Ancient Indian History -II (600B.C- 78 A.D)

Paper Code:

25 HIS 224 (A)

Credits:

05

Contact Hours:

75.00

Max. Marks:

100.00

Objective:

This course acquaints students with Religious Movements from the 6th Century BC, exploring their origins and influence on Indian culture. It examines sources and political history from the rise of Magadhan and the Mauryan Empire, focusing on Ashoka's Dhamma and Mauryan administration. Students critically analyze the assimilation of indigenous and foreign elements post-Mauryan era.

Course Outcomes:

Course

Outcome (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

25 HIS 224 (A)

Ancient Indian History -II (600B.C- 78 A.D)

(Theory)

CO60- Delineate the Religious Movements, their Origin and contribution to the Indian Culture.

CO61-Assess the rise of Magadhan Imperialism up to the Nandas and the Sources, Politics and historiography on Mauryan Empire,

CO62- Make an estimate of Ashoka, Kalinga War its consequences and Ashokan Dhamma.

CO63-Summerize the causes of decline of the Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Society, Economy, Art and Architecture

CO64- Examine the Shungas and their Achievements, Indo greeks, Sakas of western India

CO65- 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

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

15.00

Unit I:

Religious Movements

Jainism and Buddhism

Their Origin and contribution to the Indian Culture.

15.00

Unit II:

Rise of Magadha

Rise of Magadhan Imperialism upto the Nandas

The Mauryan Empire: Sources and historiography

Chandragupta Maurya- early career, conquests and extent of the empire

15.00

Unit III:

The Ashokan Age

Ashoka - Kalinga War and its consequences

Ashoka and Buddhism

Ashokan Dhamma-its nature, characteristics and significance.

Nature of the Mauryan State and its administrative organization

15.00

Unit IV:

Overview of Mauryan Era

Decline of the Mauryan Empire

Mauryan Society, Economy, Art and Architecture

Significance of Mauryan Empire in the Indian History

Unit V:

Post-Mauryan Dynasties

The Shungas and their Achievements

Indo greeks

The Sakas of western India

Essential Readings:

Singh, Upinder. A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the12th Century.New Delhi: Pearson, 2013.
Basham, A.L. The Wonder That Was India. New Delhi: Rupa & Co, 1967
Romila Thapar :Ashoka and the Decline of the Mauryas
R.C. Majumdar & A.D.Pusalkar(ed.): The History and Culture of Indian People,Volume II : The Age of Imperial Unity.
R.K. Mookerji : Chandragupta Maurya and his Times
Tripathi, R.S, History of Ancient India, Delhi, Motilal Banarasidass, 1992.

References:

· Thapar, Romila. Early India from the Origins to AD 1300. New Delhi: Penguin, 2002.
· Thapar, Romila. Ashoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, third edition. New Delhi: OUP, 2012
· K.A.N Shastri(ed.): Comprehensive History of India, Volume II
· H.C. Raychaudhary : Political History of Ancient India
· K.A.N Shastri :The Age of Nandas and Mauryas
· D.R. Bhandarkar : Ashoka
· R.K. Mookerji :Ashoka
· Vachaspati Gairola : Arthashastra
· Mc Crindle :Ancient India as described by Megasthenese and Arrian
· R. Shamashastry (ed.): Arthasastra of Kautilya

E-Resources

Jainism

· http://drsohanrajtater.com/articles/57.pdf

Buddhism

· https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337707221_The_Original_Teaching...

Mahajanpada

· https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305045360_Janapadas_Mahajanapad...

Rise of Magadha

· https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/64793/1/Unit15.pdf

The Mauryan Empire

· https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/64794/1/Unit16.pdf

· http://magadhmahilacollege.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Mauryan-Ag...