Ancient India
Indus
Valley Civilization
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Discovered in 1921
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Belonged to the bronze age
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An area of about 1.3 mn sq km
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Existed between 3300-1600 BC in three
phases: early, mature and late phases
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Sites
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Early
(pre-Harappan)
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Mature
(Harappan)
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Late
phase (post-urban)
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Harappa
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Mohenjodaro
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Chanhu-daro
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Lothal
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Kalibangan
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Kalibangan
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Banawali
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Banawali (Hissar)
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Sutkagendor (Pakistan)
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Sukotada (Gujarat)
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Dholavira (Kutch)
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Dholavira
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Dholavira
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Rakhigarhi (Ghaggar)
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Rakhigarhi
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Rakhigarhi
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Bhagwanpura
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Manda (Jammu); Chandigarh, Shangol (Punjab); Daulatpur,
Mitthal (Haryana); Alamgirpur. Hulas (West UP)
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Site
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Remarkable
Feature
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Sutkagendor – Surkotada
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Marked by a citadel
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Mohenjo-daro
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Great Bath;
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Large granary
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Impressive drainage system
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Piece of woven cotton
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Mother Goddess
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Seal of pashu-pati
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Kalibangan
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Grain and plough
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Town planning
o
Grid system
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The Indus people were the earliest to
produce cotton
Aryans
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Male dominated
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Pastoral
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Horse was a significant animal
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Rig veda – Consists of 10 mandalas (books):
Book 1 and 10 are relatively new
·
Earliest specimen of Indo-European
language: 2200 BC inscription in Iran. Later in the Hittite inscriptions in
Anatolia
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1500 BC came to India
·
Sindhu is the river par excellence for
them
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Saraswati is the best of the rivers in
Rig Veda
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Panchajana – five tribes into which
Aryans were divided
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Used ploughshare
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Land did not form a well-established
type of private property
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Metal working was known
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Rajan – king
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Samiti, sabha, vidatha,gana – tribal assembly
Jainism
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24 tirthankaras.
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First: Rishab Dev
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23rd: Parshavnath
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Mahavir (599 BC – 527 BC) or (540 BC –
468 BC)
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In Kundagrama near Vaishali
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Father – Siddartha (Jnatrika clan)
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Mother – Trishala (sister of Lichchhavi
chief Chetaka)
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Died at Pavapuri near Rajgir
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Five
doctrines: Do not – violence, steal, lie, acquire property and do
observe brahmacharya
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Did not condemn the varna system
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Triratna:
right knowledge, right faith, right action
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Spread to Kalinga in first century BC.
King Kharavela
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Used Prakrit language. Literature
written in Ardhamagadhi
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Prepared the grammar of Apabhramsha
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Contributed to the growth of Kannada
Buddhism
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563 – 483 BC – Lumbini, Kapilavastu,
Nepal. Shakya family.
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Suddhodan and Mahamaya
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Death: Kushinagar (Kasia in Deoria
distt of UP)
Eight-fold path (for end of misery)
1. Right
observation
2. Right
determination
3. Right
speech
4. Right
action
5. Right
livelihood
6. Right
exercise
7. Right
memory
8. Right
meditation
Do not
1. Covet
other’s property
2. Commit
violence
3. Lie
4. Use
intoxicants
5. Indulge
in corrupt practices
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No god or atman exists
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Used Pali
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Main elements of Buddhism: Buddha,
Sangha, Dhamma
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Brahamana ruler Pashyamitra Shunga
persecuted the Buddhists
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Mihirakula (Huna king) killed Buddhists
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Buddhist text: Suttanipata
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Gandhara Art
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First human statues worshipped
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Barabar hills: Caves for monks
Territorial States
Kingdoms and Capitals
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Kingdom
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Capital
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Kapilavastu
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Piprahwa
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Lichchhavis
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Vaishali
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Mahajanpadas
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Anga
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Champa
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Kashi
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Varanasi
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Koshala
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Shravasti
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Mallas
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Kushinara
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Vatsa/Vamsa
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Kaushambi
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Avanti
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Ujjain (North)/ Mahishamati (South)
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Magadha
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Rajgir (Girivraja)
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Chedi/Cheti
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Kuru
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Panchala
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Matsya
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Surasena
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Mathura
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Ashmaka
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Gandhara
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Kamboja
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Vriji/Vajji
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Mithila
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Dynasty
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Capitals
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Satvanahanas
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Paithan
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Pandya
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Madurai
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Chola
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Puhar (kaveripattanam)
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Chalyukyas
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Badami (Bijapur)
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Pallavas
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Kanchi
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Kadambas
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Vijayanti
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Gangas
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Kolar
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First
Magadhan Empire
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Dyansty
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Ruler
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Remark
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Haryanka
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Bimbisara
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Contemporary of Buddha
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Ajatsatru
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Udayin
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Built fort on the confluence of Ganga and Son at Patna
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Shishunagas
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-
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Destroyed the power of Avanti
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Nandas (most powerful rulers of Magadha)
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Mahapadma Nanda
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Mauryas (Patliputra)
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Mauryas had a very elaborate bureaucracy
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Chandragupta Maurya
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Megasthenes visited during his time
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Bindusara
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Links with Greek princes
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Ashoka
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Buddhism
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Shunga
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Pushyamitra Shunga
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Destroyed the Mauryan empire. Killed Maurya king
Brihadratha
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Balisadhaka – tax collectors during the
times of Nandas
Shaulkiki or shulkadhyakshas were also
toll collectors
Shakyas and Lichchhavis were republics
Literature
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Book
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Author/Language
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Remark
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Digha Nikaya
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Pali
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Buddhist text
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North-West
India
Menander (Milinda) was the most famous
Indo-Greek ruler.
·
His capital at Sakala (Sialkot)
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Converted to Buddhism by Nagasena
(Nagarjuna)
Shakas
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Succeeded the Greeks in North West
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Rudradaman I : most famous ruler
o
He issued first ever long inscription
in chaste Sanskrit
Parthians
·
Followed Shakas
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Famous king: Gondophernes
o
St. Thomas came during his reign
Kushans
·
Aka Yuechis or Tocharians
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Kadphises was the first king
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Kanishka is the most famous ruler
o
Started the Shaka era in 78 AD
o
Held the Buddhist council in Kashmir
where the doctrines of Mahayana form were finalized
o
Patronized Ashvaghosa
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Kushan inscriptions and coins found at
Toprak Kala in Khorezm
·
Kushanas were the first rulers to issue
gold coins on a large scale
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Introduced the Satrap system of
government
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They controlled the Silk Route
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Worshipped both Shiva and Buddha. Some
worshipped Vishnu too.
·
Kanishka built a large number of Stupas
Greek ambassador Heliodorus set up a
piller in honor of Vasudeva near Vidisa.
Appointed governors called strategos
Deccan
Satavahanas
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Succeeded Mauryas in Deccan
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Brahmana rulers
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Gautamiputra Satkarni (AD 106-130)
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Vashishthiputra Pulimayi: Capital at
Paithan
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Started the practice of granting
tax-free villages to Brahmanas and
Buddhist Monks
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Yajna Sri Satakarni
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Chaityas (Buddhist temples) and Viharas
(monastaries) were constructed during their times
o
Most famous Chaitya at Karle in Deccan
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Show trace of matrilineal social
structure
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Administration
o
Ahara – district
o
Officials – amatyas or mahamatras
o
Gaulmika – head of a small military
regiment and look after administration in rural areas
o
Three grades of feudatories: raja,
mahabhoja, senapati
o
Language: Prakrit
South
Pandya
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Sent embassies to the Roman emperor
Augustus
Chola
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Elara conquered Sri Lanka
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Karikala founded Puhar aka Kaveripatnam
which was their capital
Cheras
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Kerala and parts of TN
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Senguttavan is the greatest king
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Roman influence: Muziris. Also built a
temple of Augustus
Vellalas
– rich peasants
Arasar
– ruling class
Pariyars
– agricultural labourers
Shrent
– artisan guilds
Chalukyas
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Badami (Bijapur)
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Pulakesin II was the important ruler
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Court poet Ravikirti wrote his eulogy
in the Aihole inscription
Pallavas
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They succeeded the Ikshvakus
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Kanchipuram was their capital
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Came in conflict with kadambas
o
Mayurasharman had founded the Kadamba
kingdom (Capital: Vijayanti/Banavasi)
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Nasrimhavarman occupied the Chalukya
capital Vatapi in 642 AD
o
Assumed the title of Vatapikonda
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Constructed a number of temples
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Ratha temples at Mahabs built by
Narsimhavarman who founded Mahabs
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Pattadakal: Papanatha temple and
Virupaksha temple
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Kailashnath temple at Kanchi
One of the major revolt in the south
was the Kalabhras revolt. It was so widespread that it could be put down only
through the joint efforts of the
Pandyas, the Pallavas and the Chalukyas
Three types of villages: Ur (commoners), Sabha
(Brahmans), Nagaram (traders etc)
Foreign
Invasions
Major
events
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326-325 BC
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Alexander’s invasion
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Literature
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Book
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Author
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Mudrarakshasa (play)
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Vishakhadatta
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Indika
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Megasthenes
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Milind Panho
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Buddhist literature of questions of Manender to Nagarjuna
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Buddhacharita
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Ashvaghosha
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Saundarananda (Sanskrit kavya)
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Ashvaghosha
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Mahavastu (Buddhist-hybrid Sanskrit)
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Divyavandan (Buddhist-hybrid Sanskrit)
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Kamsutra
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Vatsyayana
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Charaksamhita
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Charaka
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Gathasaptasatti (Prakrit book)
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Hala (Satavahana king)
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Tolkkappiyam (deals with grammar and poetics)
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Silappadikaram and Manimekalai are Tamil epics
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<Ilango Adigal? (silappadikaram)>
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Natural History (Latin)
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Pliny (Roman writer)
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Mrichchhakatika
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Shudraka
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Abhijnanashakuntalam
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Kalidasa
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Amarakosha
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Amarasimha
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Romaka Sidhanta (Astronomy)
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Harshacharita
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Banabhatta
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Priyadarshika; Ratnavali; and Nagananda (plays)
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Harshavardhana
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Astadhyayi
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Panini
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Mahabhashika
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Patanjali
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Suryasiddhanta
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A treatise on astronomy. Authorship disputed.
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Brihatsamhita
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Varahmira (5th CE)
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Sushrutsamhita
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Sushrut (2nd CE)
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Charaksamhita
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Charak (2nd CE)
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Travelers
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Traveler
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During
time of
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Work
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Megasthenes (ambassador of Seleucus)
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Chandragupta Maurya
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Indika
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Fa Hein
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Chandragupta Vikramaditya
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Hsuan Tsang
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Harshavardhana
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Pliny wrote Naturalis
Historia
Philosophy
Six schools
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School
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Philosophy
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Major proponent
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Samkhaya
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Materialistic. No god. Later turned spiritualistic.
Prakriti-Purusha. Salvation through knowledge acquired through pratyaksha,
anumana, shabda
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Kapila
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Yoga
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Slavation through meditation and physical application
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Nyaya
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System of logic. Salvation through acquisition of
knowledge.
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Vaisheshika
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Discussion of material elements or dravya. Atom theory.
(beginning of physics). Belief in god.
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Mimansa
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Vedas contain the eternal truth. Reasoning provided for
vedic rituals. Perform vedic rites for salvation.
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Vedanta
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Brahmasutra. Brahma is the reality. Atma is identical with
Brahma.
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Shankara (Advaita) – born in Kerala
Ramanuja (Vishistadvaita)
Shuddhadvaita (Vallabha)
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Lokayata
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Materialistic philosophy.
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Charavaka
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Mauryan officers
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Rajukas – a class of officers appointed
by Ashoka for administration of justice
·
Dhammamahamatras – officers of Ashoka
for propagating dharma among various social groups.
·
Tirthas – important functionaries
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Samaharta – highest officer for tax
assessment
·
Sannidhata – chief custodian of the
state treasury
Sangam
literature
·
Sangam was an assembly of Tamil poets held
under royal patronage in Madurai
·
Compiled around 300-600 AD
·
Can be divided into two groups:
narrative and didactic
·
Narrative: Melkanakku (or Eighteen
Major Works)
·
Didactic: Kilkanakku (Eighteen minor
works)
·
Silappadikaram and Manimekalai are
Tamil epics
Misc
·
Shataka was a special type of cloth
made at Mathura
·
Artisan guilds were called shrents
·
Uttarapatha was a sea route most
frequently in use
·
Gomat – wealthy person
Guptas
·
After the fall of Kushans and
Satvahanas in mid 3rd century AD
·
Perhaps of Vaishya origin
·
Chandragupta 1- Samudragupta –
Chandragupta II – Kumargupta - Skandagupta
·
Capital: Patliputra
·
Chandragupta I
o
Started the Gupta era in AD 319-20
·
Samudragupta (aka Napoleon of India)
o
Delighted in violence and conquest
o
Court poet: Harishena
·
Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) [375-415
AD]
o
Exercised indirect influence over the
Central Indian kingdom of Prabhavati through his daughter
o
Ujjain was his second capital
o
Navratnas
o
Kalidasa, Varahmira and Amarsimha were
at his court
o
Fa-hsien visited India
·
Royal seal: Garuda
·
Decline in long distance trade
·
Emergence of priestly landlords
·
Position of shudras improved
·
Subordination of women
·
Buddhism did not receive royal
patronage
·
Golden age of ancient India
o
Ajanta Paintings <not by Guptas but
mostly during their period>
o
Nalanda university flourished
o
13 plays written by Bhasa
o
Mrichchhakatika – Shudraka
o
Kalidasa
o
Plays were mostly comic
o
Ramayana and Mahabharata compiled
o
Development of Sanskrit Grammar
o
Aryabhatiya – Aryabhatta
o
Romaka Sidhanta – book on astronomy
·
Was poor in architecture
·
Huna invasion made the empire weak
Vishti – forced labour by peasants for
the army officials
Harshavardhana
·
After the fall of Guptas
·
Capital: Kanauj
·
Banabhatta: court poet (wrote
Harshacharita)
·
Ran the administration on similar lines
as Guptas
·
Law and order: not well maintained
·
Nalanda flourished as a centre of
Buddhist learning
·
Became a great parton of Buddhism (was
a Shaiva earlier)
·
Convened a grand assembly as Kanauj to
widely publicise the doctrines of Mahayana
·
Authored three dramas: Priyadarshika,
Ratnavali and Nagananda
