MERIT ENGINEERING ACADEMY- COIMBATORE
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UPSC IES/TNPSC-AE/SSC JE/RAILWAY/TNEB/TRB/GATE EXAMS COACHING
Important Neolithic Sites :
Ancient History
Burzahom(Kashmir), Gufkral(Kashmir),
Indian History Chronology:
Mehrgarh(Pakistan),Chirand(Bihar), Daojali
Indian History is a topic of interest to many
Hading(Tripura/Assam), Koldihwa(UP),
including foreigners because of the cultures and
Mahagara(UP),Hallur(AP), Paiyampalli(AP),
civilizations existed in this sub-continent. History of
Maski, Kodekal, Sangana Kaller, Utnur,
India can be studied under political, cultural, religious
Takkala Kota.
or economic heads.
NB: Megalithic Sites: Brahmagiri,
Indian History Chronology
Adichanallur
Chronologically, Indian History can be
classified into three periods – Ancient India, Medieval
Chalcolithic Period (4000 BC – 1,500 BC)
India and Modern India.
Copper Age. Can be considered part of
Ancient India (Pre-historic to AD 700)
Bronze Age. (Bronze = Copper + Tin)
There were activities of proto-humans (Homo
Indus Valley Civilization (BC 2700 – BC
erectus) in the Indian subcontinent 20 lakh
1900).
years (2 million years) ago, and of Homo
Also cultures at Brahmagiri, Navada Toli
sapiens since 70,000 BC. But they were
(Narmada region), Mahishadal ([Link]),
gathers/hunters.
Chirand (Ganga region)
The first inhabitants of Indian subcontinent
might have been tribals like Nagas (North-
Iron Age (BC 1500 – BC 200)
East), Santhals (East-India), Bhils (Central
Vedic Period (Arrival of Aryans i.e. BC 1600
India), Gonds (Central India), Todas (South
– BC 600) – Nearly 1000 years (Basic books
India) etc.
of Hinduism, i.e. Vedas were composed,
Most of them are speakers of the Austric, pre-
might have written down later.)
Dravidian languages, such as Munda and
Jainism and Buddhism
Gondvi.
Mahajanapadas – Major Civilization after
Dravidians and Aryans are believed to be
Indus Valley- On banks of river Ganga
immigrants who came later to the sub-
continent. Magadha empire – Bimbisara of Haryanka
Kula
Ancient India can be studied under other
heads like Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic Sisunga dynasty – Kalasoka (Kakavarnin)
and Chalcolithic period – based on the type of Nanda empire – Mahapadma-nanda, Dhana-
stone/ metal tools people used. nanda
Palaeolithic Period (2 million BC – 10,000 BC) Persian- Greek: Alexander 327 BC
Fire
Tools made up of lime stone
Ostrich Eggs Indus Valley Civilization
Important Palaeolithic sites: Bhimbetka Indus Valley Civilization was the first major
(M.P), Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves, Narmada civilization in South Asia, which spread across a vast
Valley(Hathnora, M.P), Kaladgi Basin area of land in present-day India and Pakistan (around
12 lakhs [Link]). The time period of mature Indus
Mesolithic Period (10,000 BC – 8,000 BC) Valley Civilization is estimated between BC. 2700-
Major Climatic Change happened BC.1900 i.e. for 800 years. But early Indus Valley
Domestication of animals i.e. Cattle rearing Civilization had existed even before BC.2700.
started Features of Indus Valley Civilization
Microliths found at Brahmagiri (Mysore), • BC. 2700- BC.1900 ie for 800 years.
Narmada, Vindya, Gujarat • On the valleys of river Indus.
• Also known as Harappan Civilization.
Neolithic Period (8000 BC – 4,000 BC) • Beginning of city life.
Agriculture Started • Harappan Sites discovered by – Dayaram Sahni
Wheel discovered (1921) –Montgomery district, Punjab, Pakistan.
Inamgaon - An early village
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MERIT ENGINEERING ACADEMY- COIMBATORE
Unit-4
UPSC IES/TNPSC-AE/SSC JE/RAILWAY/TNEB/TRB/GATE EXAMS COACHING
• Mohenjo-Daro discovered by – R. D. Banerji – ROPAR
Larkana district, Sind, Pakistan. • Punjab, on the banks of river Sutlej. Discovered by
• The city was divided into Citadel (west) and Lower Y.D Sharma (1955)
Town (east). • Dog buried with humans.
• Red pottery painted with designs in black. BANAWALI
• Stone weights, seals, special beads, copper tools, • Haryana
long stone blades etc. • On banks of lost river Saraswathi
• Copper, bronze, silver, gold present. • Barley Cultivation.
• Artificially produced – Faience. DHOLAVIRA
• Specialists for handicrafts. • Biggest site in India, until the discovery of
• Import of raw materials. Rakhigarhi.
• Plough was used. • Located in Khadir Beyt, Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.
• Bodies were buried in wooden coffins, but during the Discovered by J.P Joshi/Rabindra Singh (1990)
later stages ‘H Symmetry culture’ evolved where • 3 parts + large open area for ceremonies
bodies were buried in painted burial urns. • Large letters of the Harappan script (signboards).
• Sugar cane not cultivated, horse, iron not used. The religion of Indus Valley People
Indus Valley Sites and Specialties • Pashupathi Mahadev (Proto Siva)
HARAPPA • Mother goddess
• Seals out of stones • Nature/ Animal worship
• Citadel outside on banks of river Ravi • Unicorn, Dove, Peepal Tree, Fire
MOHENJODARO • Amulets
• Great Bath, Great Granary, Dancing Girl, Man with • Idol worship was practised (not a feature of Aryans)
Beard, Cotton, Assembly hall • Did not construct temples.
• The term means” Mount of the dead” • The similarity to Hindu religious practises.
• On the bank of river Indus (Hinduism in its present form originated later)
• Believed to have been destructed by flood or • No Caste system.
invasion (Destruction was not gradual). Indus Valley Society and Culture
CHANHUDARO • The systematic method of weights and measures (16
• Bank of Indus River. – discovered by Gopal and its multiples).
Majumdar and Mackey (1931) • Pictographic Script, Boustrophedon script –
• Pre-Harappan culture – Jhangar Culture and Jhukar Deciphering efforts by I. Mahadevan
Culture • Equal status to men and women
• Only cite without citadel. • Economic Inequality, not an egalitarian society,
KALIBANGAN Barter System
• At Rajasthan on the banks of river Ghaggar, • Textiles – Spinning and weaving3 types – burial,
discovered by [Link] (1953) cremation and post-cremation were there, though
• Fire Altars burial was common.
• Bones of camel • Majority of people Proto-Australoid and
• Evidence of furrows Mediterranean (Dravidians), though
• Horse remains (even though Indus valley people Mongoloids, Nordics etc. were present in the city
didn’t use horses). culture.
• Known as third capital of the Indus Empire. Reasons for Decline of Indus Valley Civilization
LOTHAL Though there are various theories, the exact reason is
• At Gujarat near Bhogava River, discovered by S.R. still unknown.
Rao (1957) As per a recent study by IIT Kharagpur and
• Fire Altars Archaeological Survey of India, a weaker monsoon
• Beside the tributary of Sabarmati might have been the cause of the decline of Indus
• Storehouse Valley Civilization.
• Dockyard and earliest port Environmental changes, coupled with a loss
• Double burial of power of rulers (central administration) of Indus
• Rice husk valley to sustain the city life might be the cause
• House had front entrance (exception). (Fariservis Theory). There might be a resource
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MERIT ENGINEERING ACADEMY- COIMBATORE
Unit-4
UPSC IES/TNPSC-AE/SSC JE/RAILWAY/TNEB/TRB/GATE EXAMS COACHING
shortage to sustain the population, and then people 2. Evidence of Rice.
moved towards south India. 3. Fire Altar.
Another theory by Dr Gwen Robbins Schug 4. Graveyard.
states that inter-personal violence, infectious diseases 5. Ivory weight balance.
and climate change had played a major role in the 6. Copper dog.
demise of the Indus Valley Civilization. Rangpur- Evidence of Rice.
Other theories: Surkotada
• Aryan Invasion: Motimer Wheeler 1. Horse bone.
• Tectonic Movements/ Flood – Robert Raikes 2. Stone covered grave.
• Change of course of river Indus – Lambrick Malavan-Canals.
Important Indus Valley Sites and Archaeological Chanhudaro
Discoveries 1. Bangle factory.
The Indus Valley Civilization covered parts 2. Inkpot.
of Sind, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, West Punjab, 3. The only city without citadel.
Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu 4. Carts with a seated driver.
and Kashmir, Punjab and Maharashtra. Balakot -1. Bangle factory.
Over 1000 Indus Valley Civilization sites Daimabad -1. Bronze Buffalo.
have been discovered. Amri - 1. Actual remains of Rhinoceros.
It’s not easy to connect the archaeological Alamgirpur
finds with their respective Harappan cities. 1. Impression of cloth on a trough.
The important Indus Valley Sites and the Ropar
archaeological discoveries from there. Readers may 1. Buildings made of stone and soil.
note that a few of the major sites are already covered 2. The dog buried with humans.
in our notes on the features of Indus Valley 3. One inscribed steatite seal with typical
Civilization. Indus pictographs.
Harappa 4. Oval pit burials.
1. Cemetery H & R37. Banawali
2. Coffin burial. 1. Oval shaped settlement.
3. Granary outside the fort. 2. The only city with radial streets.
4. Phallus worship. 3. Toy plough.
5. Graveyard. 4. The largest number of barley grains.
6. Mother goddess. Dholavira
Mohenjo-Daro 1. Only site to be divided into three parts.
1. Prepared Garments. 2. Giant water reservoir.
2. Temple-like Palace. 3. Unique water harnessing system.
3. Pashupati seal. 4. Dams.
4. Statue of a dancing girl. 5. Embankments.
5. Ivory weight balance. 6. A stadium.
6. The Great Bath. 7. Rock – cut architecture
7. The Great Granary.
8. Priest-king statue.
Kalibangan
1. Lower fortified town.
2. Fire Altar.
3. Boustrophedon style.
4. Wooden drainage.
5. Copper Ox.
6. Evidence of earthquake.
7. Wooden plough.
8. Camel’s bone.
Lothal
1. Port Town.
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