Historical Sources

Question 1

Classification of historical sources

Answer 1

Historical sources- 1. Literary sources
2. Archeological sources
***
Literary sources- 1. Indigenous sources
2. Foreign sources

Question 2

Classification of indigenous literary sources

Answer 2

1. Religious sources
2. Secular sources
   ***
   RELIGIOUS SOURCES
   Brahmanic texts, Buddhist texts, Jain texts

Question 3

BRAHAMIC TEXTS

Answer 3

1. Shruti- Vedas/ samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upnishads
2. Smriti- Vedangas, Smritis, Epics(Ramayana and Mahabharta), Purnas

Question 4

SAMHITAS/ VEDAS

Answer 4

Types- Rig veda, Saam veda, Yajur veda, Athrva veda
COMPOSING TIME
Rig veda: 1500BC- 1000BC
Others: 1100BC- 600BC
ABOUT
Life of Aryans

Question 5

BRAHAMANAS

Answer 5

1000BC- 600BC
About Gandhar, Shalya, Kekya of North West region
and
kuru- Panchala, Koshala, Videha of East region

Question 6

ARANYAKAS

Answer 6

1000BC- 600BC
Negligible importance

Question 7

UPNISHADS

Answer 7

About spiritual learning i.e. Para- Vidya
1000BC- 500BC

Question 8

VEDANGAS

Answer 8

600BC- 200AD
ancient Indian history and civilization

Question 9

SMRITIS

Answer 9

600BC-600AD
About duties, customs and rules of kings

Question 10

EPICS

Answer 10

400BC-400AD
1. Ramayana: By Valmiki - Origin and development of Janpadas. It mentions Yavans(Greeks) and Sakas( Scythians)
2. Mahabharta: By Ved- Vyas- About Mahabharta war faught in 950BC. Griviraj is mentioned as the capital of Magadh.
It mentions Yavans, Sakas and Huns.

Question 11

PURNAS

Answer 11

400BC-400AD
About history from the very beginning of Gupta period
5 segments: Sarga ( creation), Pratisarga ( Recreation), Vamsa (Geneaology of gods and sages), Manavta r( Eouchs of manu), Vansanucharitam ( Narrative of ancient dynasties)
The only purnas that has vansanucharitam are Natsya, Bhagwat, Vishnu, Vayu, Brahma, Bhavishya and Garud Puran.
Garud puran - Purava, Ikshvaku and Bahadrath dynasties

Question 12

BUDDHIST TEXTS

Answer 12

Pali and Anupali texts

Question 13

Pali Texts

Answer 13

Triptika
Deep Vansha
Mahavansha
Milindpannaho

Question 14

TRIPTIKA

Answer 14

Earliest.
Vinaya Pitaka: In 483BC
Sutta Pitaka: In 483BC
Abhidhamma Pitaka: In 250BC

Question 15

Vinaya Pitaka

Answer 15

Disciplinary rules of Buddhist monks

Question 16

Sutta Pitaka

Answer 16

Largest and Most Important
Ambhatta Sutta of Dirg Nikaya: Pride of Kshatriya for blood purity
Anguttara Sutta : 16 Mahajanpadas
*Jataka of Khuddaka Nikaya: *549 folk tails about previous life of Gautam Buddha**

Question 17

Abhidhamma Pitaka

Answer 17

Doctrine of Buddha in scholastic manner

Question 18

DEEP VANSHA and MAHAVANSHA

Answer 18

In 4th century AD and 5th century AD respectively in Sri Lanka. About Mauryan History

Question 19

MILINDPANNHO

Answer 19

Conversation between king Milind ( Menander, Indo- Greek ruler) and monk Nagasena( Nagarjuna)
About North-West India of 1st- 2nd century AD

Question 20

Anupali Texts

Answer 20

Divyavadan, Aryamanjushrimulkalpa, Lalit Vistar

Question 21

DIVYAVADAN

Answer 21

Later Mauryan kings and Shunga kings( Pushyamitra Shunga) and Gautam Buddha

Question 22

ARYAMANJUSHRIMULALAPA

Answer 22

Political events of Pre- Mauryan period to the Vardhana period

Question 23

LALIT VISTAR

Answer 23

Acts of Gautam Buddha