MAHARASHTRA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY,
AURANGABAD
Subject: INDIAN HISTORY
Faculty In-charge: Ms. Deeksha Ingle
Introduction: This paper will enable a student to understand socio-cultural and religious
processes by which formation of Indian society occurred in Early Indian History. The paper
will also help the student to understand socio-cultural and religious processes by which
formation of Indian society occurred in Early Indian History.
Objective: It is widely believed and perhaps rightly so that today’s problems and solutions
thereto lie hidden in History. Understanding history of the state, social institutions, people
and the culture inherently makes one understand as to how to critically appreciate a fact-
situation. A study of the nature of the state and administrative apparatus is required for proper
understanding of the legal systems in ancient and medieval India. The paper will offer a close
study of select themes, focusing specifically on the intersections in history and law. Thus a
lawyer is required to understand the history of political establishment, social institutions and
thus evaluate the legal and judicial structure and process.
Coverage: The paper will cover a period of history from ancient India (1000 B.C) to the Age
of Mughals (1700 C.E.)
Teaching Methodology: Studying history has various angles. As such, lectures of social
historians enable a person to appreciate various angles of history and build up perspectives.
Interactive method of teaching will be followed with help teaching aids like video/audio
lectures, maps and PPTs to help students understand the past. There is no alternative to self
studies and research.
MODULES
Module 1: Sources of Ancient India
Archaeological Sources.
Literary Sources And Foreign Travelers Accounts
Module 2: Vedic Age
Theory of Kingship
Nature of State and Administrative apparatus; Polity and Economy
Socio – Religious life and education
MAHARASHTRA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY,
AURANGABAD
Module 3: India in the 6th century B.C.
Age of Janpadas; Persian & Greeek Invasions
Jainism & Buddhism: Teaching & Impact
Nature of society and economy in the Vedic time
Mauryan period
The concept of Justice and Judicial systems in ancient India
Module 4: The Age of Gupta and (320 A.D.- 600 A.D.)
Imperial Expansion & Administration
Classical Age – Literature, Art and Architechture. Ancient India
Vanashram Dharma, Position of Women, Guilds, Feudalism.
The concept of Justice and Judicial systems in ancient India,
Judicial System ‐ Types of courts, Procedures
Module 5: The Delhi Sulatante
Theory of Kingship, nature of State and administrative apparatus in medieval
The nature of society, economy and agrarian structure in the medieval period;
Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Module 6: The Legal System and Institution in Medieval Period
Legal systems and Institutions Sources of Islamic law, Salient feature of Islamic crimi
nal law
Judicial Organisation: King, Chief Qazi, Judicial officers and Punishments
Law with regard to non‐Muslims ‐ Changes introduced by Akbar
Module 7: Age of Mughals
Rise of the Mughals
The Economic reforms in the Mughal period
The Socio-Cultural history
Module 7: Decline of Muslim rule and the beginning of British Empire
MAHARASHTRA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY,
AURANGABAD
Readings:
1. E.H.Carr, What is History?
2. 2, Arthur Marwick, Nature of History.
3. Romila Thapar, Past and Prejudice.
4. Romila Thapar, Early India.
5. R.S. Sharma, Aspects of Political ideas and Institutions in Ancient India.
6. R.S. Sharma, Sudras in Ancient India
7. R.S. Sharma,Material culture and Social formation.
8. Robert Lingat, The Classical Law of India.
9. J.D.M. Derrett, Religion law and state in India.
10. Satish Chandra, Medieval India Vol. I & Vol. II.
Recommended Readings:
1. A.L. Basham, The Wonder that was India, Part-I,
2. S.A.A. Rizvi, The Wonder that was India, Part –II
3. D. D. Kosambi, The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India: in Historical Outline.
4. Habib Irfan, Essays in Indian History
5. Habib Mohammad, Politics and Society during the Early Medieval Period: Collected
Works,
