Sources: 3 Types
Inscriptions: 5 Key
Vedas: 4
Travelers: 12+
Father of Indian Archaeology: A. Cunningham
3 Sources of Knowing Ancient History
Itihas Janne ke Strot
▼
Source 1
⛏ Archaeological Sources
Puratatvik Strot — Physical evidence
Source 2
📚 Literary Sources
Sahityik Strot — Texts & Books
Source 3
🌍 Foreign Travelers
Videshi Yatriyon ka Vivaran
Key Definitions (Paribhashayein)
▼
| Term | Meaning | Key Name |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeology | Study of ancient objects/buildings — Purani vastuon ka adhyayan | Father: Alexander Cunningham |
| Epigraphy | Study of Inscriptions — Abhilekhon ka adhyayan | — |
| Numismatics | Study of Coins — Sikkon ka adhyayan → Mudrashastra | — |
Important Inscriptions (Abhilekh)
5 Must-Know for Exam
▼
| Inscription | Details | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Boghazkoi 1400 BCE |
Stone inscriptions — Pathar ke abhilekh Mentions: Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Nasatya |
Evidence of Aryan migration from Iran to East |
| Maski & Gurjara | — | Clear inscription in the name of Ashoka |
| Prayag Prashasti | Engraved by royal poet Harisena | Inscription of Samudragupta |
| Eran Inscription | King: Bhanugupta | First written evidence of Sati practice |
| Bhitari Pillar | King: Skandagupta | First record of Huna invasion on India |
Coins (Sikke) — Flow
Numismatics / Mudrashastra
▼
Earliest Coins
Aahat (Punch-marked)
Only symbols — koi likhawat nahi
1st Gold Coins
Indo-Greek Coins
Pehle gold coins
Most Gold Coins Issued
Gupta Period
Samudragupta — Veena playing on coins
Purest Gold Coins
Kushan Period
Sabse pure sone ke sikke
Monuments, Caves & Sculptures
▼
Monuments
- Mauryan Palace: Remains of Chandragupta Maurya's palace at Kumhrar (Patna)
Caves — Gifted to Ajivikas
| Builder | Location | Caves |
|---|---|---|
| Ashoka | Barabar Hills | 4 caves: Sudama, Karna Chaupad, Vishva Jhopdi, Lomas Rishi |
| Dasharatha | Nagarjuni Hills | Gopi, Vedika, Cave of Vapiya |
Sculptures & Paintings
- Buddhist Sculptures: Flourished during Kushan Period
- Earliest Buddha Images: Gandhara Style
- Ajanta Paintings: Dated from 1st Century CE to 7th Century CE
Religious Literature (Dharmik Sahitya)
Buddhist, Jain & Vedic texts
▼
Buddhist Texts
Tripitakas, Jataka, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa
Source of Mauryan history
Milinda Panho → Info about Indo-Greek ruler Menander
Milinda Panho → Info about Indo-Greek ruler Menander
Jain Texts
Parishishtaparvan, Bhadrabahu Charita, Bhagavati Sutra
Bhagavati Sutra → 16 Mahajanapadas ki list milti hai
The 4 Vedas
Exam me seedha question aata hai
▼
| Veda | Description / Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Rigveda | Collection of hymns — Mantron ka sangrah |
| Samaveda | Hymns in musical form — First reference of music (Sangeet ka pehla ullekh) |
| Yajurveda | Rules for rituals and sacrifices — Ritual-focused |
| Atharvaveda | Collection of charms, mantras and spells — Jaadu-Tona |
Important Historical Texts — Kisne kya likha?
▼
| Work (Kitaab) | Author (Lekhak) | Subject / Info |
|---|---|---|
| Ashtadhyayi | Panini | First Sanskrit grammar book · Info on Pre-Mauryan society |
| Arthashastra | Kautilya (Chanakya) | Mauryan administration · First book about political system |
| Rajatarangini | Kalhana | History of Kashmir |
| Mahabhashya | Patanjali | Info about Post-Mauryan system (Shunga dynasty wagera) |
🏺 Greek Writers (Unani)
Herodotus
🇬🇷 Greek
- Father of History
- Included fictional tales in writings
Ctesias
🇬🇷 Greek
- Royal Physician of Iran
Megasthenes
🇬🇷 Greek · Ambassador of Seleucus
- Ambassador at Chandragupta Maurya's court
- Described Mauryan society & administration
Ptolemy
🇬🇷 Greek
- —
Pliny
🇬🇷 Greek · 1st Century CE
- —
Periplus of Erythraean Sea
Anonymous writer (Naam nahi pata)
- Info on Indian ports & trade goods
🇨🇳 Chinese Travelers (Cheeni Yatri)
Faxian
🇨🇳 Chinese · Came 402 CE
- Visited during Chandragupta II's reign (Gupta Period)
- Stayed in India for 14 years
Sung Yun
🇨🇳 Chinese · Came 518 CE
- Collected copies of Buddhist texts
- Stayed 3 years
Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
🇨🇳 Chinese · Came 630 CE
- Came during Harshavardhana's reign
- Stayed 15 years
- Described society, religion & politics of Harsha's time
I-Tsing
🇨🇳 Chinese · Late 7th century
- Studied at Nalanda & Vikramshila universities
- Wrote about Indian society
📿 Arabic Writers (Arabi)
Al-Biruni
🕌 Arabic · Came 1017 CE with Mahmud Ghazni
- Resident of modern Turkmenistan
Ibn Battuta
🕌 Arabic · Came 1333 CE (14th Century)
- Appointed Qazi (Judge) of Delhi by Muhammad bin Tughlaq
🌏 Other Writers
Taranatha
🏔 Tibetan · 1575–1634 CE
- —
Marco Polo
🇮🇹 Italian · 1288–1292 CE
- Visited Pandya region at end of 13th century
- Descriptions useful for studying Pandya's history
⚠ TRAP 01 — Coins
Indo-Greek = First Gold Coins (Pehle gold coins)
Kushans = Purest Gold Coins (Sabse pure sone ke sikke)
Guptas = Most Gold Coins issued (Sabse zyada gold coins)
Exam me teeno alag-alag puchhe jaate hain — confuse mat ho!
Kushans = Purest Gold Coins (Sabse pure sone ke sikke)
Guptas = Most Gold Coins issued (Sabse zyada gold coins)
Exam me teeno alag-alag puchhe jaate hain — confuse mat ho!
⚠ TRAP 02 — Caves
Ashoka → Barabar Hills (4 caves — Sudama, Karna Chaupad, Vishva Jhopdi, Lomas Rishi)
Dasharatha → Nagarjuni Hills (Gopi, Vedika, Vapiya)
Dono ne Ajivikas ko caves gift ki thi — ye important hai!
Dasharatha → Nagarjuni Hills (Gopi, Vedika, Vapiya)
Dono ne Ajivikas ko caves gift ki thi — ye important hai!
⚠ TRAP 03 — Firsts
First Sati evidence: Eran Inscription (King Bhanugupta)
First Huna invasion record: Bhitari Pillar (Skandagupta)
First Sanskrit grammar book: Ashtadhyayi (Panini)
First political book: Arthashastra (Chanakya)
First Huna invasion record: Bhitari Pillar (Skandagupta)
First Sanskrit grammar book: Ashtadhyayi (Panini)
First political book: Arthashastra (Chanakya)
⚠ TRAP 04 — Stay Duration (Chinese Travelers)
Faxian = 14 years (Chandragupta II ka time, 402 CE)
Xuanzang = 15 years (Harsha ka time, 630 CE)
Sung Yun = 3 years (518 CE)
"14 ya 15" — exam me yahi confuse karta hai!
Xuanzang = 15 years (Harsha ka time, 630 CE)
Sung Yun = 3 years (518 CE)
"14 ya 15" — exam me yahi confuse karta hai!
⚠ TRAP 05 — Arabic Travelers
Al-Biruni: Came with Mahmud Ghazni (1017 CE), wrote Kitab-ul-Hind
Ibn Battuta: Came 1333 CE, wrote Rihla, appointed Qazi by Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Dono Arabic hain but alag-alag rulers ke time aaye!
Ibn Battuta: Came 1333 CE, wrote Rihla, appointed Qazi by Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Dono Arabic hain but alag-alag rulers ke time aaye!
⚠ TRAP 06 — Boghazkoi Inscription
Boghazkoi (1400 BCE) mentions Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Nasatya — ye Vedic gods hain.
This is evidence of Aryan migration from Iran eastward — aur ye Iran mein mila tha, India mein nahi!
This is evidence of Aryan migration from Iran eastward — aur ye Iran mein mila tha, India mein nahi!
⚠ TRAP 07 — Vedas
Rigveda = Hymns collection (Mantron ka sangrah)
Samaveda = Musical hymns + First music reference — ye confuse karta hai
Atharvaveda = Charms & Spells (Jaadu-Tona) — alag hai baaki se
Yajurveda = Rituals & Sacrifices
Samaveda = Musical hymns + First music reference — ye confuse karta hai
Atharvaveda = Charms & Spells (Jaadu-Tona) — alag hai baaki se
Yajurveda = Rituals & Sacrifices
Father of Indian Archaeology?
Alexander Cunningham
Study of inscriptions?
Epigraphy
Study of coins?
Numismatics / Mudrashastra
Earliest coins?
Aahat (Punch-marked)
Only symbols — no writing
First gold coins?
Indo-Greek Coins
Purest gold coins?
Kushan Period
Most gold coins issued?
Gupta Period
Samudragupta — Veena on coins
First Sati evidence?
Eran Inscription
King Bhanugupta
First Huna invasion record?
Bhitari Pillar
King Skandagupta
Indica — who wrote it?
Megasthenes
Ambassador of Seleucus
Si-Yu-Ki — who wrote it?
Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
During Harsha's reign, 630 CE
Rihla — who wrote it?
Ibn Battuta
1333 CE, Qazi of Delhi
Kitab-ul-Hind — who wrote?
Al-Biruni
Came with Mahmud Ghazni, 1017 CE
Father of History?
Herodotus
Arthashastra — who wrote?
Kautilya / Chanakya
First book on political system
Rajatarangini — subject?
History of Kashmir
Written by Kalhana
Prayag Prashasti — whose inscription?
Samudragupta
Engraved by poet Harisena
Faxian — visited which ruler?
Chandragupta II
402 CE, stayed 14 years
Earliest Buddha images?
Gandhara Style
16 Mahajanapadas — source?
Bhagavati Sutra
Jain text
Milinda Panho — info about?
Menander
Indo-Greek ruler
Ashoka's caves — which hills?
Barabar Hills
4 caves
Veda with first music reference?
Samaveda
Aryan migration evidence?
Boghazkoi Inscription
1400 BCE — Iran to East