WBCS Mains Syllabus of History Optional Paper
Paper– I :
ANCIENT AND
MEDIEVAL INDIA
UNIT
A
1. Sources :
Archaeological Sources: Exploration,
Excavation, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Monuments. Literary Sources: Indigenous,
Biography, Religious Literature, Creative Literature, Scientific Literature,
Literature in Regional Languages. Foreign Accounts: Greek, Roman, Chinese and
Arab Writers.
2. The Harappan Civilization: Third to Second Millenium B.C.E
Origin, Date, Extent, Characteristics,
Decline, Survival and Significance, Art and Architecture.
3. The Iron Age in India, Vedic Society and the Megalithic Culture: 1500 B.C.E to
6th Century B.C.E. Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the
Harappan orbit. Early Vedic Society, Polity and Economy. Changes in the later
Vedic period.
4. Period of Mahajanapadas :
Formation of territorial States
(Mahajanapada):Republics and Monarchies;Spread of Jainism and Buddhism;The rise
of Magadha and the Nandas.Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.
5. The Mauryan Empire:
Foundation of the Mauryan Empire,
Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthasastra;Asoka;The concept of Dharma;Edicts;
Polity, Administration;Economy; Art, Architecture and Sculpture;External
contacts; Religion;The spread of religion; Literature.The disintegration of the
Empire.
6. Post-Mauryan Period:
Northern India: The Sungas and the
Kanvas, The Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas, Contact with the
outside world;The Deccan and Southern India: The Satavahanas,The Tamil States
of the Sangam Age: Administration, Economy: land grants, trade guilds and urban
centres; Social conditions.Culture and Religion: Rise of Mahayana Buddhism and
Buddhist Centres;Literature and culture; Art and architecture and science.
7. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:
Samundra Gupta, Chandragupta-II:Gupta
Polity and administration, Economic conditions,land grants,Caste system,The
position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramsila
and Valabhi, Creative Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture. The
decline of the Gupta Empire; changes in Trade network, The decline of urban
centres,Indian Feudalism.
8. The Post Gupta Period and the Rise of Regional States:
The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas,
Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas. Regional
Polities and Administration, Local Government, Land administration, Economy,
Trade Guilds. Religion: Proliferation of Religious Sects in Buddhism, Vaishnava
and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti Movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta. Cultural
Aspects, Regional Languages and texts, Literature, Growth of art and
architecture, Sculpture, Temple Architecture; Education and Literature, major
philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics. Arab
conquest of Sind; Alberuni.
UNIT B
1. Major political developments in India during 13th to 15th
Centuries:
Campaigns of Mahmud Ghazni, Muhammad of
Ghor —The foundation of the Delhi Sultanate and the early Turkish Sultans ‒Qutbuddin Aibak
to Balban —The Khalji revolution ‒Alauddin
Khalji, conquests and economic reforms —Muhammad‒bin‒Tughlaq and his
projects —Firuz Tughlaq— agrarian measures, public works‒The decline of
the Tughlaqs.Provincial Kingdoms —Bengal under the Iliyas Shahi and Hussain
Shahi Dynasties—Bahmani and Vijaynagar Empires —Kashmir and Gujarat.
2. Society, Culture and Economy during 13th and 15th centuries:
Social and Cultural Assimilation —Sufi
and Bhakti Movements—Kabir, Nanak, Chaitanya, Namdeva, Growth of Regional
Languages and Literature —Nature of the State —agriculture, revenue system
(iqta) trade and Commerce —art and architecture.
3. Major Political Developments in India during 16th and 18th
Centuries
Coming of the Mughals —Babur and the
foundation of the Mughal Empire, —Afghan —Mughal Contest for supremacy—Humayun
and Sher Shah —Consolidation of the Mughal Empire—Akbar, Jahangir and Nur
Jahan, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb —The Mughal Central State and regional powers—Rajputs,
Afghans, Marathas, Sikhs, Deccan, Awadh and others. Peasants in Revolt —Jat,
Satnami etc. Later Mughals —Fall and Disintegration of the Empire —The rise of
the Regional States ‒Bengal, Hyderabad, Awadh and the
Marathas.
4. Society, Culture and Economy during 16th and 18th centuries:
Administrative System- Sher Shah to
Akbar, Jagir and Mansabdari systems, —Evolution of religion under the Mughals —Sulh-i-Kul
and Din-i-Ilahi —Mughal art, architecture, painting, music and literature,
Mughal economy and Society—The condition of the peasants —urbanisation —trade
and commerce and the mercantile classes ‒Coming of the
European merchants and ‘trade revolution’.
জ্ঞ্যানজ্যোতি কোচিং সেন্টার
তোমাদের উজ্বল ভবিষ্যৎ গড়ে তুলব আমরা, এটাই আমাদের প্রতিশ্রুতি
অনলাইনে কোচিং নিতে হলে এবং বিভিন্ন নোট নিতে হলে এই নাম্বারে কল করুন।
