Ancient History of India for UPSC Examinations

Each of the following page opens in a separate tab.

Section A: Prehistoric India

• Introduction to Prehistory
• Palaeolithic Age in India
• Mesolithic Age in India
• Neolithic Age in India
• Chalcolithic Age in India
• List of Important Prehistoric Sites in India

Section B: Indus Valley Civilization

• The Discovery & Extent of Indus Valley Civilization
• Chronology of Indus Valley Civilization
• Origin & Salient Features of Indus Valley Civilization
• Sites of Indus Valley Civilization
  • Harappa
  • Mohenjo-Daro
  • Dholavira
  • Rakhigarhi
  • Suktagendor
  • Surkotda
  • Balakot
  • Banawali
  • Kalibangan
  • Lothal
  • Chanhu Daro
  • Rangpur
  • Other sites of Indus Valley Civilization
• Social Life at Indus Valley Civilization
• Economy of Indus Valley Civilization
• Decline of Indus Valley Civilization

Section C: Vedic Era

• Who were Aryans?
• The Rig-Vedic Settlements
• The Geography in Vedic Texts
• Rig Vedic Polity
• Rig Vedic Society
• Rig Vedic Economy
• Rig-Vedic Gods
• Social System in Later Vedic Age
• Vedic Terms
• Comparison of Vedic and Harappan Civilizations
• Basics of Vedic Literature
• Shruti Literature
  • Vedas
  • Brahamanas
  • Aranyakas
  • Upanishads
• Smriti Literature
  • Vedanga
  • Shatdarshana
    • Nyaya
    • Vaisheshika
    • Samkhya
    • Yoga
    • Mimansa
    • Vedanta
  • Epics
  • Purana
  • Upaveda

Section D: Maurya Empire

• Sixteen Mahajanapadas
• Rise of Janapadas
• Magadha Empire
  • Brihadrath Dynasty
  • Pradyota dynasty
  • Haranyaka Dynasty
    • Bimbisara
    • Ajatshatru
  • Shishunaga Dynasty
  • Nanda Dynasty
  • Maurya Empire
    • Chandragupta Maurya
      • Chanakya
    • Bindusara
    • Asoka
      • Asoka’s Edicts & Inscriptions
    • Life in Maurya Empire

Section E : Buddhism

• Why New Religions?
• Meaning of Buddha
• Life of Gautam Buddha
• Buddha’s Teachings
• Buddhist Literature
• Buddhist Scholars
• Buddhist Councils
• Hinayana & Mahayana
• Bodhisattva
• Buddhist Shrines

Section F : Jainism

• Who is a Jain?
• Who is a Tirthankara?
  • Rishbhdev
  • Parshvanath
  • Mahavira
• Jain Literature
• Objective Questions on Jainism

Section G: India After Mauryas

• Shunga (Sunga) Dynasty
• Kanva dynasty
• Mahameghavahans of Kalinga
• Indo-Greek Rulers of Ancient India
• Sakas Rulers of Ancient India
  • Satrap System of Ancient Sakas in India
• Indo-Parthian Kingdom

Section H: The Kushana Empire

• Kushana Empire
• Kanishka I
  • Mathura School of Art
  • Gandhara School of Art

Section I: Saatvahana Empire

• Satavahana Empire

Section J: Gupta Empire

• Origin of Imperial Guptas
• Political History of Imperial Guptas
  • Samudragupta
  • Chandragupta Vikramaditya
    • Navaratnas of Chandragupta Vikramaditya
• Gupta Administration
• Society and Economy during Gupta Era
• Religion in Gupta Era
• Temple Art During Gupta Period
• Inscriptions of Gupta Era
• Literature in Gupta Era
  • Kalidasa
• Later Guptas
• The Huna Invasions
• Contemporary Dynasties of Guptas

Section K : Reign of Harsha and Later

• Life of Harsha Vardhana
• Administration and Legacy of Harsha Vardhana
• Changes in Society in Early Medieval India

Section L : Middle Kingdoms

• Chalukyas of Badami
  • Temple Architecture of Chalukyas of Badami
• Rashtrakuta Empire
• Chalukyas of Kalyani
  • Temple Architecture of Chalukyas of Kalyani 
• Hoysala Empire
  • Temple Architecture of Hoyasala Empire
• Yadavas of Devagiri

Section M : Sangam Literature

• Sangam Literature

Section N: Kingdoms of South

• Pandya Kingdom
• Chera Kingdom
• Chola Empire
  • Outline of Chola Empire
  • Early Cholas
  • Medieval Cholas
  • Later Cholas
  • Chola Architecture
• Pallava Confederacy
• Pallava Architecture