Ancient History Complete Capsule

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storage of food and other agricultural
Indus Valley Civilization products.
Indus Valley Civilization, their discoverers,

TA
● What was the material used for
and important products associated with
the construction of buildings in
them:
Harappa?
● Harappa - Where is the Harappa
● Answer: The buildings in Harappa
site located?

AS
● Answer: The Harappa site is located
in present-day Pakistan, near the
city of Sahiwal in Punjab province.
were constructed using baked
bricks.
IV
● Which metal was not known to the
people of Harappa?
● Which river flows near the ancient
● Answer: The people of Harappa
city of Harappa?
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were not familiar with iron.

● Answer: The ancient city of Harappa
is situated on the bank of the Ravi
● Which animal was commonly
River.
depicted in the seals found in
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Harappa?
● What was the most important
● Answer: The humped bull was
public place in Harappa?
commonly depicted in the seals
● Answer: The most important public
found in Harappa.
place in Harappa was the Great
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Granary.
● Who discovered Harappa?
● Answer: Harappa was discovered in
● What was the script used by the
1921 by R. D. Banerji, an officer of
people of Harappa?
the Archaeological Survey of India.
● Answer: The script used by the
people of Harappa is still
● Which civilization is associated
undeciphered.
with Harappa?
● Answer: Harappa is associated with
● What was the purpose of the
the Indus Valley Civilization.
Great Granary in Harappa?
● Answer: The purpose of the Great
Granary in Harappa was for the
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● Mohenjo-daro - What was the
principal occupation of the people
of Mohenjodaro?
● Answer: Agriculture was the principal
occupation of the people of
Mohenjodaro.
● Which river flows near the ancient
city of Mohenjodaro?
● Answer: The ancient city of
of the Indus River. AS
Mohenjodaro is situated on the bank
IV
● What was the most important
public place in Mohenjodaro?
● Answer: The most important public
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place in Mohenjodaro was the Great
Bath.
● What was the script used by the
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people of Mohenjodaro?
● Answer: The script used by the
people of Mohenjodaro is still
undeciphered.
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● What was the purpose of the
Great Bath in Mohenjo Daro?
● Answer: The purpose of the Great
Bath in Mohenjodaro is believed to
have been for religious or
ceremonial purposes, or for public
bathing.
● What was the material used for
the construction of buildings in
Mohenjo Daro?
● Answer: The buildings in
Mohenjodaro were constructed using
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baked bricks.
● Which metal was not known to the
people of Mohenjo Daro?
TA
● Answer: The people of Mohenjodaro
were not familiar with iron.
● Which animal was commonly
depicted in the seals found in
Mohenjo Daro?
● Answer: The unicorn was commonly
depicted in the seals found in
Mohenjodaro.
● Who discovered Mohenjodaro?
● Answer: Sir John Marshall was not
the discoverer of Mohenjodaro, but
he was the director-general of the
Archaeological Survey of India who
oversaw the excavation of the site.
Mohenjodaro was actually
discovered in 1921 by R. D. Banerji,
an officer of the Archaeological
Survey of India.
● Which civilization is associated
with Mohenjodaro?
● Answer: Mohenjodaro is associated
with the Indus Valley Civilization.
● Dholavira- known for its impressive
fortifications and trade in copper,
ivory, and shells.Dholavira was a
well-planned city with impressive
fortifications and water management
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 systems. It also had rain water
harvesting systems.
● Lothal- known for its well-developed
dockyard and trade in beads, gems,
and shell objects. The city had a
well-planned dockyard. The city of
Lothal was a major center of trade
and commerce, especially for the
export of beads, shells, and ivory.
●
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Kalibangan- Discovered by B.B. Lal
in 1953, known for its fire altars and
trade in beads, pottery, and shell
objects.The city of Kalibangan had a
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unique and sophisticated water
management system, which included
a dam, reservoirs, and underground
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drains.The city also had a fortified
citadel and a lower town, with
residential and commercial buildings.
● Rakhigarhi- known for its extensive
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agricultural fields and trade in pottery
and beads.
● Banawali- Discovered by Suraj
Bhan in 1974, known for its
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well-planned streets and trade in
beads, pottery, and shell objects.
● Chanhudaro- Discovered by N.G.
Majumdar in 1931, known for its
public baths and trade in beads,
pottery, and metal objects.
● Surkotada- Discovered by J.P. Joshi
in 1964, known for its fortified walls
and trade in shells, pottery, and
beads.
Vedic Era
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● The Vedas are a collection of sacred
hymns and texts in Sanskrit that
were passed down through oral
tradition before being written down.
TA
The Rigveda
● the oldest and most important of the
Vedas, contains hymns in praise of
the gods and descriptions of their
deeds.
● The Rigveda is divided into ten
books or mandalas, which contain a
total of 1,028 hymns.
● The Rig Veda contains hymns
dedicated to various gods and
goddesses, including Indra, Agni,
Varuna, and Soma.
The Yajur Veda
● It contains hymns and verses that
were used in sacrificial rituals, and
also contains instructions on the
performance of various rituals.
● The Yajur Veda is named after the
Sanskrit word "yajus," which means
"sacrificial formula" or "prose
formula."
● The Yajur Veda contains a mix of
verses in both prose and poetry
form.
The Samaveda
● It is a collection of hymns and verses
that were used in the singing of
melodies during religious
ceremonies and rituals.
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 ● The Samaveda is also known as the
Veda of Melodies, or the Veda of
Music, because of its emphasis on
the musical aspects of the hymns
and verses.
● The Samaveda contains 1,549
verses, which are organized into two
main parts: the Purvarchika and the
Uttararchika.
The Atharvaveda
AS
● The Atharvaveda is named after the
Atharvan, a group of ancient Indian
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priests who specialized in magical
and medicinal practices.
● The Atharvaveda contains 730
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hymns, which are organized into 20
books or chapters.
● It contains hymns and verses related
to healing, protection, and magical
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practices, and also includes
philosophical and metaphysical
content.
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Buddhism
● Buddhism is a major world religion
and philosophy that originated in
ancient India around the 5th century
BCE.
● It was founded by Siddhartha
Gautama, who became known as
the Buddha, or the "Enlightened
One."
● The Buddhist scriptures are known
as the Tripitaka, which is a collection
of teachings and writings that were
passed down orally before being
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written down.
● Buddhism has three main branches:
Theravada, Mahayana, and
Vajrayana, each with their own
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traditions, practices, and beliefs.
About Gautama Buddha
● Gautama Buddha, also known as
Siddhartha Gautama, was a spiritual
leader and founder of Buddhism.
● He was born in Lumbini, Nepal in the
5th century BCE into a royal family.
● According to Buddhist tradition, at
the age of 29, he left his palace and
all his worldly possessions in search
of enlightenment.
.
There are several important places related
to Gautama Buddha's life and teachings.
● Lumbini: This is the birthplace of
Gautama Buddha, located in
present-day Nepal. It is now a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and a
popular pilgrimage destination for
Buddhists.
● Bodh Gaya: This is where Gautama
Buddha attained enlightenment
under the Bodhi tree. It is located in
present-day Bihar, India and is one
of the most important pilgrimage
sites for Buddhists.
● Sarnath: This is the site where
Gautama Buddha gave his first
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 sermon after attaining
enlightenment. It is located near
Varanasi, India and is now a major
pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
● Kushinagar: This is the site where
Gautama Buddha passed away and
attained Nirvana. It is located in
present-day Uttar Pradesh, India and
is now a major pilgrimage site for
Buddhists.
Gautama Buddha spent several AS
● Rajgir: This is the site where
years meditating and teaching. It is
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located in present-day Bihar, India
and is now a popular pilgrimage site
for Buddhists.
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● Shravasti: This is the site where
Gautama Buddha spent several
rainy seasons and gave many
teachings. It is located in
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present-day Uttar Pradesh, India and
is now a popular pilgrimage site for
Buddhists.
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Gupta Period
● The founder of the Gupta dynasty
was Sri Gupta, who was succeeded
by his son Ghatotkacha and then his
grandson Chandragupta I.
● Chandragupta I established the
Gupta Empire in northern India and
extended its boundaries to central
India.
● The most famous king of the Gupta
dynasty was Chandragupta II, also
known as Vikramaditya, who ruled
from 375 CE to 415 CE.
VA
● Chandragupta II was a patron of the
arts and literature, and his court was
a center of learning and culture.
● The Gupta Empire was a golden age
TA
of Indian culture and saw the
development of classical Sanskrit
literature, including the plays of
●
Kalidasa.
Samudragupta, the
Chandragupta I, known as the
son
Napoleon of India, was a great
of
warrior king and expanded the
Gupta Empire to cover most of
northern India.
● The Gupta kings issued gold coins,
known as dinars, which were widely
used in trade and commerce.
● Construction of magnificent
rock-cut temples: The Gupta kings
built a number of rock-cut temples,
including the Udayagiri caves near
Vidisha, which contain some of the
earliest surviving examples of Hindu
religious art.
● The Gupta kings introduced the use
of brick as a building material.
● The Gupta kings built grand
gateways, such as the one at
Sanchi.
● The Gupta kings built grand libraries,
such as the one at Nalanda.
● Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta:
This is a Sanskrit play written during
the Gupta period.
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 ● Kama Sutra by Vatsyayana: This is a ● He conquered the kingdoms of
famous Sanskrit text on human Kalinga, which resulted in a

VA
sexual behavior, written in the Gupta devastating war, after which he
period. renounced violence and
embraced Buddhism.
● Ashoka's concept of Ahimsa,
Maurya period

TA
or non-violence, influenced his
● Chandragupta Maurya policies on animal rights and
founded the Maurya Empire in his promotion of
322 BCE.
● He defeated the Nanda

emperor of the
AS
dynasty to become the first
Maurya
vegetarianism.
● Ashoka's reign is known for its
numerous edicts, which were
inscriptions that he had carved
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dynasty. on rocks and pillars throughout
● He was a disciple of his empire.
Chanakya, also known as ● The edicts, which were written
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Kautilya, who was his chief in Prakrit and Brahmi scripts,

advisor. contained moral and ethical
● Bindusara was the second principles that Ashoka believed
emperor of the Maurya were important for his subjects
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dynasty. to follow.
● Bindusara expanded the
Mauryan Empire by defeating
the Kalinga kingdom in the
Gurjar- Pratihar Dynasty
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east. ● The Gurjar-Pratihar Dynasty was a

● He was a patron of Buddhism.
● Ashoka was the third emperor
of the Maurya dynasty.
● He is known for his conversion
to Buddhism after the brutal
Kalinga War.
● Ashoka was born in 304 BCE
and came to the throne in 268
BCE, after a power struggle
with his half-brother.
prominent ruling dynasty in northern
India from the 8th to the 11th
century.
● The Gurjar-Pratihar Dynasty was
founded by Harichandra in the 6th
century.
● Nagabhata I: Nagabhata I was the
ruler who brought the Gurjar-Pratihar
Dynasty to its height of power in the

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 late 8th century. He successfully
repelled the Arab invasion of India.
● Mihira Bhoja: Mihira Bhoja was
another important ruler who lived in
the 9th century. He is remembered
Chola Dynasty
for his military campaigns, including
his successful defense of Kannauj
against the Pratihara ruler
Mahendrapala.
ruler who expanded
AS
● Mahendrapala I was a 9th century
Gurjar-Pratihar Dynasty's territory
and played an important role in the
the
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politics of northern India.
● The last ruler of the Gurjar-Pratihar
Dynasty, Mahipala I, was defeated
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by the Chaulukyas in the 11th
century.
Pala Dynasty
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● The Pala Dynasty was a prominent
Buddhist dynasty that ruled over a
large part of eastern India from the
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8th to the 12th century.
● The founder of the Pala Dynasty was
Gopala.
● Dharmapala: Dharmapala was the
second ruler of the Pala Dynasty and
was responsible for consolidating the
power of the dynasty in the Bengal
region.
● The Vikramshila University was
founded by King Dharmapala of the
Pala Dynasty in the late 8th century.
● Gopala II: Gopala II was the last
ruler of the Pala Dynasty and ruled
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from 1155 to 1162.
TA
● The Chola Dynasty was one of the
most prominent dynasties in the
history of South India. It ruled over a
large part of southern India between
the 9th and 13th centuries CE.
● The founder of the Chola Dynasty
was Vijayalaya Chola.
● Rajaraja Chola I: He ruled from 985
CE to 1014 CE and is considered
one of the greatest kings of the
Chola Dynasty. He is credited with
building the Brihadeeswarar Temple
in Thanjavur, which is one of the
largest and most magnificent
temples in India.
● Rajendra Chola I: He was the son
of Rajaraja Chola I and ruled from
1012 CE to 1044 CE. He also built
the Rajendra Chola Reservoir (also
known as the Veeranam Lake) near
his capital city of
Gangaikondacholapuram.
● Kulothunga Chola I: He ruled from
1070 CE to 1120 CE and is credited
with building the Airavatesvara
Temple in Darasuram.
● Rajaraja Chola III: He ruled from
1216 CE to 1256 CE and is known
for building the Kodumbalur Temple.
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● Rajendra Chola III: He ruled from from the 3rd century CE to the
1248 CE to 1279 CE and is credited 9th century CE.

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with building the Kampahareswarar ● The Pallava Dynasty was
Temple in the town of founded by Simhavishnu in the
Thirubhuvanam. 3rd century CE. He
● This temple is known for its established his capital at

TA
elaborate carvings and intricate Kanchipuram.
stonework. ● Some of the important kings of
● It is considered one of the finest the Pallava Dynasty were
examples of Chola architecture.
● The Chola Dynasty
AS
had
well-organized local self-government
system in place. The administration
a
Mahendravarman
Narasimhavarman
Rajasimha,
Narasimhavarman II.
I,
I,
and
IV
was decentralized, and power was ● Architectural work: The Pallava
vested in the hands of local bodies. Dynasty is known for its
● The village was the basic unit of architectural achievements.
SR

administration. Each village had a ● They built many rock-cut

council of elders called the "Ur". temples, monolithic rathas
● The "Ur" was responsible for (chariots), and structural
maintaining law and order, collecting temples.
AN

taxes, and overseeing public works ● Some of the important

like irrigation, roads, and bridges. architectural achievements of
● Several villages were grouped the Pallava Dynasty are:
together to form a larger
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administrative unit called a "Nadu." ➔ Shore Temple: This temple is

● Each "Nadu" had a council of
representatives called the "Naduvar,"
who were responsible
maintaining law and order, collecting
taxes, and overseeing public works
at the "Nadu" level.
Pallava Dynasty
● The Pallava Dynasty was a
South Indian dynasty that ruled
located in Mahabalipuram and was
built by Narasimhavarman II in the
for 8th century CE. It is a structural
temple built in the Dravidian style of
architecture.
➔ Pancha Rathas: These are five
monolithic rathas located in
Mahabalipuram. They were built by
Narasimhavarman I in the 7th
century CE and are famous for their
intricate carvings and sculptures.

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 ➔ Kailasanatha Temple: This temple
is located in Kanchipuram and was
built by Narasimhavarman II in the
8th century CE. It is a structural
temple built in the Dravidian style of
architecture.
➔ Vaikuntha Perumal Temple: This
temple is located in Kanchipuram
and was built by Nandivarman II in
architecture. AS
the 8th century CE. It is a structural
temple built in the Dravidian style of
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SR
AN
AM
Rashtrakuta Dynasty
● The Rashtrakuta Dynasty was a
royal dynasty that ruled large parts
of the Indian subcontinent between
the 6th and 10th centuries CE.
● Dantidurga was the founder of the
Rashtrakuta dynasty.
VA
● He was a local chieftain who
overthrew his Chalukya overlords
and established his own kingdom in
the Deccan.
TA
● Amoghavarsha (ruled from 814 to
878 CE) - He was one of the
greatest kings of the dynasty and is
known for his patronage of literature
and the arts.
● Architectural
Rashtrakuta Dynasty
Work of the
➔ Kailasanatha Temple at
Ellora - This is one of the most
impressive rock-cut temples in
India and is a UNESCO World
Heritage site. It was built by
the Rashtrakuta king, Krishna
I, in the 8th century CE.
➔ Mahadeva Temple at Itagi -
This is a large and impressive
temple built in the 12th century
CE. It is notable for its intricate
carvings and its unique
architectural style.
➔ Jain Narayana Temple at
Pattadakal - This is a beautiful
temple built in the 9th century
CE. It is notable for its
exquisite carvings and its
unique architectural style,
which combines elements of
North Indian and South Indian
temple architecture.
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Pandyas Dynasty ● Vaigai Dam: This dam is located in
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and was built

VA
● The Pandyas were one of the by the Pandyas to regulate the flow
ancient Tamil dynasties that ruled of the Vaigai River.
the southern region of India,
particularly present-day Tamil Nadu

TA
and Kerala.
● According to legend, the dynasty
was founded by a fisherman named
Kulaśēkhara.

AS
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Main Kings of the Dynasty
● Nedunjeliyan I: He was the most
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prominent and powerful king of the

Pandyas dynasty.
● Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I:
He was a famous Pandyan king who
ruled from 1268 CE to 1308 CE.
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Architectural Works
● Meenakshi Amman Temple: It is
one of the most famous temples in
India, located in Madurai, Tamil
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Nadu. The temple was built by the

Pandyas in the 13th century and
later expanded by the Nayaks.
● Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal: This
palace is located in Madurai and was
built by the Nayaks in the 17th
century.
● Kalugumalai Jain Beds: These are
a series of rock-cut Jain beds
located in Kalugumalai, Tamil Nadu,
and are believed to have been
created during the Pandyan era.
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