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Ancient History Sources Explained

The document outlines various sources of ancient Indian history, including literary sources such as religious texts, secular literature, and Sangam literature; archaeological sources such as architecture, sculpture, material remains, pottery, and inscriptions; and foreign accounts from travelers like Megasthenes, Hiuen Tsang, Fahian, and Al-Biruni. It discusses important religious texts including the Vedas, Upanishads, Buddhist and Jain literature. Secular literature mentioned includes the Arthashastra, Ashtadhyayi, Rajatarangini, and works by Kalidasa and Hala. Archaeological sources noted are architecture, sculpture, coins, inscriptions of different types, and material culture remains

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Gaddameedi Gopinath
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103 views14 pages

Ancient History Sources Explained

The document outlines various sources of ancient Indian history, including literary sources such as religious texts, secular literature, and Sangam literature; archaeological sources such as architecture, sculpture, material remains, pottery, and inscriptions; and foreign accounts from travelers like Megasthenes, Hiuen Tsang, Fahian, and Al-Biruni. It discusses important religious texts including the Vedas, Upanishads, Buddhist and Jain literature. Secular literature mentioned includes the Arthashastra, Ashtadhyayi, Rajatarangini, and works by Kalidasa and Hala. Archaeological sources noted are architecture, sculpture, coins, inscriptions of different types, and material culture remains

Uploaded by

Gaddameedi Gopinath
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Sources of Ancient History

History - came from a Greek word called Historia, which means Inquiry:
knowledge acquired by investigation

Father of History - Herodotus

● Greek person
● Written The Histories

Study of Indian History and Culture - Indology

Father of Indology - Sir William Jones


India is also known as

Bharata - Land ruled by Emperor Bharata of Bharata Dynasty, which is


mentioned in Rigveda

Hindustan -

● Name given by a Iranian Historian Al- Biruni


● Persian emperor Darius I occupied the Indus / Sindhu region. So the land
people living around the river sindhu known as Hindustan

Aryavarta - Land where Aryans lived


Sources

Literary Sources

● Religious Sources
● Secular Sources
● Sangam Literature

Archaeological Sources

Foreign Sources
Religious Sources: Brahmana and Vedic literature

● Shruti
○ Vedas
○ Brahmanas
○ Aryankas
○ Upanishads
● Smriti
○ Vedangas
○ Upavedas
○ Sutras
○ Itihasas
Buddhist literature

● Tripitakas
● Jataka Tales
● Teachings of Buddha

Jain literature

● Teachings of Mahavira
● Angas
● Upangas
● Other literature
Secular literature

Non Historic literature

● Kautilya - Arthashastra
● Panini - Ashtadhyayi
● Kalhana - Rajatarangini
● Kalidasa - Abhijnanasakuntalam, Meghaduta, Vikramorvashiyam, Kumara
Sambhavam
● Hala - Gatasaptasadhi

Historic Literature
Architecture and Sculpture

Iconography

● Study of Architecture and Sculptures


● Nagara Style - North India
● Dravida Style - South India
● Britishers - Indo - Gothic style and Neo - Roman Styles
Material Remains

● Archaeologists through excavations


● Pottery
● Agriculture remains
● Buildings etc..

Pottery

● First time wheel found at Mehrgarh


● OCP - Ochre Coloured Pottery
● PGW - Painted Grey Ware
● BRW - Black and Red Ware
Archaeological Sources

Inscriptions - Inscriptions are of 3 types based on the matters

Eulogy

● Samudragupta - Allahabad Inscription


● Pulakesin II - Aihole Inscription

Edicts

● Asoka's Edicts
Land charters

● Land grants to Brahmins and Temples


● Gupta's copper plate inscription at Bihar has the details of land grants to
Brahmanas. These grants are called as Agraharas

Epigraphy - Study of Inscriptions


Coins

● Numismatics - Study of Coins


● Economic Conditions
● Examples of coins - Nishka, Satamana, Suvarna and Panishka
● Punch marked coins (till Mauryas)
Foreign Accounts

● Megastanese - Indica contains information about Mauryans


○ Syrian King Selucus Nicator send Megastanese as ambassador to the
court of Chandragupta Maurya
● Hiuen Tsang
● Fahian
● AI - Biruni ----> Tarik - Ul - Hind
○ It shows the lifestyle of Indians
○ He is the founder of Indology
○ Also called as Father of comparative Religion
THANK YOU

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