Table Of Content
Editorial Board
Professor Satish Chandra (Chairmen)
Professor X. S, Sharma
Professor Barun Do
Professor Sumit Sarkar
Brofessar M.G $ Nevaysnan
Shri $. H. Khan
Shri Arjun Dav (Convener)
ANCIENT INDIA
A Textbook for Class XI
Ram Sttanan Suaama
Ron great
eatt oman
NOMERT -
carstte difine segsiarer site Sefer ate
National Council of Educational Research and Training
The “ant edtoa of this hook wae publwiat ia avant J977 hr Eurssia, Tublatang
Hue {Pot} Le, by pifmabion af the Netioml Cound of Taveunoual Recor ead
‘Taioiag The wbseeuert Poused edition and (he repeats ave bsen published by the
Nadonal Counell of 28uensonml Reyearsh aad Traio:ny.
inet eaitlen
Avec. 972
Sayama 1659
Revived Baitlon
Aus 1830
Sranea 182
yaina 08
Yanan 19
Magha 13902
PD.2T—DPG,
Gaver Manankninge CHAD
Ry 60
Published #4 the Pablentian Depertmech Sy ¥. K. Patdt, Sowevary, Nawunal Copnet: af
dutational Research anz Jeune, Sr Aurobiacio Micy, New Delhi “JUS hud puted a
‘auha Mel Pres, Magnes 600 913
Foreword
(he pbsenn 200k x snean Far non Cs ND, whch a ae fir yous after 1. emnoral
educztlom up co Clase XA the Hrg‘wr Secondary sige (ssen XL and XH), tho
‘stucant ws erica advance knnledge i # few amigas of Rie chores sn as taeuble Men
te peruc higher eduesti2n, ‘As want, 5¢ 20 ete, ne some nesupet
Tip NCERT had onraustal the reipcatlsy of preperiag e260 and tuetbueks m
husory tothe History Eduotia: Boat couesung of Professor Satush Ckarda (Chau
aman}, Profisser B, § Sim, Precbsior Bethy Le, Profesor Suit Seekar, Professor
MGS. Baxgania, Shu § Rha end Shei Azjaa Dov (Cuasenes ae Boge had
Tialized ths comrmus wad peapared sormeof toxtbosks | Tie NCERT Is ereteful ta th:
rramborg ef the Baaic Mor spacmg thoae veils ime ung-udgmgly ca docelaping the
ow opwncen ant textbooks 21 story yothy cbs shurl Lm cket waa go co tae
“This texttook dealing wl # lstorieal sacwey of ancien: India was peesucd) Ly
vrofasgor R Sharma and wae fe published #1977 The pees
Fest revised edition of the w2tbook wluch had boea ove of ack enn eanly J9iE Lhe
NCCRT rs graofal w Profeswse R, & Shera for piopatiay the ocginal as weds Ue
present rieed editon ‘The NCERT 1s zlso grate to many other persone, both
belonging fo Lhe NCEE and nutnds, aud onyanietions “oe zhsir help and erpers
tion, Gur span thanks are duerp Dr G 1, avfhya othe NCERT aad Kus, Anca
not Bmery of uke Archveringion, Suriay of India Fer chair elp im sspereung Wee
preparation cf illeteso macerals, to Shr: AX Chath for the érassngs aad the
fiaps, and to the Archavological Suewey of India for makang avilable te ws paulo
seaghs which hexe been urcluded iw ths Seok
‘Thus voloran on Ante Tria is the Gust ra the
broeehs ont by rh NCERY tor tag Hight Secondary sage. “Vhs volume envare
the syllabus a ans.ont Fedam bystory for tp Hegher Secqndary stage, Volveres deat
amg vith the eyllabac in aioval and madara yeokde of Mati hers ave alco Deen
brought aut
(he NCERT ‘vould b> galelui for any cosamuats sugguuuns ac ences Uh an
aspect of the preseat votive
sof salbnaks shack have Rect
Sain K Mires
Preetuer
Natwual Cone oF
Naseutional Rossuept anc Training
Now Dats
Aveusr 289
Preface to the First Edition
Hostory forms a pact of an und:tecifed ourrculum in jonera eiuation for he
frat ton yeas of tchnoling, The cours n history up to this tages, therefore ned
at eoquarsiag te pusi ith portant treads and developments in th story of nda,
aod of the world, ‘Tha courses ut the ‘plas two stage have been Kamed Keapingin
‘ow tha fouadabons to be lad during the tou goats of goeral education Theis main
jpurpoes are to broniza and deepan the histoncal knowledge of ho pup to intcoduce
biunto tb igour of he disoplin, and to prepare him for higher aandomic studies m
tha subyat.
‘Tho courses in fustocy ath plus two! stage whuck havo bees framed bythe Réstorial
Boaed aretha results of aiscussioas with teachers, techor-edacators and exports. Pro
sently the Board is ougeged va preparing four totbooks for tbe four semester courses
iy history, The syle incindos optional conrscs on the history of regions outside
Tia, and txtbrok on these courses would bo propesed When these coutsx are intr
duced ia schools
“The proson voltae covering cs cotis fon tho At semestar deals with the history
of acientTadia (tom probistors times to about the eighth coatney. Ameffot hasbeen
sade in this book t highlight the forces and factors behind tke mse and spiwad of
civilization and culture in Indie rathor than present details of dynastic history. The
gowth and difosion of vertous aspeats af civiliation surk ax sonal alse, state
formation, and political watittions have beon trated cleely. The book pointy out
the sigmzaat changes and marks the main stages inthe development of Indie soccry
inancient times Attention ins boea paud to th contribution of mxciont Indians co
polty, ar, itertum, philpsopty, relipon, and sclense and technology
‘Ths Editorial Boaed ss grateful ta Professor R. 8, arms for undertaking the writing
of ths book The Board also sincerely thanks all the ther portons for thar help in
oanetion wth the publication ofthis bpok
SATISH CRANDIRA
New Dai Chairman
July OP History Editorist Board -
Author’s Acknowledgements
[No single Aistorian can soeuk wich suthorsey on vatioue phstea and fapots of ancient
Ind:ap history. T have thersfore utiveed tha wocks oF nuncotous scholars not all of
whose natnes appeat in the bibliography. I rook various kinds of help from Dr. Pratinal
Bhatia, Wr. D. KG Chakrabart:, Shri George Jacob, Sh V. K, Jain, Shrimati Vijaya
Nath, Dr. Sitaram Raj, Kunar) Sueklata and Ds, P, D. Tespathi, Shes Arjun Dev af the
NCERT hstped ro on finalzrag the proparstion and publication of the book ‘with
ability, dovotion and eon mierost, They alldeserve my sincere thanks At one
ageit tosmed that the book Would not appear again Lan theraCere. hapyy to 590 its
second edivon. I gratefully acknowledge the vupport and suggotttons recorved frome &
wids cittle of renowned historians including Dr. G. L. Adhya, Profestor A. L.
Basham, Professor B,D. Chattopadbyay, Profeatot RN. Dandekar, Shri RK.
Choudhary, Profassor D.N. Tha, Dr, Suvire Jaiswal, Profesyge B. N, Mukherjeo.
Professor M. G. 5, Narayanan, Professor A. M, Shastri, Professor S, Sattar,
Professor G.R, Sbarma, De, KM, Shiimali, Shei R. P, Siagh, Professor K. XK.
Sinks, Professce D.C. Surcar, Professor Upendra Thakur, Professor Romila Thapar
tnd Professor BLN 8. Yadava.
Contents
Foreword . ¥
Preface fa the Bust Editon 1, s,s li
Author's Acknowledgements a)
1, ‘The Importance of Ansient Judian History wood
2, The Construction of Anclens Tadian Wistory er
Material Resnains—Coms—Inscriptions—Literary Sources
Hormgu Accoumts~listovical Sense
3. ‘The Geographical Setting HO
A TheStoue age
The Oli Stone Age—Phases in tha Palecolitbic Age—The Lyte
Stone Age—Tis New Stone Ago :
5. ‘The Stone-Capper Phase : 16
Chaleclie Settlements —Chalcolitie Cultures—Lnportance of
tho Chalcolichue Piase—Limatations af Chaleokithie Cultures —
‘Tha Copper Age in India
6. The Hatappan Civilization ee eo B
graphical Extoat—Towa Planning and Sleustures—Agricul-
two—Dorusticanon of Animals—Tecimology end Ceafis—
Trado—Pobitical Orgunmzation—Roligious Practice’—Tho Mle
Deity in the Tadus Vallsy—Trae and Animal Worship —The Marap-
pan Script—Weights aud Measures—Harappan Pottery—Seals
Tmages—Torricotta Figurines—Origir, Maturty and Ead
1. Advent ofthe Aryuan and the Age of the Rig Veda 4s
Original Home and Hlontity—Tebal Coaflicts—Material Lite —
Telbal Polity—Trite and Family-Social Dwvislaus—Rig Vedic
Geds
Ww
n.
12,
1
M6.
4.
46,
‘The Tater Vodle Phase : Trauuliion to State and Socist Yarmation —..
Tepansion in tha Letee Vagic Pariod fe. 1000-800 W.C.)—-The
POW—Iron Phato Culture and Later Vodte Eoonomyalitical
Ongan-zation—Sacial Orgawizat.on-Gods, Rituals and P&l
lesephy
hipiae and udaldons
‘Causes if O-iin-~Vardhannda Mahavicasnd Jainiam—Doetrings
3f Januisin—Spraad of Jainssm—Coutribation of Tainlsm—Chnue
fan, Meddha aut Boddhlem—Doctriney of Ruddhivm—Special
Faroe of Buddhivn and che Ounce of #5 Sprond—Causos of
the Decling of Bul sm—Lmpartuncs and Influence of Baddhise
‘Tertitorot Statos andthe Flest Magadban Eompice
‘Ths Mahajananadas—Rice ani Growth (che Maydhan Brupie
—Crenes of Magudha's Suncare
Tranlao and Mnesdonian Jovasions
Yrapian Tavasion~Resulty of tho Coneust—Alenandes’s Tavasion
“Shia of Alerander's Tavasion
‘State and Varna Soviety im the Age of the, Buta
Material Lit—Administative. Systam—Aeony and “Taxation —
‘The Rapedlican Experiment Saciat Orders and Legislation
‘The Age of the Maneyas
‘Chendoagupia Manesa—fntperial Orgenization—Asoka (272-233
B.C -Asokan Edicte—Impuct of the Kalinga War—Interaal
Policy sind Buddhiin—-Asokn’s Place’ i History
‘Sigiticango of the Maurya Rule eo
Stata" Cuntrol~Eeononile Rogulationt—éptand” of Materiat
Calture—Cavses of the Fall of the Maurya Eerpire
Cemeal Asian Contents and Theit Remus
‘The Indo-Gresks—The Sakar—The Parthiant—The Koshant—
Impact af Central Asian, Contacte,
‘The Age of tae Satevnbminn
Polhicat History—Aspects of Material Culture~Social Organi
sution~Pattorn GP Administration—Religion—Archlegerne—
Langage
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