Comprehensive Notes on Themes in Indian History: Part I (Ancient History) Xii
1. Beginnings
- Overview of early Harappan cultures
- Distinctive pottery, agriculture, pastoralism, and crafts
- Evidence of large-scale burning and abandonment of settlements [10]
2. Subsistence Strategies
- Dietary practices of the Harappans
- Plant and animal products consumed
- Role of archaeo-botanists and archaeo-zoologists in reconstructing dietary practices [2]
3. Planned Urban Centre
- Development of urban centres like Mohenjodaro
- Division of settlements into Citadel and Lower Town [4]
4. Laying Out Drains
- Planned drainage systems in Harappan cities
- Grid pattern of roads and streets [9]
5. The Citadel
- Structures for public purposes like the Great Bath and warehouse
- Architectural features indicating planning [8]
6. Identifying Centres of Production
- Indicators of craft production such as raw materials, tools, and waste
- Examples from Mohenjodaro and Harappa [19]
7. Classifying Finds
- Classification of artefacts by material and function
- Contextual investigation of artefacts [15]
This theme covers the development of early states and economies in ancient India, focusing on the roles of kings, farmers, and towns in shaping the socio-economic landscape.
1. The Critical Edition of the Mahabharata
- Project led by V.S. Sukthankar to prepare a critical edition
- Collection and comparison of Sanskrit manuscripts [14]
2. Language and Content
- Simpler Sanskrit used in the Mahabharata compared to the Vedas
- Classification of contents into narrative and didactic sections [1]
3. A Dynamic Text
- Growth of the Mahabharata in various languages
- Influence on performing arts and regional variations [16]
1. The Structure of the Stupa
- Architectural features of stupas like the Great Stupa at Sanchi
- Horizontal and vertical perspectives of the building [3]
2. Verses from the Upanishads
- Excerpts from the Chhandogya Upanishad
- Composed in Sanskrit around the sixth century BCE [18]
3. Overview
- Philosophers’ attempts to understand the world
- Compilation of ideas in texts, architecture, and sculpture
- Influence of Buddhist, Jaina, and Brahmanical traditions [5]