Ancient History- Sources of History
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Ancient
History- Sources of History |
History:-
Written evidences Are available (From
Vedic Phase till present)
Prehistory:-
No written evidence; Archeological
evidences available, (Eg-stone age)
Proto-history:-
Written evidences are available; but
could not be deciphered yet (Eg- Harappan Period).
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Sources: |
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1)
Literature 2)
Archaeological Evidence 3) Inscriptions (Epigraphy
is a study of inscriptions) 4) Coins
(Numismatics is a study of coins). 5) Accounts of the Foreigners |
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Ø Puranas: §
Stories of kings and gives
genealogies of the various dynasties. a very Important source to know the political history of Ancient India. Ø Epics:-
Ramayana, Mahabharata. Ø Sangam-literature:– Tolkappiyam, Ettuogai,
Pattupattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, Silpadikarm and Manimekkalai. Ø Plays:- by Kalidas; and other
writings of Navaratnas in the court of Guptas Ø Brahmans:
Explanations
of Vedas Ø Aranyaks:
Forest books, Ø Upanishads:
Metaphysical Ø VEDAS:- Rig-Veda: Prayers of God Sam-Veda: Songs, 1st
book of
music, Yajur-Veda: Ritual processes Atharva-Veda: this is not written by Aryans ; A book on magic |
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FOREIGN
LITERATURE:-
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Author |
Book |
Subject |
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Magasthenes (Greek) |
Indica |
Valuable information on Admin and socio-economic conditions of
Mauryas |
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Ptolemy (Greek) |
Geography
of India |
Geographical treatise on India in 2nd Century AD |
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Pliny (Greek) |
Naturakus
Historia |
Accounts trade relations between Rome and India
in 1st Century AD |
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Anonymous (Greek) |
Periplus of
the Erythrean Sea |
Records personal voyage of Indian
coasts in 80 A.D. |
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Fa-Hien (Chinese) |
Record of
the Buddhist Countries |
Records the Gupta Empire in the 5th Century AD |
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Hiuen Tsang (Chinese) |
Buddhist
Records of the Western World |
It Describes the socio-economic and religious based conditions of India in the 5th and 7th Century AD. (Harshvardhan) |
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I-tsing(Chinese) |
A record of the Buddhists religion
as practiced in India and Malay Archipelago. |
it Studies the
Gupta period under
Sri Gupta empire in the 7th Century AD. |
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Hwuili (Chinese) |
Life
of Hiuen Tsang |
Accounts Hiuen Tsang's travel in India. |
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OTHERS;- |
1. Visakha Datta: Mudra
Rakshas;(
Gupta period) Chanakya-Chandragupta story
2. Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa:- Buddhist books written in Sri Lanka, (during Ashoka spread)
3.
Divyavadan :- Tibetan Buddhist book, Ashoka spread
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2.Archaeological evidences:
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I.
Settlements
and other architectural remains
II.
Pottery – Black and Red Ware,
Northern Black polished ware, Polished Grey Ware etc.
III.
Tools- stone and bone tools and
tools made up of metals like Bronze and Iron.
IV.
Burials
and tools available near the burials.
V.
Pollen
analysis of the floral remains.
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3.Inscriptions: |
ØEngravings on
stone or other metal objects.
ØRock edicts-
Major and Minor Pillar edicts.
ØEg;- Allahabad
inscription of Samudragupta.
Ø Administrative system inscriptions
Ø
5.Monuments:
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Ø Building material
Ø Technology
Ø Architecture
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Some
important pre-historic period sites and findings:- |
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Bhimbetka |
Homo Sapiens'
Cave , 500 painted rock shelters |
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(Prominently Mesolithic site) |
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Mirzapur |
Shows that
goats and sheep were |
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exploited
during Palaeolithic phase |
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Atranjikhera |
Textile
printing |
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Hastinapur |
Wild
Sugarcane |
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Inamgaon |
Statue of mother
Goddess (MH) |
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Mehargarh |
Earliest evidence
of agriculture, settled life, evidence
of Dentistry |
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(Baluchistan) (Neolithic) |
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Koldihawa |
Earliest
evidence of rice |
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Bagor
and |
Earliest
evidences of Domestication |
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Adamgarh |
of animal (Rajasthan) |
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Chirand |
Serpant cult
(Bihar) |
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Burzahom |
Pit-dwelling
and domestic dog was |
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buried with
their masters in grave. |
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Gulfkral |
Pit-dwelling
(J&K) |
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Neolithic sites |
Unique
feature to have ash mound |
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of
South India |
On many sites
like Piklihal, Maski, |
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Hallur etc. |
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