South Indian Dynasties

Time Line

• 1st Chola dynasty In power from Mauryan time -> lose to Pallavas in Guptha Period => Chalukya Pallava period
• 2nd chola dynasty under VIJAYALAYA came to power later defeating Pallava & chalukya
• Around 1st century AD 3 imp dynasti in south india=> Chola, Chera, Pandya CCP=> Most powerful Pandya.

Major reason for Sustenance of CCP

• Navigation skill was quite good
• Established Connection with other parts through trade (Arabs, south asian Nations)
• Natural Geographic Barrier.

Pandyas

• Cultural Regenerator of Region. => Sangam Assemblies 
• 3rd Sangam out of 473 poets 30 were women.

Chalukyas

• Hindu people + patronised Vaishnavism, shaivism.
• Badami Caves.
• Construction of Temples( first started by pallavas, Dravida Arch, followed by Chalukya) => Vesara & Hoysala Architecture
• Aihole Durga Temple
• Virupaksha Temple @ Patadakal
• Papanath Temple @ Patadakal

---

Main line Chola Dynasty.

• established by VIJAYALAYA in 9th century.
• Raja Raja Chola I (985-1014 AD)
• completely annexed CHERA, PANDYA, whole SRI LANKA, some part of Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Rajendra I
• Expedition to Bengal and won the battle.
• took title of GANGAIKOND CHOLA => established GANGAIKONDCHOLAPURAM

Chola's Administration

• Village Self govt was well established.
• Nadu: Small unit administration
• Agrahar: Part of village in Brahmins lived
• Cheri: Part of village in Untouchables lived
• Temple: not only Religious centre, but also center of EDUCATION

Read More

Pushyabhuti, Pala, Prathihara & Rashtrakuta Dynasties

Pushyabhuti Dynasti (7th Century AD) 

• Harshvardhan greatest ruler ; established capital at JHANESHWAR in HARYANA.
• defeated to PULAKESHIN II  of CHALUKYA on banks of river narmada
• Huan Tsang came to India => Harshvardhan accepted BUDDHISM
• Harshvardhan convened 2 buddhist councils @ PRAYAG, KANAUJ. 
• Harshvardhan wrote 3 important books
• Ratnavali
• Priyadarshika
• Nagananda
• after death of Harshvardhan 3 dynasti
• Prathihar - Rajastan region
• Pala - Bihar region  
• Rashtrakutas - Deccan

Pala Dynasti =>  most important

• Gopala 750 AD
• most import ruler : Dharam pala
• 1st miniature painting
• 3 universities => Vikrashila, Udantpura, Somnathpura 

Prathihar(750 AD)

• most imp: MIHIR BHOJA/ADI VARAHA. => very strong devotee of Vishnu

Rashtrakuta

• established by Dantidurg in 757 AD
• most imp ruler: Amogavarsha => wrote 1 book KAVIRAJMARG => earliest book on Kannada Poetry.

Read More

Gupta Period

Gupta Period(319- 7th AD)=> golden period of Indian Culture + for Sanskrit

• Chandra Gupth I annexed whole north india in 319 AD
• Extended frontiers of his empire through Military Conquest and Matrimonial Alliances
• Samudraguptha
• Second Chakravarthi Ruler. => through out his reign SG never defeated => Allahabad Prashasti by Harisen in Allahabad Ashokan Pillar.
• Note: 3rd Allahabad Prashasti by Ashoka
• called NAPOLEON OF EAST
• fond of Music; used to play Veena.
• Chandragupth II Vikramditya
• made UJJAIN 2nd capital of Guptha empire
• Temple Architecture started during his period
• 9 luminaries => Amarasimha + Kalidas.
• Buddhist scholar Fa hien came to India in  399 AD
• Kumaraguptha 1
• Nalanda University Established
• in 5th century AD Huna's started attack gupta empire.
• Toraman & Mihirkul most imp. huna's. 
• their purpose => loot and plunder.

Economic Condition Under Guptha

• More and more land granted to brahmans => lead to deurbanisation.
• largest number of gold coin released during this period => inferior quality to Kanishka period => Inscribed images of gods.

Religious Practices

• Many Puranas were written
• concept of god trinity emerged + concept of Baghavatism continued.
• 3 Brick Temple of Guptha period still surviving 
• Bitargaon in Kanpur
• Bhitari in Ghazipur
• Deogarh in Jhansi

Social Development

• Position of women Deteriorated. => confined to house
• emergence of concept of SATI => self immolation.
• first evidence of sati provided by an Inscription @ ERAN in MP dated 510 AD
• Law giver => KATYAYAN => started to ameliorate status of women => concept DOWRY ka. STREEDHAN. => all the article given to girl at time of marriage where to be used by girl for her maintenance.
• Untouchability emerged in large number ka. CHANDAL. => many imposition.

Read More

Post Mauryan Period

Post Mauryan Period

• Milindar
• Shakala/ Sialkot Capital
• accepted Buddhism; persued by buddhist monk Nagasen => change his name: Milind. => conversation written in MILIND PANHO.
• Sakas
• established by RUDRADAMAN. => first ruler to issue an inscription in sanskrit language.=> not made previous by any ruler.
• SUDARSHAN LAKE (in Kathiawar Gujarat) made by CGM was repaired by RUDRADAMAN.
• SAKA succeeded by PARTHIAN=> most imp ruler GONDOPHERNES => spreaded CHRISTIANITY with assistance st.THOMAS in 1st century AD.
• Kushanas
• most important ruler KANISHKA => PESHAVAR was capital
• 4th Buddhist council 
• highest purity GOLD COIN issued with the figure of king on it. => also issued COPPER COIN in great number
• this period saw highest level of MONETIZATION.
• they patronized ART ARCHITECTURE in India.
• this period suggest highest level of URBANIZATION. 
• Sunga Dynasti
• PUSHYAMITRA SUNGA : 
• MALAVIKAAGNIMITRA by KALIDAS
• Revived BRAHMINIC PRACTICES also VEDIC RITUALS and SACRIFICES.
• succeded by KANVAS in 72 BC established by VASUDEV KANVA.
• KANVAS
• also continued BHRAMINIC PRACTICES
• BHAGAVATH worship emerged => NO SACRIFICE only DEDICATION from now onwards.
• during period of VASUDEV KANVA a greek ambassador ka. HELIODORUS came to india and accepted BHAGAVATHISM
• HELIODORUS erected iron pillar dedicated to BHAGVAT in BHILSA (MP). => this is the first archaeological evidence of worship of vishnu.
• SATAVAHAN
• established by SIMUKH in 1st century AD. 
• the most famous ruler=> GAUTAMI PUTHRA SATAKARNI. => matrilineal society only for name purpose but originally patriarchial.
• patronised BRAHMANICAL religion and performed several VEDIC PRACTICES.
• first rulers to start the practice of GRANTING LAND FOR BRAHMAN. => lead to FEUDALISM
• Note: chola was also granted land to brahmin but chronologically satavahan was first.
• they issued LEAD coins.=> first time for commercial transaction.
•  known for writing books like GATHA SAPTHASATHI by HALA in PRAKRIT. 

Read More

Mauryas

Maurya Dynasty

• @ 319 BC last ruler DHANA NAND was defeated by CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA. 
• with help of VISHNUGUPTH/ CHANAKYA.
• details of battle => MUDRARAKSHASH by VISHAKHADUTTA.
• also defeated SELECOUS NICATOR army chief of ALEXANDER 305 BC => ceded Afghan, Baluch, Pak in west of River Sindh.
• SELECOUS NICATOR deputed Megasthanes to court of CGM
• written INDICA => socio-economic situation of Maurya
• CGM  in 297 BC died by performing SALLE KHANA ritual under the instruction of BHADRABAHU.
• Bindusara(297-273 BC)
• Organised 1st Jain Council
• annexed South Indian Provinces except: PANDYA, CHERA, CHOLA.
• one Tibetan Buddhist Scholar visited India: TARANATH.
• 273- 269 infighting
• Ashoka (269 BC -232 BC)
•  in 9th reignal year attacked KALINGA battle in 261 BC
• abandoned policy of BLOOD SHED AND MILITARY conquest and replaced with CULTURAL CONQUEST
• came out concept of DHAMMA => ETHICAL CODE OF CONDUCT.
• name of Mother of ASHOKA
• Convened 3rd Buddhist Council 250 BC in PATALIPUTRA
• Abidamma Pitak Written
• send envoys to : Sri lanka, Syria, East Asia: Myanmar, thailand.
• Army became WHITE ELEPHANT => no job and have big economic burden
• Brihadaratha => last Mauryan ruler
• 185 BC => killed by his own commander PUSHYA MITRA SUNGH => also executed buddhist as he was ardent believer in shiva. => Established Sunga dynasty.
• Central Asian (Kashmir Area, Islamabad...etc) => Kushana
• Punjab Region => Milindar/Milind => Indo-greek
• Gujarat => Saka=> Indo-greek
• Deccan => Satavahan
• b/w shunga and shatavahana => Ikshvaku kingdom

Read More

Emergence of Mahajanapathas

Emergence of MAHAJANAPADHAS

• people of upper gangetic plain started to move eastern side ;with the help of Iron equipment they cleared dense forest; slowly this areas colonised and rich organic soil of this region provided enough scope for surplus agricultural production.=> lead to 2nd wave of URBANISATION in eastern gangetic plains. Slowly TRADE TOWN developed in the form of MAHAJANAPADHAS which were 16 in number.
• out of 16 magadh emerged most powerful mahajanapadh due to efforts of enterprising rulers and strategic location of magadh were Iron was plenty and rivers facilitated transportation.
• MAGADH( current PATNA to JHARKHAND) became more powerful under HARYANKA dynasty; established by BIMBISARA(544-492).
• Bimbisara followed policy of milatary conquest and matrimonial alliances(only king who met both Mahavir + Buddh)
• Bimbisara placed ANGHA (Present: BAGALPUR) under his son AJATASATRU, who later assassinated his father and became King: 492BC
• Ajatasatru carried forward EXPANSIONIST policy of his father and annexed policy KASHI & VAISHALI. He also established pataliputhra as capital of Magadh. 
• Succeeded by UDAYIN in 460 BC. he constructed new structure of pataliputra and also beautified it.
• Last ruler of HARANYAKA dynasti was SHISHUNAGA (444 BC) who annexed province of AVANTHI (present: UJJAIN). he also shifted capital to VAISHALI.=> he was defeated by MAHA PADMA NANDA.=> NANDA DYNASTY
• Note: MATSYA => current day: MATHURA.

Nanda Dynasti

• Lakhs of elephant and cavelry in army

Read More

Advent of Aryans and Rigvedic Age

• Aryans were distinguished by their common language, i.e, Indo-European.
• Aryans seems to live somewhere in the steppes stretching from southern Russia to Central Asia.
• Their earliest life seems to be mainly PASTORAL AND NOMADIC. 
• We get information about ARYAN AND VEDIC AGE through RIGVEDA where the word  ARYA is mentioned 36 times. 

Rigveda

• is a collection of prayers offered to Indra, varuna, marut and agni. 
• 10 Mandal; of which 2-7 are oldest and 1 & 10 are latest are latest editions
• Avesta =>contemporary text of Rigveda and both of them do have several common names for gods and even for the social classes.
• in Hittite inscritption of ANATHOLIA and MITHANI/ MITTHITE INSCRIPTION traces the common leneage of AVESTA and RIGVEDA
• in 1500 BC Aryans came to India.
• In india they entered through eastern AFGHANISTHAN they move through PUNJAB AND WESTERN UP
• Sapta Sindhu/Hepta Hindu (Mentioned in Rigveda)
• KUBHA=> in Afghan
• Sindhu
• Ravi,
• Jh
• Che
• Bia
• Sutlej
•  Saraswathi
• named Harkawati in Avesta
• considered most sacred river of aryan which is identified as Ghagra - Hakra channel (in Punjab and Haryana) => 

Basically Vedic Age devided into 2 => prime reason of change => iron which discovered.

• Early Vedic(1500- 1000 BC)
• Later Vedic(1000 - 600 BC)

Early Vedic Period EVP

• Economic History
• The most important economic wealth was cattle, hence most battle which were fought by early vedic people was for securing large number of cattles=> this information is obtained from Rigvedal; where word GAVISTHI means search for people => This also suggest that ARYANS WERE NOMADIC PEOPLE
• Political history or Organisation 
• Aryans were central asian tribes; b/w this language and ethnicity were common; but they belong to different clan
• Chief of Clan ka. RAJAN; his main work was to organise battles for securing cattles.
• One of the prominent tribe of EVP is BHARAT who defeated collective forces of 10 kings on banks PARUSHANI RIVER. (modern day RAVI) => after this war entire region ka. BHARATWARTH.
• 4/10 came to side of bharat tribals => region now called PANCHAJAN as 1+4=5.=> later called Panchal/PANDAVU
• Matrimonial relation b/w Tristu and PANCHAJAN later resulted into KURU tribe
• Aryans use to fight among themselves and also with original inhabits of indian subcontinent. The central asian trives who were defeated by other central asian tribes are known as DASA. the winning tribe sympathise with them and gave them better treatment.
• The original Inhabitants of Indian subcontinent who were defeated by ARYAN tribes came to be known as DASEUS. they were discriminated, subjugated and provide with INHUMAN TREATMENT.
• in early vedic period 3 political organisation were there
• Sabha -> all eligible people who can select the members of samithi
• Samiti -> political organisation + Decision Makers
• Vidhata ->  Congregation of people for ritual purpose
• women were given a respected position in society and they were allowed to participate in FUNCTIONING of SABHA & VIDHATA.
• Society and Religious Practice
• women were given respected position and they were allowed to participate in the religious sacrifices along with their male counterparts.
• we have not come across any reference towards child marriage in EVP.
• Rigvedic peoples personified the natural factors which were beyond their comprehension
• Indra was most important god aka. PURANDHAR( breaker of forts ) => forts were there in current afghan not in india
• Agni => intermediary god.
• Varun => god of water.
• Marut => god of wind.
• all these name suggest that society was patriarchal.
• the most important objective of worship was to obtain material gain and not for spiritual purpose.

Later Vedic Period LVP => 1, 10 mandal written.

• by 1000 bc, Iron began to be used by aryans which facilitated them to clear the forest of upper gangetic plain. They started agricultural practice=> their life became sedentary
• Economy during LVP
• the most important economic wealth was LAND indicated by term RASHTRA mention for the first time in later vedic Text.
• Political Organisation.
• In later vedic period RAJAN became more important; as his function was to acquire more land.
• they tried to establish their supremacy through various rituals like
• Aswamedha,
• Rajasuia,
• Vajpeya
• the political assemblies of SABHA & SAMITHI loss their former importance. they where replaced by BRAHMANS. VIDHATHA as assembly completely disappeared.
• Society.
• in the 10th mandal of rigveda it has been mentioned to devide society on basis of birth. which finally came into being in later vedic period and VARNA SYSTEM, 4 th fold division got concrete shape
• Bramhan => 
• Kshatriya
• Vaishya
• Shudra
• 4 fold division give undue advantage to braman and they devised elaborate religious practices in order to gain material wealth from kings. The concept of gothra which is common leneage from an ancestor came into light. Brahmans adviced to follow gothra system in matrimonial system.
• position of women deteriorated. => they were not allowed to participate in sabha.
• Religious Practices
• all the early vedic gods lost their importance and PRAJAPATHI emerged most important god, who considered CREATOR OF UNIVERSE.
• common mode of worship: PRAYERS & SACRIFICE.
• purpose: MATERIAL GAIN + CHILD(son preference)

by the end of 6th BC MAHAJANAPADHAS emerged

Read More

Indus Valley Civilisation

• 2500 BC - 2000 BC => flourished
• from 2000 BC to 1800 BC => disintegration and destroyed 

Chalcolithic Period (Cu + Stone tools used)

• emerged during disintegration phase of IVC: from 2000 BC to 1800 BC
• Vanished: 1500 BC
• Prominent Chalcolithic region
• SE Rajastan:
• Ahar => aka. Thambavathi( because it posses huge Cu reserve => Khetri Mines near it)
• Gilund
• Daimabad, (Western Maharashtra) => BRONZE DANCING GIRL
• Malwa region, Madhya Pradesh
• Reasons for End
• Aryan Invasion
• They were basically indus valley people with different culture as they thought things in IVC led to their destruction so they have to follow another way of life. also due to decentralised and spread away so lose many good things of IVC. And most important thing for them was SURVIVAL. Already that area had another culture hence it mixed up.

IVC	Chalcolithic
Urbanised	Rural/ decentralised
Baked Red Potteries	Unbaked grey potteries
Trade Agriculture based	Subsistence Agriculture
Most sites in Pak	Most sites in India.

Read More

Stone Age

As type of Stone tools(Knowledge of ancient man came to us) used era is classified to 3 phases

• Paleolithic => 
• Lower => from 2.5L to 1L BC 
• Tools used: Cleavers & Chopers, CC
• middle=> from 1L to 40k BC
• Tools used: Blades and Bourines, BB
• upper=> from 40k  to 10k BC
• Tools used: Blades and Pointed stones
• Mesolithic => 10k to 4k bc
• Microlith=> small tiny tools =>it suggest
• hunting of small animals for subsistence
• Advancement in tool technology
• used to scratch the wall and create Petroglyphs
• Appearance of Domestication of animals
• Eg: Adamgarh in MP, Bagohar in Raj.
• Neolithic=> 4k to 2.5 k bc (i.e, up to indus valley)
• Known for the emergence of agricultural practices 
• Eg: Mehrgarh in Raj.
• Agriculture -> Surplus -> Trade (through Guilds and Shreni.)-> Town => Indus valley Civilization

Read More