History Optional

Sources

• Archaeological sources

  • Exploration

  • Excavation

  • Epigraphy

  • Numismatics

  • Monuments

• Literary sources

  • Indigenous: primary and secondary

  • Poetry

  • Scientific literature

  • Literature in regional languages

  • Religious literature

• Foreign accounts

  • Greek writers

  • Chinese writers

  • Arab writers

Pre-history and Proto-history

• Geographical factors

• Hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic)

• Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic)

Indus Valley Civilization

• Origin

• Date

• Extent

• Characteristics

• Decline

• Survival and significance

• Art and architecture

Megalithic Cultures

• Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus

• Development of community life

• Settlements

• Development of agriculture

• Crafts

• Pottery

• Iron industry

Aryans and Vedic Period

• Expansions of Aryans in India

• Vedic Period

  • Religious and philosophic literature

  • Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period

  • Political, social and economical life

  • Significance of the Vedic Age

  • Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system

Period of Mahajanapadas

• Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies

• Rise of urban centres

• Trade routes

• Economic growth

• Introduction of coinage

• Spread of Jainism and Buddhism

• Rise of Magadha and Nandas

• Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact

Mauryan Empire

• Foundation of the Mauryan Empire

• Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra

• Ashoka

• Concept of Dharma

• Edicts

• Polity, Administration

• Economy

• Art, architecture and sculpture

• External contacts

• Religion

• Spread of religion

• Literature

• Disintegration of the empire

• Sungas and Kanvas

Post-Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas)

• Contact with outside world

• Growth of urban centres

• Economy

• Coinage

• Development of religions

• Mahayana

• Social conditions

• Art and architecture

• Culture and literature

Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India

• Kharavela

• The Satavahanas

• Tamil States of the Sangam Age

• Administration, economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres

• Buddhist centres

• Sangam literature and culture

• Art and architecture

Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas

• Polity and administration

• Economic conditions

• Coinage of the Guptas

• Land grants

• Decline of urban centres

• Indian feudalism

• Caste system

• Position of women

• Education and educational institutions: Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi

• Literature, scientific literature

• Art and architecture

Regional States during Gupta Era

• The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami

  • Polity and Administration

  • Trade guilds

  • Literature

  • Growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions

  • Tamil Bhakti movement

  • Shankaracharya; Vedanta

  • Institutions of temple and temple architecture

• Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras

  • Polity and administration

  • Cultural aspects

• Arab conquest of Sind

• Alberuni

• The Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas

  • Polity and Administration

  • Local Government

  • Growth of art and architecture

  • Religious sects

  • Institution of temple and Mathas

  • Agraharas

  • Education and literature

  • Economy and society

Themes in Early Indian Cultural History

• Languages and texts

• Major stages in the evolution of art and architecture

• Major philosophical thinkers and schools

• Ideas in Science and Mathematics

Early Medieval India, 750-1200

• Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs

• The Cholas: administration, village economy and society

• Indian Feudalism

• Agrarian economy and urban settlements

• Trade and commerce

• Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order

• Condition of women

• Indian science and technology

Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200

• Philosophy

  • Shankaracharya and Vedanta

  • Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita

  • Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa

• Religion

  • Forms and features of religion

  • Tamil devotional cult

  • Growth of Bhakti

  • Islam and its arrival in India

  • Sufism

• Literature

  • Literature in Sanskrit

  • Growth of Tamil literature

  • Literature in the newly developing languages

  • Kalhan's Rajtarangini

  • Alberuni's India

• Art and Architecture

  • Temple architecture

  • Sculpture

  • Painting

The Thirteenth Century

• Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions — factors behind Ghurian success

• Economic, social and cultural consequences

• Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans

• Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban

The Fourteenth Century

• The Khalji Revolution

• Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures

• Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq

• Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works

• Decline of the Sultanate

• Foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta's account

Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries

• Society

  • Composition of rural society

  • Ruling classes

  • Town dwellers

  • Women

  • Religious classes

  • Caste and slavery under the Sultanate

  • Bhakti movement

  • Sufi movement

• Culture

  • Persian literature

  • Literature in the regional languages of North India

  • Literature in the languages of South India

  • Sultanate architecture and new structural forms

  • Painting

  • Evolution of a composite culture

• Economy

  • Agricultural production

  • Rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production

  • Trade and commerce

The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century — Political Developments and Economy

• Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids

• The Vijayanagra Empire

• Lodis

• Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun

• The Sur Empire: Sher Shah's administration

• Portuguese Colonial enterprise

• Bhakti and Sufi Movements

The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century — Society and Culture

• Regional cultural specificities

• Literary traditions

• Provincial architecture

• Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire

Akbar

• Conquests and consolidation of the Empire

• Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems

• Rajput policy

• Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy

• Court patronage of art and technology

Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century

• Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

• The Empire and the Zamindars

• Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

• Nature of the Mughal State

• Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts

• The Ahom Kingdom

• Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom

Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

• Population, agricultural production, craft production

• Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies: a trade revolution

• Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems

• Condition of peasants, condition of women

• Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth

Culture in the Mughal Empire

• Persian histories and other literature

• Hindi and other religious literature

• Mughal architecture

• Mughal painting

• Provincial architecture and painting

• Classical music

• Science and technology

The Eighteenth Century

• Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire

• The regional principalities: Nizam's Deccan, Bengal, Awadh

• Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas

• The Maratha fiscal and financial system

• Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat: 1761

• State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest

European Penetration into India

• The Early European Settlements

• The Portuguese and the Dutch

• The English and the French East India Companies

• Their struggle for supremacy

• Carnatic Wars

• Bengal — The conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal

• Siraj and the English

• The Battle of Plassey

• Significance of Plassey

British Expansion in India

• Bengal — Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim

• The Battle of Buxar

• Mysore

• The Marathas

• The three Anglo-Maratha Wars

• The Punjab

Early Structure of the British Raj

• The early administrative structure

• From diarchy to direct control

• The Regulating Act (1773)

• The Pitt's India Act (1784)

• The Charter Act (1833)

• The voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule

• The English utilitarian and India

Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule

• Land revenue settlements in British India

  • The Permanent Settlement

  • Ryotwari Settlement

  • Mahalwari Settlement

  • Economic impact of the revenue arrangements

  • Commercialization of agriculture

  • Rise of landless agrarian labourers

  • Impoverishment of the rural society

• Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce

  • De-industrialisation

  • Decline of traditional crafts

  • Drain of wealth

  • Economic transformation of India

  • Railroad and communication network including telegraph and postal services

  • Famine and poverty in the rural interior

  • European business enterprise and its limitations

Social and Cultural Developments

• The state of indigenous education, its dislocation

• Orientalist-Anglicist controversy

• The introduction of western education in India

• The rise of press, literature and public opinion

• The rise of modern vernacular literature

• Progress of science

• Christian missionary activities in India

Social and Religious Reform Movements in Bengal and Other Areas

• Ram Mohan Roy, The Brahmo Movement

• Devendranath Tagore

• Iswarchandra Vidyasagar

• The Young Bengal Movement

• Dayananda Saraswati

• The social reform movements in India including Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.

• The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India

• Islamic revivalism — the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements

Indian Response to British Rule

• Peasant movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries

  • The Rangpur Dhing (1783)

  • The Kol Rebellion (1832)

  • The Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841-1920)

  • The Santal Hul (1855)

  • Indigo Rebellion (1859-60)

  • Deccan Uprising (1875)

  • The Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900)

• The Great Revolt of 1857 — Origin, character, causes of failure, the consequences

• The shift in the character of peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period

• The peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s

Factors Leading to the Birth of Indian Nationalism

• Politics of Association

• The Foundation of the Indian National Congress

• The Safety-valve thesis relating to the birth of the Congress

• Programme and objectives of Early Congress

• The social composition of early Congress leadership

• The Moderates and Extremists

• The Partition of Bengal (1905)

• The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal

• The economic and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement

• The beginning of revolutionary extremism in India

Rise of Gandhi

• Character of Gandhian nationalism

• Gandhi's popular appeal

• Rowlatt Satyagraha

• The Khilafat Movement

• The Non-cooperation Movement

• National politics from the end of the Non-cooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement

• The two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement

• Simon Commission

• The Nehru Report

• The Round Table Conferences

• Nationalism and the Peasant Movements

• Nationalism and Working class movements

• Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885-1947)

• The election of 1937 and the formation of ministries

• Cripps Mission

• The Quit India Movement

• The Wavell Plan

• The Cabinet Mission

Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935

Other Strands in the National Movement

• The Revolutionaries

  • Bengal

  • The Punjab

  • Maharashtra

  • U.P.

  • The Madras Presidency

  • Outside India

• The Left

  • The Left within the Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress Socialist Party

  • The Communist Party of India

  • Other left parties

Politics of Separatism

• The Muslim League

• The Hindu Mahasabha

• Communalism and the politics of partition

• Transfer of power

• Independence

Consolidation as a Nation

• Nehru's Foreign Policy

• India and her neighbours (1947-1964)

• The linguistic reorganisation of States (1935-1947)

• Regionalism and regional inequality

• Integration of Princely States

• Princes in electoral politics

• The Question of National Language

Caste and Ethnicity after 1947

• Backward castes and tribes in post-colonial electoral politics

• Dalit movements

Economic Development and Political Change

• Land reforms

• The politics of planning and rural reconstruction

• Ecology and environmental policy in post-colonial India

• Progress of science

Enlightenment and Modern Ideas

• Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau

• Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies

• Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism

Origins of Modern Politics

• European States System

• American Revolution and the Constitution

• French revolution and aftermath, 1789-1815

• American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery

• British Democratic politics, 1815-1850: Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists

Industrialization

• English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society

• Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan

• Industrialization and Globalization

Nation-State System

• Rise of Nationalism in 19th century

• Nationalism: state-building in Germany and Italy

• Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the world

Imperialism and Colonialism

• South and South-East Asia

• Latin America and South Africa

• Australia

• Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism

Revolution and Counter-Revolution

• 19th Century European revolutions

• The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921

• Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany

• The Chinese Revolution of 1949

World Wars

• 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications

• World War I: Causes and consequences

• World War II: Causes and consequence

The World after World War II

• Emergence of two power blocs

• Emergence of Third World and non-alignment

• UNO and the global disputes

Liberation from Colonial Rule

• Latin America — Bolivar

• Arab World — Egypt

• Africa — Apartheid to Democracy

• South-East Asia — Vietnam

Decolonization and Underdevelopment

• Factors constraining development: Latin America, Africa

Unification of Europe

• Post War Foundations: NATO and European Community

• Consolidation and Expansion of European Community

• European Union

Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World

• Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet Communism and the Soviet Union, 1985-1991

• Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001

• End of the cold war and US Ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower