1.
The Significance of Ancient Indian History
• Per historic - 8th century
• 3rd century BC
• 4rd century BC
• 1500–500 BC
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600
• 3rd C BC
• AD 4th C onwards
– History of ancient India
– Ashoka
– Samudragupta
– Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
– Sangam literature.
– Prakrit as the lingua franca.
– Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Second half 18th century – Modern research in History of ancient
India
• 1765 - East India Company ruled Bengal and Bihar
• 1776 - Manu Smriti to Code of Gentoo Laws.
• 1784 - Asiatic Society of Bengal by Sir William Jones (1746–94)
• 1789 - Abhijnanashakuntalam -> English
• 1785 - Bhagvadgita, Wilkins
• 1804 -The Bombay Asiatic Society
• 1823 - The Asiatic Society of Great Britain, London
• First half of the nineteenth century - chairs in Sanskrit in UK and European countries.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.
2. Modern Historians of Ancient India
• Per historic - 8th century – History of ancient India
• 3rd century BC – Ashoka
• 4rd century BC – Samudragupta
• 1500–500 BC – Dravidian and non-Sanskritic terms
found in Vedic texts.
• 300 BC–AD 600 – Sangam literature.
• 3rd C BC – Prakrit as the lingua franca.
• AD 4th C onwards – Sanskrit as the state language.