UPSC-CSE Main exam syllabus History Paper 1

HISTORY

PAPER - I

1. Sources:

Archaeological sources:

 Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics,  monuments

Literary sources:

 Indigenous: Primary and secondary;poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature.

 Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.

2. Pre-history and Proto-history:

Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic).

3. Indus Valley Civilization:

Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture.

4. Megalithic Cultures:

Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.

5. Aryans and Vedic Period:

Expansions of Aryans in India. Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; Political, social and economical life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system.

6. Period of Mahajanapadas:

Formation of States (Mahajanapada) : Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas.

Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.

7. Mauryan Empire:

Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration; Economy; Art, architecture and sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature.

Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.

8. Post - Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas):

Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage,  development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.

9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India:

Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and architecture.

10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:

Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.

11. Regional States during Gupta Era:

The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti  movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple  architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and administration; Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity and Administration; local Government; Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society.

12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural

History:

Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.

13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

- Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin   and the rise of Rajputs

- The Cholas: administration, village economy and society

- “Indian Feudalism”

- Agrarian economy and urban settlements

- Trade and commerce

- Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order

- Condition of women

- Indian science and technology

14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:

- Philosophy: Skankaracharya and  Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa - Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India, Sufism

- Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India

- Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting

15. The Thirteenth Century:

-                Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate:

-          The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success

- Economic, social and cultural consequences

- Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans

- Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban

16. The Fourteenth Century:

- “The Khalji Revolution”

- Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic

  measures

- Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of

  Muhammad Tughluq

- Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and

public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account

17. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:

- Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement

- Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, literature in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture

- Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural   production, trade and commerce

18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Political Developments and

Economy:

- Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa,   Bahmanids

- The Vijayanagra Empire

- Lodis

- Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun

- The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration

- Portuguese Colonial enterprise

- Bhakti and Sufi Movements

19. The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture:

- Regional cultural specificities

- Literary traditions

- Provincial architecture

- Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.

20. Akbar:

- Conquests and consolidation of the Empire

- Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems

- Rajput policy

- Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious

   policy

- Court patronage of art and technology

21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century:

- Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

- The Empire and the Zamindars

- Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

- Nature of the Mughal State

- Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts

- The Ahom Kingdom

- Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.

22. Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries:

- Population, agricultural production, craft Production

- Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies :

   a trade revolution

- Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems

- Condition of peasants, condition of women

- Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth

23. Culture in the Mughal Empire:

- Persian histories and other literature

- Hindi and other religious literature

- Mughal architecture

- Mughal painting

- Provincial architecture and painting

- Classical music

- Science and technology

24. The Eighteenth Century:

- Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire

- The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh

- Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas

- The Maratha fiscal and financial system

- Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761

- State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest