Palaeolithic Generally located near water sources Soan Valley, Potwar plateau, Siwalik Hills,

Mainly hunter gatherers Bhimbetka, Adamgargh hill in narmada

Hand-sized and flaked off large pebbles valley
Made crude pots Kurnool in Andhra
Grew some plants Attirampakam near Chennai
Attempt to domesticate animals

Mesolithic Less than 5 cm artefacts – microliths Laghank in Gujarat

Mainly hunter gatherers Adamgarh
Shift to small animal hunting and fishing Places in Rajasthan, UP, Bihar
Use of bow and arrow
Domestication of animals started
Primitive cultivation
Burials along with microliths
Practiced painting

Neolithic Practice of agriculture Kashmir Valley, Chirand in Bihar, Belan

Domestication of animals Valley in UP, several places in Deccan,
Polishing stone tools Maski, Brahmagiri, Hallur, Kodeka in
Manufacturing of pottery Karnataka Utnur in Andhra, Paiyyampalli in
Emergence of village community TN
Emergence of mud-brick houses
Large urns as coffins
Used clothes made of cotton and wood

Chalcolithic Used copper and stone implements Jorwe, Ahar, Navdatoli, Gilund, Ganeswar,
Cultivated barley, wheat, rice Kalibangan, Banawali
Black and red pottery, ochre colored pottery
 Houses were thatched
Burnt bricks used
Evidences of social inequality
Early Vedic Culture Several tribal kingdoms = Bharatas, Matsyas,
Yadhus and Purus
Sabha and Samiti
Patriarchial Society
Women got equal role – Apala, Lopamudra, Ghosa
and Viswavara
No child marriage and Sati
Mainly pastoral people,
Knowledge of Iron
Worshiped natural forces – Prithvi, Agni, Vayu,
Varuna, Indra
No temples
No idol worship
Later Vedic Times Growrh of large kingdoms – Kuri, Panchalas
Formation of janapadas – rashtra
King performing various sacrifices
Large number of officials
Sabha, Samiti diminished
Knowledge of Manure
Varna system thoroughly established
Position of women degraded
Various gods – Prajapati, Vishnu and Rudra
Importance of prayer decreased; sacrifice
increased
Bimbisara(BC 546-494 BC)
Haryanka dynasty
Ajatasatru(494-462), followed by Udayin
Saisunga Dynasty > Kakavarman
Nandas>Mahapadma Nanda> Dhana
Nanda
Persian Invasion(558-
456)>Cyrus(Achaemenian empire)>
Darius I> Xerex
Alexander invasion(327-325)
Chandragupta Maurya(322-298)
Bindusara(298-273)
Conquest through
matrimonial alliances
Conquered Avanti
Uprooted Kshatriya
dynasties
Extednded beyond
gangetic valley
Alexander going back
Captured Gandhara
Panjab, Sindh(20th Satrapy)
Ambhi of Taxila welcomed
Porus army fought in
Vattle of Hydaspes in
plains of Karri
Gangetic Valley, Selukas
Niketar(Alexander;s
General) gave trans indus
territories
Called by the Greeks as
‘Amritagadha’
Supported both Buddha and
Jaina
Pataligrama into Met Buddha – Picture
Pataliputra depicted in sculptures of
Udayin made Barhut
Pataliputra capital First Buddhist council in
Rajgraha
Second Buddhist Council
held at Kakavarman’s time
Oppressive Taxation by Hathigumba inscription by
Dhana Nanda Karavela speaks of conquest
of Kalinga by Mahapadma
Growth of Indo-Iranian Use of Kharoshti script, idea
commerce, od issueing edicts under
Ashoka inherited from them,
Persian art and wordings in
monolithic pillars
Encouraged political
unification
Increase in trade with
west Asia
Assisted by Kautilya
Megasthanese as
Ambassidor in the court
Embraced Jainism
Deimachus as ambassador
of Syrian King
 Kingdom extended up to
Mysore
Ashoka(273-232)> Brihatratha(last king) Kalinga war in 261
th
BC(mentioned in 13 rock
edicts
Mauryan Empire in General Monarchy for the first time
Monisters to assist
Army paid salaries in cash
Existance of both civil and
criminal courts
Cruel punishments – but
remission was also
present
Four provinces – Taxila,
Ujjain, Suvarnagiri, Kalinga
Elaborate system of
provincial and local
administration – provincial
governor in charge of
collection of revenue and
law and order
Pataliputra- 6 committees
– Industry, Foreigners,
registration of birth and
death, trade,
manufacturing of goods,
Bindusara asking sweet wine,
dried figs and sophists
Supported the Ajivika Sect
3rd Buddhist council in
Pataliputra in 240 BC –
Received Buddhism under
the influence of monk
Upagupta
Policy of Dhamma
Various taxes – shop Use of stone started from
tax, ferry tax, forest, Ashoka times
mines tax Major pillars p Rummindei,
th
1/6 of the revenue rampurwa, Laurya
comprised of taxes Nandangargh, Araraj,
Taking of census in Sahasram, Saranath,
regular intervals – Kaushambi, Gujjara, meerut,
counted animals as Jopra
well Stupa – only sanchi survives
Caves – Barabar hills, Bosh
gaya
 collection of sales tax
Sunga(187-78) Ruled Ganfa valley after
(Pushyamitra Sunga> Mauryas
Agnimitra>Devabhuti>Kanva dynasty) Resisted Bactrian Greek
invasion
st nd
Saravahanas(1 to 2 century AD) In Deccan – up to Krishna
River
Batcrian> Milinda> Helidorus(a Greek Tried to extend till
ambassador) Pataliputra, but stopped by
Vasumitra Sunga
Capital was Sakala(Sialkot)
Scythians(Sakas)> Maues/Mogu (2nd Attacked Batria and
century BC to 2nd Century AD) > Azes 1 Parthian
Extended western Satrapas
Staunch follower of
Brahmanism, Vaishnavism,
Sanskrit
But patronised Buddhist art
as well -renovated Bharhut
and Sanchi
Horse sacrifice practiced
Ship on the coins by Nasik and Nanagarh
VAshishtaputra inscription
Sarakarnini Hala wrote Gathasaptasati/
Coins with face of Sattasai in Prakrit
rulers Patronised Buddhism,
Brahmanism
Vasishthiputra Pulumav
repaired Amaravati Stupa
Patronised Prakrit
Architecture of
Nagarjunakonda
Milindapanho – Pali work –
conversations with Nagasena
Helidorus – Vaishnavite –
erected Garuda pillar at
Besnagar
Origin of Indo- Greek
Gandhara art
First Coinage
Greek and Kharoshti in coins
Mofa inscription
Azes 1 found Vikrama era in
 in Maharashtra and BC 58
Northern Satrapas from Bimaran Casket – Azes II –
Taxila(overthrown by coins – first standing
Parthians and later by Buddha
Kushans)
They were nomads
Gautamiputra Satakarnini
and Chandragupta II
destroying them
Capital Sirkap

Indo Parthian (first century AD) Ruled Pak, Afghan etc.

Gondaphares dynasty
Kushans Till Varanasi, Paraliputra Promoted Mahayana
Kadphises 1>Kanishka(78- Defeated by Chinese Buddhism
120)>Vasudeva general Pancho> extended Buddha Worship started
to Kashkar, Yarkhand and Sent Buddhist missionaries
Khotoan Patronised scholars like
Capital Peshawar Vasumitra, Asvagosha and
Nagarjuna
4th Buddhist Council
Patronised Charaka
Patronised Gandhara,
Mathura art
Many stupas – height
increased and became
ornamental
Vasudeva was Shaivite
Chera Capital Vanji Important Sea ports – Pugalur inscription mentions
Cheralathans Tondi and Musiri about them
Cheran Senguttavan(2nd AD) Royal Emblem – Carp Elango Adikal writes
Silapadigaram
Senguttavan introduced
pattini cult

Chola Capital in Uraiyur, then Reclamation of Forest Pattanapalai mentions about

Kariokala Chola shifted to Puhar, land for agriculture the conditions
Battle of Venni I defeated Kallanai across the
Chera+Pandya Kaveri
Royal emblem Tiger
Pandyas Capital Madurai Flourishing seaport Madurai Kanji describe socio
Neduncheliyan Victory in battle of Korkai - economic conditions
talailanganam Royal emblem carp
Sangam Era in General Hereditary Monarchy Roads were well Five fold division of land – 4
Important ports: Tondi, maintained castes
Musiri, Korkai, Arikkamedu, Practice of Sati Primary deity was seyon or
Marakkanam Notable women poets: murugan
Avvaiyar, Hero stone worship
Nachchellaiyur,
Kakkaipadiniyar
Known for handicrafts
Cotton Clothers –
women in Uraiyur
Internal trade mostly
based on barter
Chandragupta 1(320-330) Called as Maharajadhiraja
Founder of Gupta Era
Married to Lichcchvi
princes
Samudra Gupta(330 – 380) Did not annex south Indian Gold and silver coin Allahabad pillar inscription
 kingdoms, asked to
acknowledge the
suzerainty
Defeated members of
Naga family
Called as Indian Nepolian
Pallava Kingdom
achnowledged his
suzerainty
Chandra Gupta (380-415) Marriage alliance with
Nagas, Vakatakas
War against western Saka
Satrapas
Called himself as
Vikramaditya
Defeated Vanga, Bactria till
Narmada
Gupta Empire in General Pushyamitras tribe destroy
Srigupta(founder)> 3 famous kings> Kumaragupta army
Kumaragupta Huns invasion at the time
Skandagupta of Skandagupta
Elaborate provincial and
local administration
Mild and benevolent kings
with “restorer of It calls him as Kaviraja
asvamedha’ It is written by Harisena
In coins he is using Promoted Sanskrit,
Veena Vaishnavism
Also encouraged Buddhist
Scholar Vasubandhu
Access to seaports Fa-hein visited
such as Broach, Patronised Kalidasa
Sopara, Cambay Buddhism flourished in north
Ujjain became west, declined in gangetic
important valley
Variety of Gold coins Fa-hein Primarily wrote on
issues religious matters
Punishment was not Kumaragupta founded
severe Nalanda university
No spy system Brahmanism promoted
Roads were kept safe Mainly VAishnavite kings
More liberal Puranas compiled
administration than Jain second council in
mauryas Vallabhi
Caste system became Nagara and dravida style
rigid, untouchanility evolved
started Temple at deogargh and
Position of women sculptures in Garhwas
degraded temple near Allahabad
Different types of gold No Greek style
 copper and silver coins Buddha statue at Sarnath
Bitari monolithic piller by
Skandagupta
Copper Buddha statue at
sultanganj
Delhi Iron pillar
Bagh caves, Mural paintings
in Ajanta
Nagari script evolved
Harisena, Kalidasa,
Visakadatta, Sudraka,
Bharavi, Dandin, Subhandhu,
Amarasimha
Science – Aryabhatta,
Varahamihira, Vaghabhata
Vakatakas Followed Satavahans in Viharas and Chaityas in
Vindhyashakti(founder)> Praverasena Deccan; Contemporaries of Ajanta
Gupta
Harshavardhana>Pushyabhuti>Vardhana Feudatories of Guptas Kanauj assembly to Harsha charita written by
dyanasty Thaneswar then Kanauj honour Hsuan Tsang Bana
became capital Frequent inspection Hiuen Tsang, Itsing visited
Military campaign against Taxation was light Harsha wrote 3 plays –
Pulikeshin 2 of chalukyas Forced labour rare Ratna, naga, Priya
– failed 1/6th of the tax Madhuben plate inscription
Ruled over Kalinga, Cruel Punishment of - Helpful to know about
friendship with Maurya contd. HJarsha
Bhaskaravarman(Assam) Maintanance of Public - Banskhera inscription has
Kashmir, Sind, Vallabhi, records(nilopitu) his signature
Kamarupa acknowledged Trade and commerce - Harsha> Saiva>
the sovereignty. declined Hinayana> Mahayana

Pallavas- 3 line of rulers Kingdom in
st
1 line(250-350) Tondaimandalam
Sivaskandavarman Capital in Kanchipuram
Vijaya Skandavarman Feudatories of
2nd line(350-550) Satavahanas
Vishnugopa(defeated by Narendravarma I titles:
Samudragupta) Gunabhadra, Satyasandha,
3rd line(after 575) Chettakari, Chitrakarapuli,
1. Mahendravarman 1(600-630) Vichitrachitra, Mattavilasa
2. Narasimhavarman 1(668) Narasimhavarman:
3. Narasimhavarman II(695-722) Mamalla
Aparajita(last king) – defeated by Battles with Chalukyans –
Chola King defeated Pulikeshin
II(Vatapikonda)
Naval Expedition to
Srilanka
Narasimhavarman II:
Sankarabhakta Rajasimha
- Five year
conference(Allahabad
conference)
- Copper statue of Buddha
in Lakshmana temple,
sirpur
- Bhanabatta, Brithari,
Matanga Divakara
Well Organised Patronised Brahmanism
administration system Charters in Prakrit and
Irrigation tanks during Sanskrit and Tamil
Mahendravarman I Majhendravarman – Jain
Village assemblies first; became Saivite by
Sabha and its Appar
committess Constructed many rock cut
temples
Wrote Mattavilasa
Prahasanam in Sanskrit
Hieun Tsanf visited
Kanchipuram during
Narendravarman I
Gatitikas at Kanchi
Founded mamallapuram and
monolithic rathas
Narasimha varman II – shore
temple at Kanchipuram
Dandin in his court (Sanskrit
scholar)
Rise of Vaishnavism and
Shaivism(Bhakti movement)
Mahendra varman – Rock
cut temples at
Mandagapattu,
Mahendravado, Mamandur,
Palavanur, Thirichirapallo,
vallam etc.
Narasimhavarman I –
monolothjic Rathas at
malmallapuram
Narasimhavarman II-
structural temples , Shore
temple in Mamallapuram ,
Kailasanath temple in Kanchi
Sculpture – descent of
Ganga, Penance of Arjuna
Mamandur inscription and
Kudumianmalai inscription on
music, Sittanavasal paintings