History of India-II

Paper Code: 
24CHIS 211
Credits: 
06
Contact Hours: 
90.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objective :- This course is about early historical and early medieval periods of Indian history. It explores the transition from proto-historical to early medieval phase highlighting major changes that shaped the character of the Indian civilization. Highlighting the features of early historic times, the course tries to trace the emergence of state system from tribal stage to ‘early-state’ stage and at the same time seeks to underline the important developments in the arena of economy, society and culture. The purpose of this course is to familiarise the students with the ways in which historians work with the sources of various kinds and reach at conclusion

 

Course Outcomes: 

Course Outcomes (CO)

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course  Code

Course  Title

24CHIS 211

History of India- II

CO13- Crically assess Economy and Society (circa 300 BCE to circa CE 300)

CO14-Evaluate  the changing political systems and the emergence of strong empires (c. 600 BCE to c. 300 CE)

CO 15- Analyse the nature of polities, Agrarian expansions, Urban patterns, Varna and Jati from c. 4th century to 750 CE.

CO16- Assess the development in religion, philosophy and society from c. 600 BCE – 750 CE

CO17- Make an estimate of cultural developments with focus on

literature,scientific and technical treatises and art and architecture during circa 300 BCE – CE 750.

CO18: 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, Giving tasks.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

18.00
Unit I: 
Economy and Society (circa 300 BCE to circa CE 300)

[a] Expansion of agrarian economy: production relations.

[b] Urban growth: north India, central India and the Deccan; craft Production: trade and trade routes;coinage.

[c] Social stratification: class, Varna, jati, untouchability; gender; marriage and property relations

 

18.00
Unit II: 
Changing political formations (c. 600 BCE to c. 300 CE)

[a] The mahajanapadas; monarchies and ganas/sanghas

[b] The Mauryan empire: political structure; Ashoka and his dhamma

[c] Post-Mauryan polities with special reference to the Kushanas and the Satavahanas

[d] Tamilakam

 

18.00
Unit III: 
Towards early medieval India (c. 4th century to 750 CE)

[a] The nature of polities: the Gupta empire and its contemporaries; post-Gupta polities --Pallavas, Chalukyas and Vardhanas

 Evolution of political structures: Rashtrakutas, Palas, Pratiharas, Rajputs and Cholas

[b] Agrarian expansion; land grants; changing production relations; graded land rights and

peasantry

[c] Urban patterns; trade and currency

[d] Varna; the proliferation of jatis; changing norms of marriage and inheritance

 

18.00
Unit IV: 
Religion, philosophy and society (c. 600 BCE – 750 CE)

[a] Shramanic traditions with special reference to Buddhism and Jainism

[b] Consolidation of the Brahmanical tradition

[c] Puranic Hinduism

 Cultural developments (c. 600 BCE – 750 CE)

[a] A brief survey of creative literature; scientific and technical treatises

[b] Art and architecture

 

18.00

[a] A brief survey of Sanskrit, Pali Prakit and Tamil literature.

Scientific and technical treatises.

[b] Art and architecture – forms and patronage; Mauryan, post-Mauryan,

 Gupta, post-Gupta

Essential Readings: 

Essential Readingss:

  • Brockington, J.L. The Sacred Thread: A Short History of Hinduism. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1997 (2nd
  • Champakalakshmi, R. Trade, Ideology and Urbanization: South India 300 BC to AD 1300. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1996.
  • Chakravarti, R. Exploring Early India up to c. AD 1300. Delhi: Primus, 2016 (3rd edition).
  • Chattopadhyaya, B.D. The Making of Early Medieval India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1997.
  • Huntington, S. The Art of Ancient India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain. New York: Weather Hill, 1985.
  • Jha, D.N., ed. The Feudal Order: State, Society and Ideology in Early Medieval India. New Delhi: Manohar, 2000.
  • Karashima, N., ed. A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014.
  • Sharma, R.S. Indian Feudalism. Madras: Macmillan, 1980
  • Sharma, R.S. Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1996.
  • Singh, U. A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th New Delhi: Pearson, 2016.
  • Thapar, R. Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300. New Delhi: Penguin, 2003.
  • Thapar, R. Asoka and the Decline of the Mauryas. New Delhi: Oxford University
  • Press, 2012 (3Prd P edition).

 

References: 

SUGGESTED READINGS      

  • Allchin, F.R. et al.The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
  • Chattopadhyaya, B.D. Studying Early India: Archaeology, Texts, and Historical Issues. Delhi: Permanent Black, 2003.
  • Chakravarti, U. The Social Dimensions of Early Buddhism. New Delhi: Oxford
  • University Press, 1987
  • Desai, D. Art and Icon: Essays on Early Indian Art. New Delhi: Aryan Books International, 2013.
  • Gethin, R. The Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
  • Gurukkal, R. Social Formations of Early South India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2010.
  • Jaini, P. The Jaina Path of Purification. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1979.
  • Jaiswal, S. The Origin and Development of Vaisnavism. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1981.
  • Jaiswal, S. Caste: Origin, Function and Dimensions of Change. New Delhi: Manohar, 1998.
  • Mukherjee, B.N. Rise and Fall of the Kushana Empire. Calcutta: Firma K.L.
  • Mukhopadhyay, 1989.
  • Olivelle, P., ed. Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE. New York:
  • Oxford University Press, 2006.
  • Olivelle, P., J. Leoshko and H.P. Ray, eds. Reimagining Asoka: Memory and History.
  • New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2012.
  • Ray, H.P. Monastery and Guild: Commerce under the Satavahanas. New Delhi: Oxford
  • University Press, 1986
  • Ray, H.P.The Winds of Change: Buddhism and the Maritime Links of Early South Asia. New
  • Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1994
  • Roy, K. The Power of Gender & the Gender of Power: Explorations in Early Indian
  • History. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2010.
  • Sahu, B.P., ed. Iron and Social Change in Early India. New Delhi: Oxford University
  • Press, 2006.
  • Sharma, R.S. Sudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order Down to c.
  • AD 600. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1980.
  • Shrimali, K.M. The Age of Iron and the Religious Revolution. New Delhi: Tulika, 2007.
  • Singh, U. The Idea of Ancient India: Essays on Religion, Politics, and Archaeology. New
  • Delhi: Sage, 2016.

E-Resources:

Economy and Society (circa 300 BCE to circa CE 300):

https://ddceutkal.ac.in/Downloads/UG_SLM/History/CORE_3.pdf

Changing political formations (c. 600 BCE to c. 300 CE)

Towards early medieval India (c. 4th century to 750 CE)

 Religion, philosophy and society (c. 600 BCE – 750 CE)

 Cultural developments (circa 300 BCE – CE 750):

 

 

Academic Year: 
2024-25
  • Printer-friendly version
  • PDF version