Ancient Indian History

Ancient Indian History:
 Prehistoric India
 Historic India
 Indus Valley Civilization
 Vedic India
 Mahajanapadas
 Buddhism and Related Topics
 Mauryan Empire, Administrative Structure, Rulers and Legacy
 Gupta Empire, Rulers and Legacy
 Invasions from Central Asia
 Kingdoms, States and Dynasties of South India, Their Rulers and Legacy
NCERT Notes: Must-Know Facts about Indus Valley

Civilization [Ancient Indian History Notes For
UPSC]
The Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and the Indus Valley Civilization, the four great civilizations
of the ancient world, the first three (Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China) have been broadly
studied and well-known to everyone. But the fourth and of equal importance, the much more
sophisticated Indus Valley Civilization that flourished along the flood plains of Indus and
Gaggar-Hakra is lost to human memory and till date remains puzzling.
It was in the 20th century, the lost and forgotten Indus Valley Civilization was rediscovered
and acknowledged and given equal importance with the other three civilizations
(Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China).
Here we bring some interesting facts about Indus Valley Civilization which would important
for UPSC Civil Services IAS Prelims Exam.
Fact# 1: Indus Valley Civilization was the largest among the other four civilizations of the
world (Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China)
 The Indus Valley Civilization was spread over an area of 1,260,000 sq. km over
modern-India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan
 The civilization extended from Ghaggar-Hakra Valley in the east to Markran coast of
Baluchistan in the west, from Afghanistan in the northeastern to Daimabad in
Maharashtra in the south.
Fact# 2: The Population of Indus Valley Civilization was over 5 million
 The civilization had over 5 million inhabitants.

 Most of the inhabitants of the civilization were artisans and traders.
Fact# 3: Nearly 1056 cities have been discovered
 1056 Harappan cities and settlements have been found

 of which 96 have been excavated
 Most of the settlements are mostly located in the broad region of the Indus and
Ghaggar-Hakra Rivers and their tributaries.
 The major urban centers are: Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Dholaviral, Ganeriawala and
Rakhigarhi.
Fact# 4: Majority of the population lived in villages and it is not evident
 Majority of the population of Indus Valley Civilization lived in villages

 it is not evident as the villages may have been constructed of destructible materials
like mud or timber.
 Hence, it is difficult to find out the lifestyle and culture in these villages which have
been lost over a period of time without any trace.
Fact# 5: Scholars and archaeologists are uncertain about the naming
 Since the first settlement was discovered along the banks of river Indus,
the archaeologists named the civilization as Indus Valley Civilization. But on contrary
only around 100 sites have been found in the Indus Valley, while over 500 sites are
found along the Gaggar-Hakra River (The present day Saraswati River).
 Most of the archaeologists prefer to call them as ‘Indus-Saraswati Civilization’
based on the two river systems, while other prefer to name them as Harappan
Civilisation as the first settlement was discovered in this city (Harappa).
And, according to some archaeologists, the sites along the Gaggar-Hakra River are preserved
as they lie in the uninhabited desert.
Considering UPSC questions on Indus Valley Civilization/UPSC questions on Harappan
civilization, we have compiled this series of articles on the Indus Valley Civilization.
NCERT Notes: Rig Veda Facts [Ancient Indian

History Notes For UPSC]
History is an important subject for UPSC IAS Prelims Examination. History comprises of
Ancient history, medieval history, and Modern history. A substantial amount of question has
been asked from this portion for UPSC Prelims examination.
Here we are giving some interesting facts about Rigveda.
Rigveda is regarded as one of the most sacred texts of Hinduism. It has fascinated the
scholars and historians due to its significance and antiquity. It is a collection of ancient Indian
collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns.
Rig Veda Summary for UPSC

 The Rigveda is divided into ten books which are known as Mandalas
 It is a collection of 10,600 verses and 1,028 hymns
 It is the oldest text in any Indo-European language
 It has originated from early as 1700 BC
 The Angiras (rishi family) has composed 35% of the hymns and the Kanva family
who has composed 25% of Rig Veda.
 Many verses of the Rig Veda are still used as very significant Hindu prayers and
during rituals.
 It contains numerous secrets and clarifications about the origin of the world, the
importance of the Gods and a lot of advice for living a satisfying and successful life.
 As per to the Rig Veda, the Universe devised from Prajapati, the initial God and the
principle basis of creation.
 The hymns are known as Sukta that were composed to be used in rituals.
 Indra is the chief deity cited in the Rig Veda.
 The sky God Varuna, fire God Agni, and the Sun God Surya were some of the other
chief deities who were important in the Rig Veda beside older Aryan deities.
 The God of storms and mountains Rudra, as cited in the Rig Veda is the origin for
Lord Shiva, the Hindu God.
 Lord Vishnu who is one of the Trimurti of Hindu Gods was also a minor deity, as
mentioned in the Rig Veda.
 The universally famous Gayatri mantra (Savitri) is also in Rig-Veda.
 The varna system, Four-fold division of society, ‘Sudra’, Gamester’s Lament, Purusha
Shukta Hymns are mentioned in this Vedic text
 Rig Veda had the original concept of the caste system which is still practiced in
modern Hindu society today.
NCERT Notes: Pallava Dynasty [Ancient Indian

History Notes For UPSC]
NCERT notes on important topics for the UPSC civil services exam. These notes will also be
useful for other competitive exams like banking PO, SSC, state civil services exams and so
on. This article talks about the Pallavas – Society and Architecture.
Kickstart your UPSC 2020 preparation today!
Pallava Dynasty
The rule of the Pallavas witnessed a lot of cultural achievements in southern India. The
Pallava kings were great patrons of art and architecture.
Pallava Society and Culture

Society & Culture
 The Pallava society was based on Aryan culture.

 Brahmins were greatly patronised by the kings and they received land and villages.
This was called Brahmadeya. The Brahmin status greatly enhanced during this reign.
The caste system became rigid.
 The Pallava kings were orthodox Hindus and worshipped Shiva and Vishnu. They
were tolerant of Buddhism and Jainism too although both these faiths lost their
relevance and popularity.
 Kanchipuram was a great centre of learning. The University of Kanchi played a great
part in the propagation of Aryan culture in the South. It can be said that the
aryanisation of southern India was completed during the Pallava reign.
 Vatsyayana who wrote Nyaya Bhashya was a teacher at Kanchi University (Ghatika).
 Bharavi and Dandin lived in Pallava courts. Bharavi wrote Kiratarjuneeyam. Dandin
composed Dashakumaracharita. Both were masterpieces.
 The Vaishnava and Saiva literature flourished during this period.
 Sanskrit was the chief language among the royals and the scholars.
 Some of the inscriptions are in a mix of Tamil and Sanskrit.
 Vedic traditions were superimposed on the local ones.
 Many Tamil saints belonging to either Saivite (Nayannars) or the Vaishnavaite
(Alwars) sects lived during the 6th and 7th centuries. Saivite saints: Appar,
Sambandar, Sundarar and Manikkawasagar. Vaishnava saint: Andal (the only female
Alwar saint).These saints composed hymns in Tamil.
 Dancers were being maintained by all big temples.
 There were three types of places during this time:
1. Ur: were peasants lived and was headed by a headman who collected and paid the taxes.
2. Sabha: land granted to Brahmins and was also called Agrahara villages. These were tax-
free.
3. Nagaram: were merchants and traders resided.
 During the Pallava period, Hindu culture spread to many places in Southeast Asia as
well. Pallava influence is evident from the ancient architecture seen in Cambodia and
Java.
Pallava Architecture
Architecture
 The beautiful and grand Pallava style of architecture can be divided into four phases
or styles:
 1. Mahendra style (600-625 AD)
2. Mammala style (625-674 AD)
3. Rajasimha and Nadivarman style (674-800 AD)
4. Aparajita style (early 9th century)
 The Pallava era witnesses a transition from rock cut to free-standing temples.
 Mahendravarman was a pioneer in rock-cut architecture. Mandagapattu rock-cut
temple was the first rock-cut temple built by him.
 Narasimhaverman II also known as Rajasimha built the Kanchi Kailasanatha
Temple during the late 7th century AD.
 The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram was also built by Narasimhaverman II. It is the
oldest structural temple in South India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since
1984. It is also called Seven Pagodas.
 The Vaikuntha Perumal at Kanchipuram was built by Nandivarman II.
 The Dravidian style of architecture begins with the Pallava reign
More IAS related queries

 Is Ancient History of India important for UPSC Mains?
 In UPSC Mains, History is part of General Studies Paper I syllabus. However,
there are no direct questions on Ancient History unless they can be linked to
Art and Culture. For e.g. the 2017 UPSC Mains GS I paper had a question
regarding the decline of the numismatic art in India after the Gupta period.
 Which is the best book for Ancient Indian History for UPSC 2020?
 India’s Ancient Past by RS Sharma
 Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
 Which NCERT books to read for IAS exam 2020?

 NCERT books are a must read for IAS preparation They are important in both
UPSC Prelims and Mains. NCERT books on History, Geography, Economics
are particularly important. For easy reference of IAS aspirants, we have
compiled a comprehensive list of NCERT books important for IAS exam 2020.
 Are NCERT books enough for UPSC exam?

 NCERT books are an essential part of UPSC exam preparation. However,
because of the comprehensive UPSC syllabus, IAS aspirants should also
refer to subject-specific books (for e.g. Indian Polity by Laxmikanth) and keep
tabs on the current affairs of at least past 12-15 months.
 Is History a good optional choice for UPSC Mains exam?

 Yes, History is a popular choice among IAS aspirants because of the subject’s
heavy overlap with the General Studies part in both UPSC Prelims and UPSC
Mains. However, the syllabus of History is vast and candidates often find it
difficult to manage.
 Does IAS exam syllabus change?

 Yes, refer the official UPSC notification 2020 to see the latest IAS exam
syllabus. However, there have been no significant changes in the UPSC
syllabus recently but the nature of exam questions has become more
dynamic.

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Ancient Indian History:

NCERT Notes: Must-Know Facts about Indus Valley

 The civilization had over 5 million inhabitants.

 1056 Harappan cities and settlements have been found

 Majority of the population of Indus Valley Civilization lived in villages

NCERT Notes: Rig Veda Facts [Ancient Indian

Rig Veda Summary for UPSC

NCERT Notes: Pallava Dynasty [Ancient Indian

Pallava Society and Culture

 The Pallava society was based on Aryan culture.

More IAS related queries

 Which NCERT books to read for IAS exam 2020?

 Are NCERT books enough for UPSC exam?

 Is History a good optional choice for UPSC Mains exam?

 Does IAS exam syllabus change?

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