HISTORY - Dnyandeep Academy

History Syllabus

Paper-1: Ancient & Medieval India

Sources and Methodology:

Archaeological Sources:

1. Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments.

Literary Sources:

1. Indigenous: Primary & secondary; poetry, scientific literature, regional language literature, religious texts.
2. Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese, Arab writers.

II. Prehistory and Protohistory:

Geography & Early Human Life:

1. Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (Paleolithic, Mesolithic)
2. Beginning of agriculture (Neolithic, Chalcolithic)

III. Early Civilizations:

Indus Valley Civilization:

1. Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival, significance, art, and architecture

Megalithic Cultures:
1. Pastoral & farming cultures outside Indus, community life, settlements, agriculture, crafts, pottery, iron industry

IV. Vedic and Early States:

Aryans and Vedic Period:

1. Expansion, Rig Vedic → Later Vedic transformation
2. Political, social, economic life; Varna system; Monarchy evolution

Mahajanapadas:

1. Formation of republics & monarchies; urban centres, trade, coinage
2.Spread of Jainism & Buddhism; rise of Magadha & Nandas; Iranian & Macedonian invasions

V. Mauryan & Post-Mauryan Period:

Mauryan Empire:

1. Chandragupta, Kautilya & Arthashastra, Ashoka, Dharma & Edicts, polity, administration, economy, art, architecture, literature, religion, external contacts
2. Disintegration: Sungas & Kanvas

Post-Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas):
1. Urban centres, economy, coinage, Mahayana Buddhism, art, architecture, literature, science

VI. Early State and Society in Regional India:

Eastern India, Deccan, South India:

1. Kharavela, Satavahanas, Tamil Sangam States; administration, economy, trade guilds, urban centres, Buddhist centres, Sangam literature, art & architecture

Guptas, Vakatakas, Vardhanas:

1. Polity, administration, economy, coinage, land grants, feudalism, caste, women, education, universities (Nalanda, Vikramshila, Vallabhi), literature, science, art & architecture

Regional States during Gupta Era:
2. Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras; polity, administration, trade guilds, literature, Vaishnava & Saiva religions, Bhakti movement, Shankaracharya, temple architecture

VII. Early Medieval India (750–1200 CE):

Polity & Economy:

1. Northern India & peninsular developments, rise of Rajputs, Cholas, village economy, Indian feudalism, agrarian economy, urban settlements, trade & commerce

Society:

1. Brahmanic order, social hierarchy, condition of women, science & technology

Cultural Traditions:

1. Philosophy: Shankaracharya (Vedanta), Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita), Madhva (Brahma Mimamsa)
2. Religion: Bhakti, Tamil devotional cult, Islam & Sufism
3. Literature: Sanskrit, regional languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India
4. Art & Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting

VIII. Delhi Sultanate & Early Medieval Transformations (1200–1500 CE):

Political Developments:

1. Ghurian invasions; foundation of Delhi Sultanate, early Turkish Sultans, Iltutmish & Balban
2. Khalji Revolution, Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad Tughluq, Firuz Tughluq

Society, Economy & Culture:

1. Rural society, ruling classes, caste & slavery, Bhakti & Sufi movements
2. Persian & regional literature, Sultanate architecture, painting, composite culture
3. Agricultural production, urban economy, trade & commerce

IX. Fifteenth–Seventeenth Century:

Political Developments:

1. Provincial dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir, Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids, Vijayanagara
2. Lodi dynasty, Babur, Humayun, Sur Empire (Sher Shah), Portuguese colonial enterprises
3. Mughal Empire: Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan, Aurangzeb; jagir & mansab system, Rajput policy, Sulh-i-kul, religious policies
4. Late 17th century: revolts, Ahom kingdom, Shivaji & early Marathas

Economy & Society:

1. Population, agriculture, crafts, towns, European trade, mercantile classes, banking & credit systems
2. Peasant conditions, women, Sikh community & Khalsa Panth

Culture
3. Persian & Hindi literature, Mughal architecture & painting, provincial arts, classical music, science & technology

X. Eighteenth Century India:

Political Developments:

1. Decline of Mughals, regional principalities (Nizam, Bengal, Awadh), Maratha ascendancy, Battle of Panipat 1761, Afghan power

Society, Economy & Culture:
2. State of political, cultural, economic landscape before British conquest

Paper-2: Modern India & World History

I. European Penetration and British Expansion in India:

Early European Settlements:

1. Portuguese, Dutch, English, French; Carnatic Wars; Bengal – Battle of Plassey & its significance

British Expansion:

1. Bengal (Mir Jafar, Mir Kasim), Battle of Buxar, Mysore, Marathas (Three Anglo-Maratha Wars), Punjab

Early British Raj:

1. Administrative structure, diarchy → direct control
2. Regulating Act (1773), Pitt’s India Act (1784), Charter Act (1833)
3. English utilitarian influence

II. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule:

Land Revenue Settlements:

1. Permanent, Ryotwari, Mahalwari; commercialization, landless labour, rural impoverishment

Trade & Industry:

2. De-industrialization, decline of crafts, drain of wealth, railroads, telegraph, famine, European enterprises

III. Social & Cultural Developments:

Education & Renaissance:

1. Indigenous education, Orientalist-Anglicist controversy, Western education, press, literature, science, missionary activities

Social & Religious Reform Movements:

1. Ram Mohan Roy, Brahmo Movement, Dayananda Saraswati, Vidyasagar, Young Bengal
2. Social reforms: Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage
3. Islamic revivalism: Feraizi & Wahabi movements

IV. Indian Response & National Movement:

Peasant & Tribal Uprisings (18th–19th centuries):

1. Rangpur Dhing, Kol, Mopla, Santal Hul, Indigo Rebellion, Deccan Uprising, Munda Ulgulan

The Great Revolt of 1857:

1. Origin, character, causes, failure, consequences

Emergence of Indian Nationalism:

1. Early Congress: Moderates & Extremists, Partition of Bengal, Swadeshi Movement, Revolutionary extremism

Gandhian Phase:

1. Non-cooperation, Khilafat, Civil Disobedience, Simon Commission, Nehru Report, Round Table Conferences, Quit India, Cabinet Mission

Other Strands:

1. Revolutionaries, Left movements, Communist Party, Congress Socialist Party

Separatism & Communal Politics:

1. Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, partition & transfer of power

V. post-Independence India:

Nation Consolidation:

1. Nehru’s foreign policy, relations with neighbours (1947–1964), linguistic reorganisation, regional inequality, integration of princely states

Caste & Ethnicity, Economic & Social Development:
1. Backward castes & tribes, Dalit movements, land reforms, planning, rural reconstruction, ecology, science & technology

VI. Enlightenment & Modern Ideas:

Philosophy & Political Thought:

1. Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau; spread in colonies, socialist ideas, Marxism

Origins of Modern Politics:
1. European states system, American & French Revolutions, American Civil War, British democratic politics (1815–1850)

VII. Industrialization & Nation-State System:

Industrial Revolutions:

1. England, USA, Germany, Russia, Japan; Industrialization & globalization

Nation-State System:
1. 19th-century nationalism, German & Italian unification, emergence of nationalities

VIII. Imperialism & Colonialism:

Global Imperialism:

1. South & South-East Asia, Latin America, South Africa, Australia
2. Free trade, neo-imperialism

IX. Revolution & Global Wars:

Revolutions & Counter-Revolutions:

1. 19th-century Europe, Russian Revolution (1917–21), Fascist Italy & Germany, Chines
2. WWI & WWII: causes, consequences, societal implications

X. Post-War World Order:

Cold War Era & Decolonization:

1. Emergence of two power blocs, Third World, UNO
2. Liberation movements: Latin America, Arab World, Africa, South-East Asia
3. Factors constraining development in Latin America & Africa

Europe & Global Politics:

1. Post-war European foundations, NATO, European Union, Soviet disintegration, rise of unipolar world