Ancient Indian History (300-650 A.D.)

Paper Code: 
25 HIS 422 (A)
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course empowers students to understand the historical trajectory of the Gupta Empire, including its rise, expansion, governance, and eventual decline, alongside socio-economic and religious advancements of the period. It facilitates comprehension of political developments and governance patterns within Gupta, Vardhana, Pallava, and Chalukya dynasties, while also encouraging comparison and contrast of artistic, literary, scientific, and technological progress during these historical epochs.

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Outcome (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

25 HIS 422 (A)

Ancient Indian History (300-650 A.D.)

 

CO160- Analyze rise, origin, early history, expansion, and empire consolidation of the Imperial Gupta

CO161-Assess the Nature of the Gupta State, administrative organization and its Decline.

CO162-Examine the Economic conditions, development of Art and Architecture during the Gupta period.

CO163- Determine the factors for the rise of Vardhan dynasty, conquests, administration, and cultural achievements of Harshavardhan.

CO164-Delineate the rise of the Pallavas and Chalukyas ,their Political and Cultural Achievements.

CO165-Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Power Point Presentation

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation

Solving problems in tutorials, Class Assignment, Presentation, Individual and group projects,Class test, Semester End Examinations, Quiz,

 

12.00
Unit I: 
The Imperial Guptas

Rise of the Imperial Guptas- Origin and early history.

Expansion and consolidation of Gupta Empire under Samudragupta and Chandragupta II.

12.00
Unit II: 
Dynamics of the Gupta Empire

Nature of the Gupta State administrative organization,

Decline of the Gupta Empire.

 Social and religious life  during the Gupta age

12.00
Unit III: 
Economy and Culture under the Gupta Dynasty

Economic conditions of the Gupta period-Land Grants, Agriculture,  Crafts , Coins and Currency.

Development in Sculpture, Painting, Architecture,Sanskrit Literature and Science and Technology during the Gupta period.

12.00
Unit IV: 
The Vardhana Dynasty

Harshavardhan-his conquests, administration and cultural achievements.

Emergence of Feudalism.

Accounts of Fa-hien and Yuan-Chwang

12.00
Unit V: 
The Central and Southern India

Pallavas and Chalukyas- Political and Cultural Achievements

Essential Readings: 
  • R.C. Majumdar &A. D. Pusalkar(ed.): The History and Culture of the Indian People.
  • Volume II: Age of Imperial Unity
  • Volume III : The Classical Age
  • R.K. Mookerji : The Gupta Empire
  • R.C.Majumdar & A.S.Altekar :The Vakatak Gupta age(in Hindi)

 

References: 
  • S.R. Goyal : The History of the Imperial Guptas
  • Prachin Bharat ke Rajnitik Itihas, Part III (in Hindi )
  • D.Devanhuti: Harsha: A Political  Study
  • G.S.Chatterjee : Harsha Vardhan
  • P. L. Gupta :History of the Gupta Empire (in Hindi )
  • S.K. Maity : Economic life in Northern India in the Gupta period, Varanasi,1970.
  • B.N. Sharma : Harsha and his Times, Varanasi,1970.
  • S. Beal :Si-Yu-Ki or Buddhist Records of the Western World,Delhi,1969.
  • R. gopalan : The Pallavas
  • Sastri. K.A.N: A History of South India (Also in Hindi )

E-Resources

Academic Year: 
2025-26
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