BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY
(Detailed Syllabus of different Courses under NEP 2020)
Department of History
Faculty of Social Sciences
Major Papers
Course History of India- I : ANCIENT (MAJOR)
Title
Semester I
Category Major / Minor / Minor (Vocational) / SEC / AEC / VAC / MD/Internship/Dissertation
of Course (Tick any one of the above)
Credits &
Hour of Theory Practical Cumulative
Teaching Credits 4
Hours of Teaching 60
(Total)
Course This course is designed to exhibit for basic understanding of early history of India as
Objectives this nation has a very vast cultural heritage and studying ancient India allow us to have
(not more a better grasp of our cultural heritage and intellectual growth. This paper explains
than 100
how, when and where people in India established the first civilization. This paper helps
words)
us to know how our indigenous people developed their farming, domestication, trade
and other activities. This paper also helps to know about the policies and
administration of ancient rulers and also about the situation in which the major
dynasties emerged.
Course The course content is divided into 4 units along with defined hour of teaching for each
Content unit.
Units Course Content Hr. of
Teaching
I Sources: Archaeological, Literary, Foreign accounts. 10
Harappan Civilisation: Social, Economic, Religious life; Major Sites.
Vedic Period: Nature of Vedic literature; Political, Social, Economic and
Religious life.
Post-Vedic Movements: Jainism, Buddhism.
II Foreign Invasions: Persian Invasion of Darius I, Greek Invasion of Alexander; 20
Impacts on Indian Culture.
Second Urbanization: Sixteen Mahajanapadas, Ganarajyas.
Rise of Magadh Empire; Brief introduction of early dynasties: Bimbisara,
Ajatashatru, Udayan, Mahapadmananda, Dhanananda.
Rule of Mauryas: Chandragupta, Ashoka’s religious policy, Administration of
Mauryas.
Shunga Dynasty: Pushyamitra Shunga
III Satvahanas: Gautamiputra Satakarni, Study of cultural developments: from 15
Mauryas to Satvahanas.
Indo-Greeks: Menander, Impact of Indo-Greeks in Indian Society.
Kushanas: Kanishka, art and literature, Western Kshatrapas: Rudradaman.
Kalinga Ruler: Kharavela, A brief study of Sangam literature.
IV Guptas: Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, Skandagupta and 15
Huna Invasion.
Cultural Achievements of the Gupta Period, Debate about Golden Age.
Pushyabhuti Dynasty: Harshavardhan and his achievements.
India’s contact with Outside World: Rome, South East Asia.
Texts / 1. Jha, D. N., Ancient India and Historical Outline, Manohar Publishers and
References Distributors, Delhi, 1999.
2. Raichaudhary, H. C., Political History of Ancient India, University of Kolkata,
Kolkata, 1950.
3. Prakash, Om., Prachin Bharat ka Itihaas, New Age International Publisher Ltd.,
Delhi, 1971.
4. Tripathi, R. S., History of Ancient India, Motilal Banarasi Das, Delhi, 1942.
5. Chaudhary, Ramkrishna, Prachin Bharat ka Rajnitik avam Sanskritik Itihas,
Bharati Bhavan, 1967.
6. Paranjpe, Binda, Pracheen Bharat, Samvad Publication, Meerut.
7. Singh, Upinder, History of Ancient and Early Medieval India; From the Stone
Age to the 12th Century, Pearson, 2009.
8. Raichaudhary, S. C., History of Ancient India from earliest time to 1000 A.D,
Surjeet Publications, New Delhi, 2004.
9. Thapar, Romila, Ancient India: From the Origins to AD 1300, University of
California Press, 2004.
10. Pandey, Rajbali, Pracheen Bharat, Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, 2015.
11. Shrimali and Jha, Pracheen Bharat ka Itihaas, Delhi University, New Edition,
2021.
Learning The course expects to students for basic understanding of early Indian history which
Outcomes aims to infuse and induce ancient civilizational values among the students. It is also
(not more intended to impart knowledge of ancient Indian samskritic and shramanic literature.
than 100 The course will also promote the learning of ancient monuments, material culture and
words) heritage. It will make familiar to the students how ancient individuals and cultures
dealt with challenges in the past and that might help us to recognize and prepare for
our problems today and in the future.
