Ancient History of India - 2

Prehistoric Age

• In which era did not cite any written description of events by humans is called Prehistoric Age and whose details are available in written form by humans is called Historic Age.
• Protohistory :- That period is said, in which time the available articles can not be read after the practice of writing.
• Human Being (Homo Sapiens) came on earth before 40000 years.
• Mainstay of livelihood of humans of Pre-Stone Age - Hunting. 
• Fire discovered in Paleolithic Age and Wheel, Agriculture discovered in Neolithic Age.
• Trend of Human Permanent Residence in Neolithic Age and first pet was dog.
• First metal used by human was Copper and First tool made by human was Stone Axe (found from Attirampakkam, Chennai).
• Prehistoric Food Production place located in Mehargarh. Most ancient crop was Wheat (First crop) and Barley. 
• Ist Indian Neolithic Artwork discovered in Pallavaram.
• Robert Bruce Foote discovered paleolithic tool in 1863 in India.
• Most ancient town was Mohanjodaro which means in sindh language was 'wound of the Dead Man'.

Harappan or Indus Valley Civilization (2500-1750)

• The most accepted period was 2500 BC - 1750 BC by Carbon-14 Dating.
• It was discovered by Raibahadur Dayaram Sahni.
• Peoples were Dravadian and Elam-Dravidian. 

Archaeological Sites

• Westernmost archaeological site at Bank of Dasht River and Near Iran-Pakistan border - Sutkagen Dor (Balochistan,Pakistan)
• Eastern archaeological site at bank of the Hindon river- Alamgirpur (Meerut, U.P., India)
• Northern archaeological site at bank of the chenab river and near Akhnoor- Manda (J&K)
• Southern Archaeological Site at Godavari Coast - Daimabad (Ahmednagar,Maharashtra, India)

Foreign Trade in IVC age

1. Copper - Khetri(Rajasthan), Balochistan, Oman
2. Silver - Afghanistan, Iran, South India
3. Gold - Karnataka, Afghanistan, Iran
4. Tin - Afghanistan, Bihar(India)
5. Agate stone (गोमेद ) - Saurashtra and West India
6. Lapis Lazuli (लाजवर्द ) and Sapphire gemstone - Badakh Shan, Afghanistan
7. Lead - Iran
8. Jade- Central Asia
9. Amethyst - Maharashtra
10. Steatite - Iran

Major cites of Indus Valley Civilization

	Site	River	Excavators	Place
1	Harappa	Ravi	Dayaram Sahni (1921) Madhosawroop Vatsa (1926) Sir Motimer Wheeler (1946)	Montgomery, Punjab, Pakistan
2	Mohenjodaro	Indus	Rakhal Das Banerji (1922) Mackay (1927) Wheeler (1930)	Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan
3	Chanhudaro	Indus	Mackay (1925) N.G. Mazumdar (1931)	Sindh, Pakistan
4	Kalibanga	Ghaggar	Amalanand Ghosh(1951)  B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar (1961)	Hanumangarh, Rajasthan
5	Kot Diji	Indus	Fazal Ahmed (1955 and 1957)	Khairpur District,Sindh Pakistan
6	Rangpur	---	S.R. Rao (1953-56)	Gujarat
7	Ropar	Sutlej	Y.D. Sharma (1955)	Rupnagar,Punjab
8	Lothal	Bhogawo	S.R. Rao(1954)	Ahemdabad,Gujarat
9	Alamgirpur	Hindon	Y.D. Sharma(1958)	Meerut,U.P.
10	Sutkagen Dor	Dasht	Discovered by Major Edward Mockler (1875) Excavator-George F. Dales(1960)	Makran Region, Balochistan, Pakistan
11	Banawali	---	R. S. Bisht(1973)	Banawali,Haryana
12	Dholavira	Luni	Discovered by J.P. Joshi  (1967-68) Excavator - R.S. Bisht (1989)	Kutch,Gujarat

• Evidence of Stadium from Dholavira.
• Evidence of Dockyard from Lothal.
• Indus Script/Harappan Script is a corpus of symbols.
• Cemetry R-37 was found from Harappa.
• Age of Indus Valley Civilisation - Bronze Age Civilisation
• Great Bath ( विशाल स्नानघर )was the most famous building of Mohanjodaro. 
• Pashupati seal was discovered in at the Mohanjodaro.
• Main characteristics of Indus Valley Civilization - Town planning and Draining system
• Mohanjodaro and Harappa cities designed - Grid patterns
• Cotton Cultivated by peoples known as Sindon. It was started in 3000 BC
• Pashupati Shiva in Seal surrounded by wild animals like Elephant, Tiger, Rhinoceros, Buffalo, Deer.
• Ancient Port city of Indus Valley Civilisation - Lothal
• Indus people worshiped peepal tree.
• Ten Pictograph inscription was found in Dholavira.
• Houses made up of Bricks.
• Dancing girl sculpture found at the Mohanjodaro. It is made up of bronze.
• Most ancient civilisation in the World - Mesopotamia Civilisation
• Major trade of Indus Civilisation - Agriculture
• Mother goddess sculpture found at the Mohanjodaro. She was symbol of Fertility.
• Metals were mostly used to make the tools and weapons of Harappan Civilization - Copper and Bronze.
• Horse found at the Surkotda.
• Metal was not known to the Harappan people - Iron
• Occupation if Indus people - trade
• The earliest evidence of silver in India is found at Harappan Culture.
• Rice husks have been found - Lothal and Rangpur.
• A beared man (Priest King ) in steatite has been found - Mohanjodaro.
• Mohanjodaro Town of Indus Valley Civilization was flooded and destroyed more than seven times.
• Alluvial soil was used to make bricks in Indus Valley Civilization.
• Evidence of chess and a measuring scale have been found at the Lothal.
• Chanhudaro town in Indus Valley Civilization had no citadel.
• Bead Making Shop found at the Chanhudaro and Lothal.
• Countries Indus people had trade relations - Sumeria (Mesopotamia), Babylon, Egypt, etc.
• In Harappa 6 granaries have been found.
• The biggest building granary found in Mohanjodaro and Harappa.
• A piece of the cotton fabric was found at the Mohanodaro
• Chanhudaro was famous for bead making shop.
• Evidence of black bangles was found at Kalibanga.
• Materials were used in making sculpture - Terracotta.
• Indus region in Harappan culture 'Meluha' was used.
• Indus people did not worship their gods in temple. In Fact no temple has been Found.
• Steatite mainly used in the manufacture of seals.
• Origin of Swastika Symbol can be traced to the Indus Civilisation.
• Contemporary Civilisation of Indus Civilisation - Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. 

Vedic Civilisation (1500 BC – 600 BC)

• Rigvedic Period – 1500 BC – 1000 BC
• Later Vedic Period – 1000BC – 600 BC
• Aryans made the Vedic Culture.
• Aryan's language – Sanskrit
• Aryan’s Original home still remains a controversial point. Some scholars believe that they were from India and some believe that they were from outside of India.

Original Home of Aryans

Asia

Region – Theorist

Central Asia – Max Muller
Tibet – Dayanand Saraswati (mentioned in chapter viii of his book Satyartha Prakash)
Pamirs plateau – Mayor
Steppes – Brandestein
Turkistan – Hurz Feld
Bactria – JC Road

Europe

Region – Theorist

German plains – Prof. Penka Sheart
Hungary – Giles
Southern Russia – Nehring
West Baltic – Mach
Arctic region – BG Tilak
Russian Steppes – Prof. Belfy

India

Region – Theorist

Central India – Rajbali pandey
Kashmir – LD Kala
Sapta Sindhu – AC Das
Himalayan – Pt. Laxmidhar
Foothills – Shastri

• Aryan’s Society – Patriarchal (Pitrapradhan)
• Poetess mentioned in Rigvedas – Lopamudra, Ghosha, Sikta, Aapla, Vishwara and Urvasi
• Aryan’s favorite drink – Somras
• Aryans discovered Iron (Shyam Ayas) ,Copper (Lohit Ayas)
• Aryan’s Occupation – Trade of Animal Husbandry and Agricultutre.
• Favorite Animal Horse and Favorite God Indra.
• Wheels mentioned in Rigved.
• God of Vedas – Varuna
• Method used to calculate the number of cows in vedic period – Ashtakarni
• Aryan’s Religion spread in South India by Aghastya.
• India – China Relations mentioned in Nagarjunakonda Edicts.
• Ist town in vedic period to use burned bricks – kausambi
• Lending Money for Interest mentioned in Satpatha Brahaman.
• Police System mentioned in Brihadaranyaka Upanishads.
• Rigvedic Painting discovered from Bhagvanpura ,Haryana.
• God of Gods – Varuna
• Dasrajan War (Battle of Ten Kings)  - It was war of Aryans. It was a battle between Sudas Bharat king of Trtsu Tribe and Ten Kings. Bharata got Victory and Emergence of Kuru Kingdom and Panchal Kingdom.

Unit – Head
Kula (Family) – Kulapa
Grama (Village) – Gramini
Vis (Clan) – Vispati
Jana (People) – Gopa / Gopati
Rashtra (Country) – Rajan

12 Ratninas (Satapatha Brahaman)

1. Purohita – Priest
2. Mahishi – Queen
3. Yuvaraja – Crown Prince
4. Suta/ Sarathi – Charioteer
5. Senani – General
6. Gramini – Head of Village
7. Kshata – Gateman
8. Sangrahirthi – Treasurer
9. Bhagadudha – Collector of Taxes
10. Akshavapa – Courier
11. Palagala – King’s Friend
12. Govikarta – Forest Department’s Head

Rigvedic Rivers with their Modern Name

Sindhu – Indus
Vitasta – Jhelum
Asikani – Chenab
Vipasa – Beas
Parushni – Ravi
Sutudri – Sutlej
Drishadvati – Ghaggar
Kubha – Kabul
Suvastu – Swat
Krumu – Kurrum
Gomati – Gomal
Sadanira – Gandak

Vedas

• Compiler of Ved - Ved Vyas
• Hotri (होतृ ) - Those sages read the mantra of ved
• Rigveda ,Yajurveda,Samveda,Atharvaveda

1. Rigveda

• Collection of vedic sanskrit Hymns
• Recited by Hotri
• 1028 Hymns , 10600 verses ,10 Mandala
• 2nd to 7th mandala - Gotra/Vamsha Manadalas (Kul Granth)
• 1st and 10th added later 
• 10th Mandala Contains the famous Purushasukta which contains 4Varna - Bhramana, Kshatriya,Vaishya, & Shudra

2. Samaveda

• Book of Chants
• 1549 Hymns
• Recited by Udgatri 

3. Yajurveda

• Book of Sacrificial Prayers.
• Recited by Adhvaryus
• Divided - Krishna Yajurved & Shukla Yajurveda

4. Atharvaveda

• Book of Magical Formulae(Diseases, Eradication, Black Magic, Curse, Mesmerism, Blessings, Praise, Regret, Research, Marriage, Love etc.)
• Text belonging to the Antharvan and Angiras.
• 730 Hymns and 6000 Mantras

Literatures of Vedic Traditions

• 108 Upanishads, 18 Purana, 6 Vedang 
• 6 Vedangs :-Shiksha(Phonetics), Jyotishi(Astronomy),Kalp(Rituals),Vyakaran(Grammer), Nirukt(Etymology) and Chand(Metrics).
• Indian Historical Narrations found in Purana.Those author name is Lomharsh and his son Ugrashrava.
• No. of Purana - 18
• Language - Simple Sanskrit 
• Womens and Shudra not allowed to read PURANA but they can listened. Purana used to read in temples.
• Most Ancient Memorial Book and One of the six famous smritis - Manu smriti(मनुस्मृति) 
• Six Famous Smritis :- Manu Smriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Narad Smriti, Parashara Smriti, Brihaspati Smriti, Katyayana Smriti. 

Mahakavya(Epics)

1. The Ramayana 

- Written by Valmiki

- also known as Adi Kavya (oldest epic of the world)

- 24000 shlokas(verses)

- 7 Kandas(sections)

2.The Mahabharata - Written by Ved Vyas 

- The longest epic in the world

- 100000 shlokas (verses)

- 18 Parvans (chapters)

- Bhagvat Gita extracted from Bhishma Parvan

- Shanti Parvan is the Largest Parvan of the Mahabharata.

Upvedas  - Associated with

1.Ayurveda (Medicine) - Rig Veda

2.Gandharvaveda(Music and Sacred Dance) - Sama Veda

3.Dhanurveda (Archery) - Yajur Veda

4.Shilpveda(Sthapatyaveda) - Architecture- Atharva veda

     

6 Darshana (Six orthodox Schools of Hindu Philosophy)

	Darshana	Founder	Basic Texts
1.	Samkhya	Kapila	Samkhya Sutra
2.	Yoga	Patanjali	Yoga Sutra
3.	Nyaya	Aksapada Gautama	Nyaya Sutra
4.	Vaisheshika	Kanada	Vaishesika Sutra
5.	Mimamsa/Purva Mimamsa	Jaimini	Purva Mimamsa Sutra
6.	Vedant/Uttar Mimamsa	Badarayana	Brahma Sutra / Vedant Sutra

Vedic Terms and their meaning

• Aghanya – Related to cow which was not to be killed in any circumstances. Cow was holy animal. If anybody killed or hurt the cow that person got death penalty or deportation.
• Vrihi – Rice
• Yava – Barley
• Sati – Furrow
• Sari – Plough
• Duhitr – Milker of cow and also related to daughter
• Urvara – Fertile Land
• Ksetra – Cultivated Field
• Godhume – Wheat
• Agnidheya – Fire Laying Ceremony preceded all public rituals.
• Bhishaka – Vaidya / Doctor
• Gaura – buffalo
• Amaju – Lifelong Unmarried Girl
• Akshavapa – Accounts Officer
• Charmana – Blacksmith
• Hiryankara – Goldsmith
• Datra – Sickle
• Gavishti – Battles on issue of Cows
• Gocarman – Measure of Distance
• Samgavan – Measure of Time
• Gotra – Kinship Unit
• Janasya Gopa – Tribal Chief
• Sajata – Kinship of the King
• Purapati – Responsible for Defense
• Rathakara – Chariot Maker
• Satdaya – Compensation of Manslaughter
• Spas – Spies
• Rsabha – Bull
• Karki – White Calf
• Anuduha – Young Ox
• Sraddha – Funeral Ceremony
• Gahapati – Farmer
• Arahattas – Persian water wheels

Rise of Mahajanapada (600 BC – 325 BC)

Buddhist Scripture (Anguttara Nikaya,Mahavastu) and Jain Scripture (Bhagvati Sutta) present a list of 16 Mahajanpadas.

	16 Mahajanapadas (Modern Area)	Capital
1.	Anga (Mungar and Bhagalpur in Bihar)	Champa/Champanagari
2.	Magadha (Patna,Gaya and Parts of Shahabad in Bihar)	Girivraj/ Rajgriha(First and Earliest Capital)
3.	Vajji (North of River Ganga in Bihar)	Vaishali
4.	Malla (Deoria, Basti, Gorakhpur, and Siddharthnagar in U.P.)	Kusavati
5.	Kashi (Varanasi,U.P.)	Varanasi
6.	Kosala (Faizabad, Gonda, Bahraich in U.P.)	Shravasti and Ayodhya,
7.	Vatsa (Allahabad,Mirzapur etc. in U.P.)	Kausambi
8.	Chedi (Bundelkhand)	Suktimati
9.	Kuru (Haryana and Delhi Area)	Indraprastha (Modern Delhi)
10.	Panchala (Ruhelkhand, U.P. West)	North Panchal – Ahichhatra, South Panchal - Kampilya
11.	Shurasena (Brajmandal)	Mathura
12.	Matsya (Alwar, Bharatpur and Jaipur in Rajasthan)	Viratnagar
13.	Avanti (Malwa)	Mahishmati/Ujjaiyini
14.	Ashmaka/Assaka(Between Rivers Narmada and Godavari)	Podana/Potali
15.	Gandhara (Western Part of Pakistan and Afghanistan)	Taxila (Near Rawalpindi,Pakistan) and Pushkalavati
16.	Kamboja (Hazara,Pakistan)	Rajapur/Hataka

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Rulers of Magadha