Ancient History Flashcards
Timeline of Old stone age
2mn to 10,000 BCE
Archeological remains of prehistoric age
Stone tools, pottery, artefacts and metal implements were used by the people of prehistoric age.
The important site of the old stone age (2mn to 10,000BCE) in India were
Soan valley and Patwar plateau in the Shivalik Hills on North India, Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, Adamgarh Hills in Narmada Valley, Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and Attirampakkam near Chennai.
The food was obtained by
hunting and gathering edible plants and tubers.
Mesolithic or middle stone age
10,000 to 6000 BCE
In this age horticulture and primitive cultivation started.
Neolithic age
6000 BCE - 4000 BCE
Wheels were used to make pottery
The mud houses were built instead of grass huts.
Metal age of Chalcolithic
(Copper-Stone 4000-2000BCE) Instead of stone, Copper was adopted to made tools.
Iron age
1200-600BCE
belonged to Vedic culture. Weapons, tools now started to be made with Iron
The Harappan civilization
Indus Valley Civilization, Indus Civilization (2300-1750BCE)
The earliest excavations in the Indus valley were done at Harappa in West Punjab and Mohenjo-Daro in Sindh (Both now in Pakistan).
The Great Bath was found at
Mohenjo-Daro.
39ft length, 23ft breath and 8 ft height.
Floor was made of burnt bricks.
Jainism is about
Vardhamana Mahavira (539 — 467 BCE)
Life of Vardhamana Mahavira
He is the 24th Tirthankara of Jain tradition, born at Kundagrama to Siddharta and Trisala, embraces asceticism at 30, wandering for 12 years.
At the 13th year, he attained Kevala Jnana, becoming Mahavira and Jine. He dies at 72 in Pava near Rajgriha.
Mahavira organized
the Sangha to spread teachings.
Jainism found patronage from rulers like
Chandragupta Maurya, Kharvela of Kalinga, and dynasties in South India.
Name of the two sects:
Shvetambaras (white- clad) led by Sthalbahu and Digambarad (skyclad or naked) led by Bhadrabahu.
The first Jain council in Pataliputra (3rd century BCE) was led by
Sthulbadhra
The second council in _______ presided over by _________, led to the final compilation of ____ and ______.
Vallabhi (512 CE), Devarddhigani kshamashramana, 12 Angas and 12 Upangas.
Who founded Buddhism
Mahatama Buddha (567 - 487 BCE)
When was Siddhartha Gautama born?
In 567 BCE in Lumbini Garden
At what age did Gautama Buddha leave home and also when he enlightened under which tree and where did he deliver the first sermon?
At 29, he left home and enlightened at 35 under bodhi tree in Bodhgaya and delivered the first sermon in Sarnath.
Buddha had which two types of disciples?
Monks (bhikshu) and lay worshippers (upasakas)
Who were Buddhas notable monk disciples?
Sariputta and Moggallanna.
The first, second, third and fourth councils of Buddha were at
Rajagriha, Vaishali, Patliputra under Ashoka, Kashmir.
Who led the fourth counsil?
In BUDDHISM
Kanishka
The 4th council included
Ashvaghosha
Tripitakas, Buddhist texts in pali, comprise
Sutta pitakas, Vinaya pitakas, and Abhidhamma pitakas.
Which Buddhist literature gives a list of 16 great kingdoms called?
Anguttara Nikaya gives a list of 16 great kingdoms called Sixteen Mahajanapadas.
Finally in 6th century how many kingdoms survived and which one?
Only 4 kingdoms survived - Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha.
Capital of Vatsa
Kaushambi near modern Allahabad (Prayagraj).
Capital of Avanti
Ujjain and the ruler were Pradyota.
Capital of Kosala
Shravasti (Ayodhya) and the ruler was King Prasenjit.
Capital of Magadha
Rajgriha and the rulers was Bimbisara, Ajatsatru.
Against whom Bimbisara won the battle?
Brahmdutta of Anga and expanded his kingdom.
Bimbisara built friendly relationships with whom?
Avanti
Ajatasatru fought for 16 years against whom which made him more powerful?
Kosala and Vaishali.
Who followed Ajatshatru as the ruler?
Udayin
Who brought Avanti under Magadhan empire?
Shishunaga
Mahapadma ruled strongly for how many years?
Ten years
Mahapadma had how many sons
Eight
Who is the son of Mahapadma who ruled the last?
Dhana Nanda
Kautilya’s Arthashashtra was written by
Kautilya
Who is the contemporary of Chandragupta Maurya?
Kautilya
What is the most important literary source of the history of the Maurya?
Kautilya’s Arthashashtra
Kautilya was also known as
Indian Machiavelli
Meaning of Machiavelli
Cunning or scheming person especially in politics.
The manuscript of Arthashashtra was first discovered by
R. Sharma Shashtri in 1904.
Who wrote Indica?
Megasthenes
What is the meaning of Bindusara?
Slayers of enemies.
Who was the founder of Mauryan empire?
Chandragupta Maurya (322 - 298 BCE)
Who was Megasthenes?
Greek Ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
What did Greeks call Bindusara?
Amitraghatha
Bindusara supported
Aajivikas, a religious sect
Bindusara appointed his son Ashoka as what?
As the governor of Ujjain.
What is the most important event of Ashoka’s reign ?
The victorious war with Kalinga in 261 BCE.
What was the effect of the Kalinga war on Ashoka?
As an effect, Ashoka embraced Buddhism under the influence of Buddhist monk, Upagupta.
What did Ashoka and Dasaratha gifted Aajivika’s?
Caves
What is the only remaining of Mauryan period?
The stupa of Sanchi
Who is the son of Ashoka?
Dasaratha
Where are the caves situated?
At Barabar hills near Bodhgaya.
Who replaced Mauryan rule?
Shunga dynasty
Who is the founder of Shunga dynasty?
Pushyamitra Shunga
Pushyamitra followed?
Brahmanism
Who was the last Shunga ruler?
Devabhuti
How did Shunga dynasty ended?
The minister of Devabhuti, Vasudeva Kanva, the founder of Kanva murdered Devabhuti.
Satavahanas is also known as
Andhras
Satavahanas established their independent rule after
decline of the Maurya’s in the deccan.
Who was the founder of the Satavahanas dynasty?
Simuka
Simuka is succeeded by
Krishna upto Nasik
Who was the greatest ruler of Satavahanas dynasty?
Gautamiputra Satkarni (106 - 130 BCE)
Who repaired the old Amaravathi Stupa?
Vashisthiputra Pulumavi
This Satavahanas built
Chaityas and Viharas
The Kushanas were a branch of the
Yuchi Tribe
The founder of the Kushanas dynasty was
Kujula Kadphises or Kadphises
The son of Kujula conquered
Wima Kadphises conquered the whole of northwestern India as far as Mathura.
The most important ruler of the Kushana Dynasty was
Kanishka(78 - 120 CE)
Who was the founder of the Saka era which started from 78 CE?
Kanishka, the most important ruler of Kushana dynasty.
When did saka era started?
78 CE
The capital of Kanishka
Purushapura is the capital and Mathura was another important city in his empire.
What did Kanishka followed?
Buddhism
Last important ruler of the Kushana Dynasty
Vasudeva
What was the three existed Sangams popularly called
Muchangum
The first sangam held at
Madurai
Who attended the first sangam and what literary work of this sangam is available
the first sangam was attented by gods and legendary stages but no literary work of this sangam was available.
The second sangam was held at
Kapadapuram
The third sangam at Madurai was founded by
Moda Thirumaram
What is the literary work of second sangam
All the literary works had perished except Tolkappiyam.
The corpus of third sangam.
Tolkappiyam Ettuhogai, Pattuppattu, Panthinenkil- Kanakku, and the two epics- Silappathikaram and Manimegalai.
The Ashokan inscriptions mentioned
The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas on the South of the Mauryan Empire.
Where does the excavations reveal the overseas commercial activities of the Tamils.
Arikkamedu, Poompuharm, Kodumanal and other places.
Which three countries was Tamil country ruled by?
Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.
The Capital of Cheras
Vajji
The important seaports of Cheras
Tondi and Musiri
Famous rulers of Cheras dynasty
Udiyan Cheralatan, Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan and Cheran Senguttuvan
The famous king of Cholas
Karaikala
The capital of Pandyas
Madurai
Who wrote Maduraikkanji?
Mangudi Maruthanar
What does Maduraikkanji describes?
the socio-economic condition of the Pandyas.
The last famous king of Pandyas kingdom during the Sangam Period?
Uggira Peruvaludhi
What was the reason of decline Off Pandya Dynasty?
the invasion of Kalabhras.
The primary deity was
Murugan or Seyon
Who were also worshiped?
Mayon (Vishnu), Vendan (Indiran), Varunan and Korravai were also worshipped.
Eminent rulers of the Gupta Empire Were:
- Chandragupta I (320- 335 or 340 CE)
- Ramagupta (late 4th century)
- Chandragupta II (nearly 380- 413 CE or 415 CE)
- Kumargupta (near about 415- 455 CE)
- Skandagupta (455 - 467 CE)
- Purugupta (467 - 469 CE)
- Buddhagupta (477- nearly 500 CE)
Books written by Vishakhadutta provide information regarding the rise of Guptas.
Devichandraguptam and Mudhrarakshasam
Who is the Chinese traveler during the reign of Chandragupta II?
Fa-Hien
Who is the founder of Gupta dynasty?
Sri Gupta2
Who is the first person to be called Maharajadhiraja (the great kings of kings)?
Chandragupta I
Who was hailed as Indian Nepoleon?
Samudragupta
why was samudragupta hailed as Indian nepoleon?
because of his military achievements
What are the military achievements of Samudragupta?
His magnanimity towards his foes, his polished intellect, his poetic skills, and his proficiency in music.
Samudragupta’s image depicting him with Veena is found in?
The coins issued by him.
Who is the last ruler of Saka Satrap?
Rudrasimha III
Rudrasimha III was defeated by
Chandragupta II
Besides of Rudrasimha, who else was defeated by Chandragupta II
The confederacy of enemy chiefs in Vanga
What kind of valuable info was provided by Fa-Hien about the condition of the Gupta empire?
the info on the religious, social, and economic conditions.
Who is the son and the successor of Chandragupta II?
Kumargupta
Who laid the foundation of Nalanda University?
Kumargupta
What emerged as an institution of international reputation?
Nalanda University
Why did Gupta power disappeared?
Due to Hunas invasion and later by the rise of Yasodharman in Malwa
Who were Vaishnavas?
Most of the Gupta kings were Vaishnavas
What sacrifices did Vaishnavas performed?
Ashvamedha
What is Ashvamedha Sacrifice?
Sacrificing a sacred horse.
What art styles evolved during the Gupta period?
Nagara and Dravidian styles of art
What literature were composed during the Gupta Period?
religious literature like puranas
Who was a great mathematician and astronomer?
Aryabhatta
Which book did Aryabhatta wrote in 499 CE?
Aryabhatiyam
What did Aryabhatta declare the first?
He was the first to declare that the earth was spherical and that it rotates on its axis.
What is First astronomical systems?
Pancha Siddhanta
Who composed Pancha siddhanta?
Varahamihira
What is the standard work on astrology of Varahamihira?
Brihadsamhita is a great work by him in Sanskrit literature. Brihadjataka is a standard work on astrology.
Who was the last of the great medical trio of ancient India?
Vagbhata
Vagbhata was the author of?
Ashtangasamgraha
Who were the two great scholars that lived before the Gupta age?
Charaka and susruta
Period of age of Harshavardhana
606-647 CE
Who wrote Harshacharitra?
Banabhatta, a celebrated poet and historian who authored the Harshacharita and Kadambari.
(The court poet of Harsha)
The name of the Chinese traveller who visited India in the 7th century CE.
Hiuen Tsang
Name the dramas written by Harsha.
Ratnavali, Nagananda, and Priyadarshika.
Which inscriptions are helpful to know the ecology of Harsha?
Madhuben plate inscription and the Sonpat Inscription
Which inscription contains the signature of Harsha?
Banskhera inscription, a larger kingdom in North India?
Who is the founder of family of Harsha?
Pushyabhuti
who is the first important king of the Pushyabhuti dynasty?
Prabhakarvardhana
The capital of Prabhakarvardhana
Thaneswar, north of Delhi
Harsha led a campaign against
The ruler of Sindh
Hiuen Tsang converted Harsha into
Mahayana Buddhism
The religious assembly by Harsha was organized at?
Kannauj
what was the purpose of the religious assembly organized by Harsha at Kannauj?
to honor the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang that went on Continuously for 23 days.
Which period does the Lakshmana temple at Sirpur belongs?
Harsha Period
Who patronized Nalanda University?
The successors of Kumar Gupta and later by Harsha
The Rashtrakutas dynasty was found by?
Dantidurg
who built the Kailasha temple at Ellora?
Krishna I
Who is credited for building cave Shrine Elephants dedicated to Shiva?
Rashtrakutas
King Amoghavarsha of Rashtrakuta dynasty wrote
the first Kannada poetry Kavirajmarga
Who constructed the Sun temple at Konark?
Narsimhadeva
where is the sun temple ?
Konark
Gangas dynasty ruled
Orrissa
Which temple in built by Anantravarman?
The Jagannath temple
Where is the Jagannath temple?
At Puri
Who are Kesaris
Kesaris ruled before Gangas and built Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneshwar
Where is Lingaraja temple?
Bhubaneshwar
Who found Pallavas dynasty?
Simhavishnu
What is the capital of Pallava dynasty?
Kanchi
Which town was founded by Narsimhavarmas?
Mamallapuram (Mahabalipupram)
Narsimhavarmas built?
rock-cut rathas and even pagodas
Palas is known as
Dharmapala
The capital of Palas
Monghyr
The greatest ruler of Pratihara
Bhoja or Mihir (Mihir-Bhoja) also known as Adivaraha
Khajuraho temple was built during the reign of
Chandellas of Bundelkhand
Capital of Chalukya
Vatapi
Chalukya dynasty is founded by
Jayasimha
Jayasimha is contemporary to
Harshavardhan
The four divided clans of Rajputs
(Pratiharas, Chauhans, Chalukya/Solankis, Parmaras) Dynasties.
Pratiharas ruled
Southern Rajasthan
Chauhans ruled
Eastern Rajasthan
Chalukya/Solankis ruled
Kathiawar
Parmaras ruled
Malwa
Who founded Cholas dynasty?
Vijayalaya
What is the capital of Cholas dynasty?
Tanjore
whom did Aditya from Cholas dynasty wipe out and weakened?
Aditya I wiped out the Pallavas and weakened the Pandyas.
Purantaka I captured?
Madurai
Purantaka I was defeatead by
Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna III at the battle of Takkolam
Rajaraja I lived
AD 985-1014
Rajaraja I led a Naval Expendition against
the Shailendra empire (Malaya Peninsula)
Rajaraja I conquered
Northern Sri Lanka
Who constructed Rajarajeshwari shiva temple at Tanjore?
Rajaraja I
Rajarajeshwari shiva temple is also known as
Brihadeshvara temple
Who is Rajendra I ?
He lived for AD 1014-1044. Annexed the whole Sri Lanka took the title of Gangaikonda and founded Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
What is the dancing figure of Shiva known as
Nataraja
Nataraja belongs to the
Chola period
Local government existed in
Chola Period
famous sites of middle stone age
Langhanj were in Gujarat, Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh, some places in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Important sites of Neolithic age
Kashmir valley, Chirand in Bihar, Belan Valley in UP, several places in the Ocean, South India - Maski, Brahmgiri, Halles, Kodikal, Paiyapalli, Guntur
Major sites of Metal age
Ahar (Rajasthan), Diamabad (Maharastra) and Navdatoli (Madhya Pradesh).
Important sites of iron age
Hallur, Maski, Nagarjunakonda, Adichanallur
What reveals the existence of pre Harappan culture?
The excavations at Mehargarh 150 miles to the northwest of Mohenjodaro
what remains the evidence for the early Harappan stage?
The sites of Amri and Kot Diji remain the evidence for the early Harappan culture
Total span of Harappan culture should be
between 2300 and 1750 BCE
The important sites of Harappan civilisation
Kot Diji in Sindh, Kalibangan in Rajasthan, Ropar in Punjab, Banawali in Haryana, Lothal, Surkotoda, Dholavira in Gujarat
The Great Bath must be served as
Ritual bathing site
The floor of the Great Bath was made up of
Burnt bricks
Foreign trade was mainly conducted with
Mesopotamia, Afghanistan and Iran
Who is Pashupati?
(proto-Siva)- the chief male deity
How was Pashupati represented?
represented in seals as a sitting yogic position with three faces and two horns. He is surrounded by four animals (elephant, tiger, rhino and buffalo)
People of Harappan period used to worship
Pashupati
It is believed that the decline of Harappan culture was due to
Natural calamities
The destruction of forts is mentioned in
Rig Veda
