History
Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation
- To know the Stone Age humans of India
- To understand the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic societies of India
- To learn the importance of Neolithic revolution
- To have knowledge on salient features of the Indus culture
Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures
- To understand the characteristics of the Chalcolithic period in India
- To know the Megalithic-Iron Age cultures of India
- To get acquainted with Aryans, non-Aryans and Vedic cultures
- To learn the distinction between the Early Vedic and Later Vedic societies
Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects
- migration of Aryans towards Ganges Plains and the use of iron technology
- second urbanization and emergence of Mahajanapadas
- socio-economic changes associated with changes in polity
- intellectual ferment and new consciousness stirred up by Buddhism, Jainism and Ajivikam
- heterodox faiths in the Tamil country
Emergence of State and Empire
- the emergence of the first two important empires of India
- the significance of the invasions of Persians and Greeks
- the socio-political changes from 6th century to 3rd century BCE.
- the Pre-Mauryan administration and socio-economic conditions
- the Dharmic state of Ashoka through his edicts
Evolution of Society in South India
- To understand the social and political formation in early South India from the third century BCE to the fifth century CE
Polity and Society in Post-Mauryan Period
- To learn the cultural influence of Greeks on India
- To know the Indo-Greek rulers and their contributions
- To have knowledge about invasion of Sakas, Pahlavis of Parthians and Kushanas from Central Asia
- To gain understanding of the importance of contact between India and Central Asia
- To understand the reciprocal influence on art and literature
- To gain insight into the magnitude of trade with Rome and its impact on economy
The Guptas
- To learn the importance of Guptas rule in Indian history.
- To understand the significance of land grants and its impact on agricultural economy of the empire.
- To acquaint ourselves with the nature of the society and the socio-economic life of the people of the time.
- To know the development of culture, art and education during the period.
Harsha and Rise of Regional Kingdoms
I Harsha
- To know the ancestors and contemporaries of Harsha
- To learn about the military conquests of Harsha
- To understand the nature of Harsha’s administration
- To obtain knowledge of the religious policy of Harsha
- To become aware of the socio-cultural life of the people in India from the accounts of Hieun Tsang
II The Palas
- To know the history of Palas as a strong regional power in eastern India
- To learn the contribution of prominent Pala rulers such as Dharmapala, Devapala and Mahipala I in administering their kingdom
- To understand the significance of their role in the spread of Mahayana Buddhism in the Ganges plain
- To gain knowledge about the contribution of Palas to literature, art and architecture
III The Rashtrakutas
- To know the greatness of the Rashtrakutas
- To learn the fact that successful rulers, Krishna I through Krishna III, prevented the Pallava expansion northward.
- To apprise yourself of the development of Kannada literature under the patronage of Rashtrakutas.
Cultural Development in South India
- To understand state and society in early medieval south India
- To know the nature of political conflict between Chalukyas and Pallavas
- To understand the cultural exchanges occurring in south India under the two antagonistic kingdoms
- To study the artistic greatness of monuments at Ajantha, Ellora and Mamallapuram
- To study the devotional movements and impressive growth of vernacular literature in early medieval south India.
Advent of Arabs and Turks
- To learn the nature and outcome of the Arab Conquest of Sind and the military raids of Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad of Ghor
- To acquire knowledge about the nature of Delhi Sultanate under its various dynasties.
- To know the socio-economic conditions of the country under the Sultanate.
- To understand the impact of Islam in India with reference to syncretism in literature, art, music and architecture.
Later Cholas and Pandyas
I Cholas
- The achievements of Chola rulers
- Cultural developments in the Chola region
- Emergence of well-developed agrarian structure and irrigation system
- Role of temples in medieval Tamil society
- Maritime trade during Chola period
II Pandyas
- Rise of Pandyas with Madurai as their capital
- Malik Kafur’s invasion and its fallout
- Succession dispute inviting the attention of Sultan Alauddin Khalji
- Agriculture, irrigation and trade during the Pandya rule
- Religion and culture in southern Tamil Nadu
Bahmani and Vijayanagar Kingdoms
- Sources of study for Bahmani and Vijayanagar kingdoms
- Foundation and consolidation of Bahmani Sultanate
- Prolonged conflict between Bahmani kingdom and Vijayanagar
- Military career and achievements of Mohammed Gawan
- The strategic importance of Golkonda fort
- Origin and development of Vijayanagar kingdom by Sangama brothers
- Vijayanagar and Bahmani tussle-causes and consequences
- Brief rule of Saluva dynasty followed by Krishnadevaraya’s illustrious career
- Battle of Talikotta and decline of Vijayanagar kingdom
- Adminstration, Society and Economy of the Vijayanagar kingdom
- Rise of Nayak kingdoms.
Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India
- Adi Sankara’s counter to the traditions of Jainism and Buddhism
- Religious renaissance and the impact of devotional movement in south India
- Conflicts between Saivism and Vaishnavism
- Conflicts with sramanic sects of Jainism and Buddhism
- Trends in Bhakti Movement of north India, due to the impact of Sufism and the influence of Vaishnavite movement in Bengal
- Monotheistic movement represented by Kabir, Guru Nanak and Ravidas and the reformist approach of the Ramanujar school of thought
The Mughal Empire
- Foundation of Mughal rule in India
- Humayun’s inability to sustain his rule leading to the establishment of Sur dynasty under Sher Shah
- Sher Shah’s administrative reforms
- Consolidation of Mughal rule during the reign of Akbar
- Akbar’s Religious and Rajput policy
- Significance of Jahangir’s rule
- Shah Jahan’s contribution to art and architecture
- Aurangzeb’s military conquests and his ruinous Rajput and Deccan policies and his wars against the Marathas
- India during Mughal rule: Development of literature, painting, music, architecture; Bhakti Movement, Sufism Sikhism, spread of Christianity and Islam, trade, commerce, industry, science and technology
The Marathas
- Conditions that facilitated the rise of Marathas
- Shivaji’s contribution to the establishment of Maratha kingdom
- Shivaji’s administrative system
- Peshwa rule and administration
- Role of Maratha in Tamilnadu with special reference to Serfoji II
The Coming of the Europeans
- European interactions with Indian states and society from 1600 to 1750
- Commercial networks and institutions in India in the early modern period
- The Indian ports and their importance in Indian Ocean trade
- The impact of the entry of the European trading companies on Indian merchants, trade and commerce
- Portuguese trade interests in India
- The impact of the Portuguese and Dutch presence in India
- Rivalry and wars between the French and the Dutch
- The colonial settlements of Denmark and their importance
- Clashes over trading monopoly between the French and the British in the Carnatic region
- The emergence of England as an undisputed power after the three Carnatic Wars
Effects of British Rule
- British East India Company's emergence as a territorial power
- Failure of dual government established by Robert Clive and assumption of direct responsibility of the Company under Regulating Act of 1773
- Cornwallis’ Permanent Settlement in Bengal and Thomas Munro’s Ryotwari System in Madras Presidency
- Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance and Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse leading to annexation of more number of Indian territories without war
- The Company government’s relationship with Indian Rulers
- Reforms in civil and judicial administration carried out by Cornwallis and Wellesley
- Social and educational reforms and the building of rail and communication networks attempted by Bentinck and Dalhousie
- Neglect of irrigation and exploitation of forest resources by the colonial state leading to frequent famines, forcing the peasants and artisans to move out of the country as indentured labourers
- Drain of Wealth theory of Dadabhai Naoroji
Early Resistance to British Rule
- The early resistance of Mysore Sultans to the British East India Company rule
- The establishment of palayakkarar system in south India and the revolt of southern palayakkarars
- The revolt of Theeran Chinnamalai in the Kongu region and other displaced rulers in Vellore.
- The peasant and tribal uprisings against the Company, Mahajans and Zamindars
- The great rebellion of 1857, resulting in the final takeover of the Company by the Crown
Towards Modernity
- Socio-Religious reforms initiated by Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj and Arya Samaj
- Ramakrishna Mission and the teachings of Swami Vivekananda
- Theosophical Society, Satya Shodhak Samaj, Sri Narayana Guru Dharma Paripalana Yogam.
- Islamic Reform Movements and Reform Movements in Tamilnadu
- Contributions of Christian Missionaries
