Major Events in Indian History

(crash course)
by RADHIKA

BCA, LL.B., LL.M. (IPR) - MNLU Mumbai,

IN/PA 5427, UGC NET Qualified for PhD
 Indus Valley Civilization
(3300–1300 BCE)
• Urban civilization with planned cities (grid layout,
drainage)
• Economy: Trade with Mesopotamia, barter
system, weights & measures
• Agriculture: Wheat, barley, cotton (first cotton
users in the world)
• Religion: Proto-Shiva seals, Mother Goddess
figurines, no temples
• Decline Theories: Climate change, drying up of
Saraswati River, Aryan invasion (debated)
● Grid-based urban planning (evidence from
Mohenjo-daro).
● Advanced drainage systems
(significance for public health).
● Standardized weights and measures
(implications for trade).
● Evidence of long-distance trade (Lothal
as a port).
● Possible causes of decline: climate
change, river shifts, invasions.
 Vedic Period (1500–500 BCE)
• Early Vedic Period (1500–1000 BCE) – Rigveda,
pastoral lifestyle
• Later Vedic Period (1000–500 BCE) –
agriculture, caste system rigidifies
• Society: Four varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas, Shudras)
• Political system: Sabha, Samiti, Rajan (king)
• Upanishads: Philosophical texts, concept of
Atman, Brahman
 Rise of Mahajanapadas (600–300
BCE)
• 16 Mahajanapadas – prominent: Magadha,
Kosala, Avanti, Vatsa
• Magadha’s rise – Bimbisara, Ajatashatru, and
Nanda dynasty
• Use of iron tools, expansion of agriculture,
emergence of trade
• Rise of Buddhism and Jainism – opposition to
Vedic orthodoxy
• Persian (Darius I) and Greek (Alexander, 326 BCE)
invasions
Mauryan Empire: Centralization and Dhamma

● Centralized administrative system (Arthashastra).

● Ashoka's edicts and their content (Dhamma).
● Extent of the empire
● Role of officials (Dharmamahamatras).
● effectiveness of Mauryan administration.
● political and social impact of Ashoka's Dhamma.
● role of state in promoting social order.
● economy to support the empire

Gupta Age: "Golden Age" - Reality vs. Myth

● Advances in mathematics and astronomy (Aryabhata).

● Flourishing of Sanskrit literature (Kalidasa).
● Temple architecture and sculpture
● Land grants and their impact.
● "Golden Age."
● social and economic structures that supported cultural achievements.
● position of women and lower castes.
● not all sections of society benefited equally
 Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE)
• Chandragupta Maurya (322 BCE) – Overthrew
Nandas, founded Mauryan Empire
• Kautilya’s Arthashastra – economic & political
philosophy
• Ashoka (268–232 BCE) – Kalinga War, embraced
Buddhism
• Administration: Centralized, espionage system,
revenue collection
• Decline: Weak successors, regional uprisings,
Shunga dynasty takeover
 Gupta Empire (319–550 CE) –
Golden Age
• Chandragupta I, Samudragupta (Napoleon of
India), Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)
• Achievements: Decimal system, zero
(Aryabhata), Sanskrit literature
• Fa Hien’s visit (Gupta administration, society)
• Political Structure: Decentralized, feudal
elements
• Decline: Hun invasions, rise of regional
kingdoms
Early Medieval India (600–1200 CE)
• Rise of regional powers: Cholas, Pandyas,
Rashtrakutas, Palas, Pratiharas
• Chola administration – Local self-governance,
navy dominance
• Bhakti and Sufi movements begin
• Indian economy: Temple-based economy,
extensive trade with SE Asia
 Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)
• Dynasties: Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi
• Alauddin Khalji’s economic reforms: Market
control, taxation
• Tughlaq’s failed experiments: Capital shift,
currency reform
• Art and culture: Indo-Islamic architecture,
Qutub Minar
• Decline: Weak rulers, Timur’s invasion (1398),
rise of Mughals
● Iqta system (land revenue).
● Market regulations of Alauddin Khilji.
● Experiments of Muhammad bin Tughlaq
(currency, capital shift).
● Impact of Timur's invasion.
● impact of the Iqta system on rural
society.
● effectiveness of Khilji's market reforms.
● reasons for Tughlaq's failed
experiments
 Mughal Empire (1526–1857)
• Babur (First Battle of Panipat, 1526) – foundation
of Mughal rule
• Akbar’s religious policies: Sulh-i-Kul, Din-i-Ilahi,
Mansabdari system
• Shah Jahan’s golden period: Taj Mahal, Red Fort,
Jama Masjid
• Aurangzeb: Expansion, religious orthodoxy,
Maratha resistance
• Decline: British, regional fragmentation, Nadir
Shah’s invasion (1739)
● Centralization and Cultural Synthesis
● Mansabdari system (military and administrative
ranks).
● Religious policies of Akbar (Sulh-i-Kul).
● Architectural achievements (Taj Mahal, etc.).
● Decline of the Mughal Empire (factors).
● effectiveness of the Mansabdari system.
● impact of Akbar's religious policies.
● cultural synthesis of Hindu and Muslim traditions.
● economic reasons for the decline of the Mughal
Empire
● Bhakti and Sufi Movements: Social Impact
● Bhakti saints and their teachings (Kabir, Nanak,
etc.).
● Sufi orders and their influence.
● Emphasis on social equality and religious
tolerance.
● social and religious impact of these movements.
● role in challenging social hierarchies.
● contrast in Bhakti and Sufi philosophies.
● lasting change?
 British Expansion (1757–1857)
• Battle of Plassey (1757) – British control over
Bengal
• Battle of Buxar (1764) – Diwani rights over Bengal,
Bihar, Odisha
• Regulating Act (1773), Pitt’s India Act (1784) –
British administrative reforms
• Subsidiary Alliance (Lord Wellesley), Doctrine of
Lapse (Dalhousie)
• 1857 Revolt – Causes, leaders (Rani Lakshmibai,
Nana Sahib, Kunwar Singh)
● British Colonialism: Economic Exploitation
● Deindustrialization of India.
● Commercialization of agriculture.
● Land revenue systems (Permanent Settlement,
Ryotwari, Mahalwari).
● Drain of wealth theory.
● impact of British economic policies on Indian
society.
● validity of the "drain of wealth" theory.
● long-term consequences of deindustrialization.
● british economic policies set the stage for
modern India?
 Indian Freedom Struggle
(1857–1947)
• Formation of Indian National Congress (1885) –
Moderates vs. Extremists
• Partition of Bengal (1905) & Swadeshi Movement
• Gandhi’s movements: Non-Cooperation (1920),
Civil Disobedience (1930)
• Quit India Movement (1942) – mass protests,
British repression
• Independence and Partition (1947) –
Mountbatten Plan, Radcliffe Line
Post-Independence Developments
• Constitution of India (1950) – Fundamental Rights,
Directive Principles
• Five-Year Plans – Focus on agriculture, industry,
Green Revolution
• Emergency (1975–77) – Indira Gandhi, suspension
of civil liberties
• Economic liberalization (1991) – LPG reforms,
globalization
• Modern India – Digital economy, space research
(ISRO)