapons and tool made by iron and marked by other prominent changes in the society such as agriculture practices, religious beliefs.
The age began in the 6th century BCE in the Northern Europe and 8th century BCE in Central Europe.
Indus Valley Civilization
- It was most ancient urban Civilization in the world.
- Which was flourished on the bank of Indus river during bronze age.
The important cities under the civilization where given below.
| Names of Sites | Year of Excavation | Excavators | Region |
| Harappa | 1921 | Daya Ram Sahani | Montgomery district of Punjab (Now in Pakistan) |
| Mohenjodaro | 1922 | R.D. | Larkana District of Sind on the right bank of Indus |
| Chanhu- | 1931 | N. Gopal Majumdar | Situated in Sind on the bank of Indus |
| Kalibangan | 1953 | A. Ghosh | situated in Gujarat on the bank of Ganga |
| Lothal | 1953 | S.R.Rao | situated in Gujarat on |
| Banwali | 1974 | R.S.Bhist | situated in Hisar district of Haryana |
| Amri | 1935 | N.G.Majumdar | situated in |
| Dholavira | 1985-90 | RS Bisht | situated in Gujarat in Rann of Kutch |
| Rangpur | 1953 | MS Vats, BB Lal and SR Rao | situated on the bank of Mahara in Gujarat |
| Ropar | 1953 | Y.D. Sharma | situated in Punjab of the banks of Sutlej |
| Alamgirpur | 1958 | Y.D. Sharma | situated on Hindon in Ghaziabad |
Vedic Period (1500-500 BCE)
- Aryans where the people who spoke Indoeuropean language Invincible belonging to Central Asia migrated to India.
- According to the oldest Vedic literature the Aryan King came into conflict with the
dasha and thedashayus . - two priest who plays an important role during this time where Atharvaveda and Vishwamitra.
- The Pupil of the Vedic period where the east Vedic literature shows the existence of god and some Invincible power.
- Indra (Rain God) was important as he played
role of a warlord. - Agni (God of Fire) was devoted 200 hymns.
- The 4 Vedas (Rigved Samved Yajurved Atharvaveda) is most famous in this period.
Jainism
- Mahavir was born in
kundagram - At the age of
30 he gave up his crown and became an ascetic.
he attend the supreme knowledge after
he believed that the universe was the product of nature – the outcome of cause and effect Karma and transmigration of the soul. Shaolin external and bone and Ribbon ultimate aim of the Jeev should be getting rid of the birth cycle. He laid great stress on equality.
Jains devotees were categorised as Tirthankar, arhat, Bhattacharya
Buddhism
Gautam Budh was the founder of Buddhism. He was a prince in Kingdom of Kapil Vastu in 563 B.C. At the age of
He delivered his first Sermon at
he passed away at the age of 80.
He recommended an eightfold path which included
right observation, right determination, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right exercise, right memory and right meditation.
Mahajanpads
During the age of Buddha full of Northern territory especially north of Indian was divided into 16 States called sodash mahajanpads either Monica or Republican in character.
| S.N. | Mahajanpads | Capitals | Present place |
| 1 | Gandhara | Taxila | A part of Afghanistan |
| 2 | Kamboja | Rajauri | Parts of Kashmir and Afghanistan |
| 3 | Asmaka | Potana | Godavari Valley |
| 4 | Vatsa | Kausambi | Allahabad |
| 5 | Avanti | Ujjain | Malwa and a part of M.P. |
| 6 | Surasena | Mathura | Mathura in UP |
| 7 | Chedi | Suktimati | Bundelkhand in MP |
| 8 | Malla | Kushinara, Pawa | Eastern UP |
| 9 | Kurus | Hastinapur/Indraprastha | Delhi and Meerut |
| 10 | Matasya | Virat Nagari | Jaipur and Alwar |
| 11 | Vajjis | Vaishali | North bihar |
| 12 | Anga | Champa | Bhagalpur in Bihar |
| 13 | Kashi | Banaras | banaras |
| 14 | Kosala | Shravasti | Oudh in UP |
| 15 | Magadh | Rajgir | Patna and Gaya in Bihar |
| 16 | Panchala | kampilya | Rohilkhand in UP |
Magadh Empire
Magadh roughly represents the present Patna and Gaya district of Bihar.
(Ganga in the north zone in the West Vindhya in the south Champa in the East)
King
Three dynasties ruled over Magadha
- Haryanka dynasty
- Shishunaga Dynasty
- Nanda dynasty
Haryanka Dynasty
- Bimbisar was the first ruler and founder of haryanka dynasty
- he was contemporary to Buddha
- He was killed and succeeded by his son Ajatsatru.
- He shifted his capital from the Rajgir to Patliputra.
- Ajatsatru was killed by his son Udayin.
Shishunaga dynasty
- The last Haryanka ruler, Nagadashaka killed by his courtier shishunaga in 430BC.
- Therefore Shishunaga was the founder of shishunaga dynasty. Who was succeeded by his son kalashoka.
- The last ruler of shishunaga dynasty was Nandi Vardhan.
Nanda Dynasty
Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda dynasty they had a huge Army of two lakh infantry 60000 cavalry and 2000 War and 6000 war elephants.
Dhanananda was the last ruler of this dynasty he was contemporary of Alexander who invaded India in 326 BC during his region.
Mauryan Empire (320-185 BC)
| Chandragupta Maurya | 322 BC – 298 BC |
| Bindusar | 298 BC- 272 BC |
| Ashok | 274 BC – 232 BC |
| Dashrath | 232 BC – 224 BC |
| samprati | 224 BC – 215BC |
| Shizuka | 215 BC – 202 BC |
| jayavarman | 202 BC – 195 BC |
| Satadhanvan | 195 BC – 187 BC |
| Brihdatha | 187 BC – 185 BC |
- Chandragupta Maurya defeated Dhananand with the help of Chanakya.
- Megasthenes was the Ambassador sent by Seleucus.
- Bindusar was the next successor of the modern Empire.
- Ashok was the son of Bindusara who fought the Battle of Kalinga in 261 BC.
- Last Maurya King was Brahdhrath (killed by his general Pushyamitra).
- Pushyamitra founded sunga dynasty.
Sunga Dynasty
| Rulers |
| Pushyamitra Sunga |
| Agnimitra |
| Vasujyeshtha |
| Vasumitra |
| Andhraka |
| Pulindaka |
| Ghosha |
| Vajramitra |
| Bhaga Bhadra |
| Devabhuti |
Pushpa mitra Singh was the Senapati of last king of modern Empire Brihdhrat.
He killed Brihadratha and founded the sunga dynasty in 185 BC. They were succeeded by Kanwa dynasty.
Vasudev Kanwa was the founder of Kanwa dynasty. He was a Brahmin and follower of Lord Vishnu.
After this, in the ancient history, we also read the following
Satavahana dynasty( 167-196 AD)
Kushan dynasty (30-375 AD)
Gupta Empire (320- 550 AD)
Harshavardhana (606 -647 AD)
the Pala Empire (750 – 1174 BC)
Chola dynasty
