Ancient INDIA

Ancient INDIA

1. INDUS CIVILIZATION

   • .most accepted PERIOD 2500BC - 1700bc(acc. to C-14 dating).
   • Harappan
     • .Discovered by-Dayaram sahani 1921. .Important sites- two row of six granaries with brick platform,stone symbol of lingam n yoni, mother goddess, copper scale and mirror, vanitybox, DICE. SCULPTURE-Dog chasing deer(bronze),nude male and nude dancing female(stone),red stone male torso.
   • mohenjodaro
     • .discovered by-RD Banerjee 1922 .Mohenjidaro means-Mound of Dead .IMPORTANT SITES-The great bath, the great granary(largest building), proto shiva seal, clay figure of mother goddess, dice. sculpters-Bronze dancing girl, steatite image of bearded man.
   • kalibangan
   • lothal(manchester of ivcivilization)
   • chanhudaro
   • 2500BC-1700BC
   • VEDIC (1500-500BC)
     • the aryan(means high birth) are most accepted believed to be migrated from CENTRAL ASIA in several groups between 2000-1500BC. and settled in Eastern Afghanistan, modern Pakistan, Punjab and Western UP. this region is popularly known as "sapta sindva" the land of seven Rivers. (the INDUS, its five tributaries viz. VITASTA, ASKINI, VIPAS, PARUSHNI, SUTURDI n SARASWATI.)
     • Aryans followed a mixed economy -agriculture and pastorialism.
     • rigvedic (1500-1000BC)
       • dasyuhatya or slaughter Dasyus(battle bw aryans n the indigenous inhabitants)
         • The Dasarajna War
           • this battle was fought between Sudas(son of Divodas) and Bharat king of Tritsu family defeat an Alliance of ten tribes(5 Aryans and 5 non-Aryans)
         • dasas(early branch of Aryans)
         • Dasyu(Original Inhabitants
       • COW
         • GAVISHTHI (serch of cow) term for war
         • standard unit of exchange
       • SOCIETY
         • kinship was the basis of society structure.people gave their primary loyalty to the tribe which was called JANA.
         • Varnas
           • Varna was the terms of classification based on colour
           • 1.BRAHMINS (teacher and priest) 2.KSHATRIYAS (rulers and administrators) 3.VAISHYAS (merchants and bankers) 4.SUDRAS (artisans and labourers)
       • IMP RITUALS
         • 1.RAJASURYA 2.ASVAMEDHA 3.VAJAPEYA.
     • later vedic (1000-600BC)
       • POLITY
       • SOCIETY
     • VEDIC LITERATURE.
       • RIG VEDA (1700BC)
         • 1028HYMES DIVIDED INTO 10 MANDALAS
       • SAMA VEDA (melodies)
       • YAJUR VEDA
         • deals with the procedure for the perfomance of sacrifices
       • ATHARVA VEDA (book of magical formula)
       • UPANISHIDAS 800-500BC
         • -upanishadas means knowledge acquired by sitting close to the teacher. -also called VEDARITA coz they marked the last phase of vedic period. -108 upanishadas.
         • end of the vedic age
       • EPIC
         • MAHABHARATA (by VEDVYAS)
           • originally consist of 880 verse then it was rised to 24000verse, the final compilation consist of 100000verses
         • RAMAYANA (by VALMIKI)
           • originally consist of 6000 verses, which was raised to 12000 and finally 24000verses.
     • PREMAURYAN AGE 600BC
       • The Mahajanapadas
         • monarchial
           • MAGADH EMPIRE 600-400BC
             • HARYANKA DYNASTY
               • BIMBISARA (544-492BC)
                 • -capital-Rajgir(Girivraj) -contemporary to Gautam Buddha and Mahavira
                 • AJATASHATRU (492-460BC)
                   • -son of bimbisara and chellana(sister of chetaka, LICHCHHAVI) -occupied the throne by killing his father bimbisara -conqure KASI, KOSALA, VAISHALI. -scared of AVANTI.
                   • UDAYIN (460-444BC)
                     • capital - changed from RAJGRIHA to PATALIPUTRA
                     • NAGA DASAK (last ruler)
                   • convened the first buddhist council 483BC (Buddha died during his reign)
             • SHISHUNGA DYNASTY (412-344BC)
               • shisunga
                 • was minister of Nag-Dasak elected by the people. -defeat AVANTI and ended 100years of old rivalry. -temporarily shifted the capital to VAISHALI.
                 • KALASHOKA (Kakavarin)
                   • he transfered the capital from VAISHALI to PATALIPITRA
                   • convened the second buddhist council (383BC)
             • NANDA DYNASTY (344-323BC)
               • considered to be the first non kshatriya dynasty ruled for 100 uears.
               • MAHAPADMANANDA
                 • DHANANDA (last nanda ruler)
                   • Alexander invaded india during his reign in 326BC
                   • chandragupta defear dhananda, assisted by KAUTILYA in 321BC.
             • FOREIGN INVASION
               • iranian Invasion
                 • CYRUS (588-530BC)
                   • he destroyed the city of CAPASIDA(North of Kabul) -he enrolled indian soldier in the PERSIAN ARMY.
                   • DARIUS-I 516BC
                     • grand son of CYRUS -invaded North -West India, and annex punjab, west of Indus and Sind.
                     • XERXES (successor of darius)
                       • employed indians in the long war against the GREEKS
               • ALEXANDER INVASION
                 • Battle of HYDASPAS against PORUS
                 • Battle of SAKALA
                 • destroyed iranian empire
         • Republicans
           • LICHCHHAVI,oldest republic in the world.
       • RELIGIOUS ENVIRONMENT
         • BUDDHISM
           • 1st COUNCIL-483BC, AJATASHATRU(Haryanka dynasty) 2nd COUNCIL-383BC, KALASHOKA(Shisungs Dynasty) 3rd COUNCIL-250BC-ASHOKA(Maurya dynasty) 4th COUNCIL-AD72,KANISHKA(Kushan dynasty)
         • JAINISM
           • .1st COUNCIL-300BC By Chandragupta .2nd COUNCIL-AD512,no royal patron.
       • THE MAURYAN EMPIRE 321-184BC
         • CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA (321-298BC) Jainism.
           • BINDUSARA (298BC-237BC) believe in ajivika
             • extend the kingdom furthur to the PENINSULAR Region of India as far south MYSORE.
             • ASHOKA (237BC-232BC) buddhism.
               • fought KALINGA WAR against the kalinga. He regret n accepted BUDDHISM under UPAGUPTA.
               • BRIHADRATHA (last mouryan ruler)
                 • assassinated in 184BC by his Brahmin commander in chief, PUSHYAMITRA SHUNGA, who established the shunga dynasty.
           • first indian ruler to unite the whole NORTH INDIA.
         • POST MAURYAN PERIOD
           • FOREIGN STATES
             • BACTRIAN(INDO-GREEK)
               • MENANDER (165BC-145BC)
                 • first ruler in india to issue coin, he was converted buddhism by NAGASENA.
               • THE SHAKAS OR SCYTHIANS (AD 1st-400)
                 • PARTHIANS (AD1st-3rd century)
                   • KUSHANAS (AD1st-3rd century)
                     • KANISHKA AD78-101.
                     • first ruler to issue gold coins
                     • MATHURA & GANDHARA SCHOOL
                   • St. Thomas came to india for propogation of christianity.
           • NATIVE STATES.
             • SHUNGA DYNASTY 185-73BC.
               • PUSHYAMITRA SHUNGA (killer of the last mauryan ruler)
                 • considered to be the prosecutor of Buddhism
                 • marked as the revival of HINDU CULTURE, SHANSKRIT & BHAGAVATISM.
                 • patronised the great sanskrit Grammarian,PATANJALI.
                 • LATER KINGS-VASUMITRA, VAJRAMITRA, BHAGABHANDRA, DEVABHUTI.
                   • all of them were Brahamanas
               • KANVA DYNASTY 73BC-28BC.
                 • founder VASUDEVA succeeded by BHUMIMITRA &NARAYANA
                   • SUSARMAN(last ruler) , killed by Andhra king SIMUKA.
                   • all Brahmins
                 • CHETI DYNASTY
                   • the 3rd ruler KHARAVELA recovered jain image from MAGADH.
                   • SATAVAHANA DYNASTY (FOUNDER-SIMUKA)
                     • important aspects - 1.mostly issued lead coins(apart from copper and bronze) 2.support brahminism but also promotes buddhism somehow. 3.PARAKRIT language and BRAHMINI script.
                     • GAUTAMIPUTRA SATAKARNI (AD106-130)
                       • greatest ruler of this dynasty
                       • assumed the title of RAJA-RAJA & MAHARAJA.
           • THE GUPTAS AGE (AD 300-AD 467)
             • .the fall of KUSHANA EMPIRE towards the middle of AD 3rd century led to the establishment of the empire of GUPTAS. .gupta period is generally regarded as the GOLDEN AGE OF HINDUISM. .GUPTAS belongs to the VAISHYA caste. .SRI GUPTA was the founder of GUPTA DYNASTY. .COINAGE- guptas issued the largest number of gold coins, which were called dinars in their inscriptions. SILVER coins were called the RUPAYAKAS. .JUDICIARY for the first time, civil and criminal law were clearly defined and demacrates. .SOCIETY- .the supremacy of the Brahmins continue. .the SHUDRAS were allowed to listen EPIC, PURANAS and to worahip a new God, Lord Krishna. .POSITION OF women declined. The first form of SATI appeared in the gupta period. .RELIGION- ..Bhagavatism centered around the worship of VISHNU OR BHAGAVAD. ..BHAGVAD GITA was written in this period. ..BUDDHISM no longer recieved royal patronage in the Gupta period. .GUPTA ART- ..for the first time, we got the Gupta period image of VISHNU, SHIVA and some other Hindu Gods. .PAINTINGS- ..In this period the Ghandara School of Sculpture was replaced by regional centres at BANARAS, PATALIPUTRA & MATHURA. .ASTRONOMY- ..ARYABHATTA, the great mathematician wrote ARYABHATTIYAM & SURYA SHIDDHANTA. he place the value of first line no. and the USE OF ZERO. ..VARAHAMIHIRA said the moon moves around the earth & earth together with moon, move around the Sun. ..brahmagupta hinted the law of gravitation in BRAHMA SIDDHANTA. ..VAGABHATTA was a distinguished physician. .DHANBANTRI was famouse for the knowledge of ayurveda.
             • CHANDRAGUPTA-I. (AD 319-335)
               • first gupta king to adopt the title of MAHARAJADHIRAJA. he issued gold coins.
               • SAMUNDRAGUPTA (AD 335-380)
                 • Napoleon of india-titled by VA smith.
                 • CHANDRAGUPTA-II. (AD 380-415)
                   • Fa Hein-the chinese pilgrim visited India at his time.
                   • KUMARGUPTA AD 415- 455.
                     • .he founded the NALANDA UNIVERSITY. .WORSHIPPER OF LORD KARTIKEYA. .INVADED BY TURKO-MONGOL TRIBE, THE HUNAS. .DIED DURING THE WAR WITH THE HUNAS.
                     • invasion of the hunas.
                     • SKANDAGUPTA AD 455-467.
                       • .repulse the Hunas twice. .contineous attack of the hunas weakened the guptas economy and the decline of empire began soon after his death.
             • THE HARSHA PERIOD (AD 580-AD 657)
               • 1.Harsha belong to PUSHYABHUTI DYNASTY, Feudatories of Guptas, but has assumed independence after HUNA'S INVASION.
               • VARDHANA DYNADTY
                 • PRABHAKAR VARDHANA (AD 580- AD 605)
                   • RAJYAVARDHANA (AD 605- AD 606)
                     • HARSHAVARDHANA (AD 606- AD 647)
                       • beginning of harsha era
                       • harsha's enemies
                         • 1.SHASHANGKA-Shaivite king of Gauda,in eastern india.
                         • 2.DHRUVASENA ii-maitraka ruler of Vallabhi
                         • 3.PULAKESIN-II-Chalukya king of Vatapi defeat harsha.
                       • HIUEN TSANG Visited India during harsha period.
               • OTHER DYNASTY & RULERS
                 • GURJARA PRATIHARAS (AD 733-1019)
                 • WESTERN GANGAS (AD 350-999)
                 • RASHTRAKUTAS (AD 750-1142)
                   • they build the cave shrine of ELEPHANTA. It was dedicated Mahesh(Trimurti)
                 • PALLAVAS(land of creepers) (AD 560-903)
                   • they were orthodox brahamanical hindus.
                 • CHALUKYAS OF BADAMI
                   • many of the painting & sculptures of AJANTA & ELLORA caves were completed during they developed the Deccan or Vesara style
                 • CHALUKYAS OF KALYANI
                 • YADAVAS
           • SANGAM AGE (AD 100-AD 300)
             • CHOLA (NE of Pandyas b/w PENNER & VELLER river)
               • ELARA
                 • KARIKALA
                 • -Earliest known king, He conquired Sri Lanka and ruled over it for 50 years
               • -the cholas maintained an efficient NAVY. -economy mainly basrd on cotton cloth. -Chola Kingdom was destroyed by the attack of PALLAVAS from the north.
             • CHERA (part of Kerala & Tamil Nadu)
               • UDIYANGERA
                 • named udiyangera,bcoz he served both the armies of KURUKSHETRA WAR.
                 • RED CHERA/SENGUTTAVAN
                   • greatest king of Chera, invaded north and crossed ganga.Build the temple of KANNAGI.
               • trade with Romans, They built The statue of AGUSTUS at MUZIS.
             • PANDAYA (Southern part of India)
               • MUNDUKUDUMI
                 • NEDUNJALIAN
                   • greatest king of pandyas, He accused KOVALAN of theft. As a result, the city of MADURAI was laid under curse by KANNAGI(KOVALAN'S wife)
               • pandyas king profited from trade with the Roman empire and sent embassies to Rome EMPEROR-AGUSTUS & TROJAN.

2. STONE AGE

   • bronze age INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
     • ARYANS & THE VEDIC.
       • MAHAJANAPADAS
         • FOREIGN INVASION
           • THE MOURYAN EMPIRE
             • THE GUPTAS
               • THE HARSHAS