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Summary
Ancient India Class 01

General discussion about exam and history (5:08 PM)

  • Books:
  • Ancient history by RS Sharma.
  • Ancient and early medieval history by Upender Singh(selectively).
  • Class XIth Tamil Nadu board book.
  • History:
  • Pre-history- The period before written records.
  • Proto-history- A period during which civilization had some written record but yet to be understood, for example, the Indus Valley civilization.
  • Historical period(Ancient, Medieval, Modern).

Sources of History (5:32 PM)

  • Written records:
  • Vedas.
  • Epics.
  • Purans.
  • Sangam Literature.
  • Buddist and Jain literature.
  • Kanada and Telegu literature.
  • Foreign travellers.
  • Epigraphy-Dating the inscriptions and their classifications.
  • Archaeology.
  • Numismatic art-(study of coins).
  • Population genetics.

Pre-Historical Period (5:52 PM)

  • The classification of the stone age is based on geological age, subsistence base, and stone tools.
  • The pre-Historical Period can be divided into 3 phases:
  • Paleolithic Age:
  • It can be divided into 3 ages lower Paleolithic age(2 million years ago- 100,000 BC), Middle Paleolithic age(100,000 BC- 40,000 BC), Upper Paleolithic age(40,000-10,000 BC).
  • Early life started at the foothills of mountains where rivers were narrow and easy to cross.
  • Caves were natural places for residence.
  • The man survived on animal hunting and food-gathering activities.
  • Dead persons were left without performing any rituals.
  • The stone tools were irregularly shaped and over time, they became more regular.
  • Some important locations are Ballen Valley in UP, Deccan Plateau, Bhimbetka in MP, Munger & Rajgir in Bihar, Kurnool, and Nagarjunkonda in Andra, and Pallavaram valley in Tamil Nadu, among others.
  • Mesolithic. Age:
  • Hunting gathering stone age marked by the use of microliths.
  • Taming of animals had also started.
  • The environmental condition became more suitable because of the warming of the climate.
  • The earliest sign of agriculture is found in the mesolithic age.
  • Wheat and Barley were grown.
  • The Fist evidence of the disposal of the dead in the form of burials is found at rock shelters of Mirzapur UP, in the mesolithic age.
  • Mesolithic art included cave paintings with descriptions of day-to-day life.
  • Some of the important sites are Bhimbetka in MP, Bagor in Rajasthan, Lotheswar, and Ratanpur in Gujrat, etc.
  • Neolithic Age:
  • This age marked the beginning of food production.
  • Domestication of Plants and animals occurred on a large scale.
  • There was a shift in the subsistence strategy from hunting and gathering to animal rearing and agriculture.
  • This age also marks the beginning of 1st village Mehergarh in Baluchistan, Pakistan.
  • The most important sites are Burzohum in Kashmir (Domestic dogs were buried along with their master, it is also famous for its underground pits), Mahagraha in UP(the oldest evidence of rice cultivation anywhere in the world), Chirang in Bihar(Weapons made of bones have also been found).
  • Some sites of Karnataka such as Brahamgiri, Muski, and Hallur are neolithic sites known for the domestication of sheep and goats.

Chalcolithic age(6.47 PM):

  • This age marks the emergence of 1st metal, that is copper along with stone tools.
  • Chalcolithic age was:
  • Agricultural and animal rearing.
  • Use of Pottery.
  • Large rural settlements.
  • Worship of deities.
  • Infant mortality was very high as is evident from the burial of a large number of children in some chalcolithic sites.
  • Important sites are:
  • Ahar in Rajasthan.
  • Daimabad in Maharastra.
  • Malwa in MP.
  • Sonpur in Bihar.
  • Jorwe in Maharastra.

Indus Valley civilization (7:05 PM)

  • In 1872 Alexander Cunningham, the DG of the newly established ASI found the ruins of Harappa.
  • IN 1924, a formal announcement of a new civilization was done by John Marshall.
  • IVC is considered one of the oldest and greatest civilizations in the history of mankind.
  • More than 14000 settlements have been discovered, but excavation has occurred in only a few of them.
  • IVC can be divided into 3 phases:
  • Early Phase (3300-2600 BC, Rural)
  • Mature Phase (2600BC-1900 BC, Urban).
  • Late Harappan Phase(1900BC-1300 BC, Rural)
  • The Civilization centred around the northwest of India and sites have been found in many parts of the country as well Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • Urban features of IVC:
  • Most of the cities were divided into 2 parts, A higher platform knowns as a citadel and a lower town.
  • However, Dholavira represents 3-tier structures.
  • The Municipal government places a high priority on hygiene like many cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro demonstrates the world's 1st known sanitization system.
  • Individual homes drew water from the well, while waste water was directed to the covered drains from the main street.
  • Even the smallest houses were connected to the sanitation system.
  • Many public infrastructures have been found such as public baths, granaries, and warehouses.
  • The city was developed in a planned manner, with roads cutting at a right angle.
  • People were serious about their privacy, example windows and doors of the houses did not open to the main roads
  • Economy:
  • Agriculture was the most important economic activity.
  • The most important crops were wheat, Barley, Cotton, Ragi, peas, etc.
  • Trading was also an important economic activity.
  • People traded with contemporary civilizations such as Mesopotamia.
  • Standard weights and measures were used.
  • The consistency of brick size suggests unity across various urban areas.
  • Harrapans are known for seal carvings.
  • It included the cutting of patterns into the bottom face of a seal which may have been used for stamping goods.
  • Seals decorated with animal figures like elephants, and tigers have been discovered in many cities.
  • IVC is considered a bronze age society as people had developed techniques in metallurgy and signs of working with copper, bronze, lead, and tin were known.
  • Iron was not known.
  • They also engaged in shell working which was used in art and craft.
  • Many goods were traded such as lead and copper from another part of India, Precious stones from Oman and Mesopotamia, Jade from China, Gold, silver, and metals from different parts of the world.
  • Society and religion:
  • Even though Harappan scripts have not been deciphered and hence social setup and religion remain a topic of speculation.
  • Interpretation of motifs founds on the seal does tell us about their religious beliefs, for example, worship of fertility goddess, Proto-shiva seal among others.
  • Even though there was inequality in society, this inequality was not very huge.
  • Political setup:
  • There are 2 theories regarding political setup:
  • A single state encompassing all cities- This is supported by similarities of artefacts, planned settlements, standards weight, and measurement.
  • Another theory suggests various centres of power were integrated into a decentralized struggle.
  • Harrapan did not invest in large buildings and monuments.
  • They may not have maintained large armies to defend themselves.
  • It is considered civilization was peaceful and did not consider warfare.

The topic for the next class: IVC(to continue) and Vedic civilization.