Division of Ancient History and Sources




�Foreign Literature:

Author Book Subject

Magasthenes (Greek) Indica Valuable information on Administration and socio-economic conditions of Mauryas

Ptolemy (Greek) Geography of India Geographical treatise on India in 2nd Century AD

Pliny (Greek) Naturakus Historia Accounts trade

relations between Rome and India in 1st Century AD

Anonymous (Greek) Periplus of the Erythrean Sea Records personal voyage of Indian coasts in 80 A.D.

Fa-Hien (Chinese) Record of the Buddhist Countries (Fo-Kuoki) Records the Gupta Empire in the 5th Century AD

Hiuen Tsang (Chinese) Buddhist Records of the Western World (Si- Yu-Ki) Describes the social, economic and religious  conditions of   India    in    the 5th and 7th Century AD. (Harshvardhan)

I-tsing (Chinese) A record of the Buddhists religion as practiced in India and Malay Archipelago. Studies the Gupta period under Sri Gupta in the 7th Century AD.

Hwuili (Chinese) Life of Hiuen Tsang Accounts Hiuen Tsang's travel in India.


History:

Written evidences available (From Vedic Phase till present)

Prehistory:

No written evidence; Archeological evidences available, (stone age)

Proto-history:

Written evidences available; but could not be deciphered (Eg. Harappan Period).

History is all about understanding the past. Sources are crucial to unravel and understand the past.

Sources:

Archaeological Evidence (Artefacts)

Inscriptions (Epigraphy is a study of inscriptions)

Coins (Numismatics is a study of coins).

Literature

Accounts of the Foreigners


Sources of History

Literature


A. Indian Literature:

Vedic Literature- Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Vedangas and Upvedas.

Puranas: Stories of kings and gives genealogies of the various dynasties. Important source for knowing political history of Ancient India.

Epics: Ramayana, Mahabharata.

Sangam literature – Tolkappiyam, Ettuogai, Pattupattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, Silpadikarm and Manimekkalai.

Plays: by Kalidas; and other writings of

Navaratnas in the court of Guptas

�


Other:

Visakha Datta: Mudra Rakshas; Gupta period, Chanakya-Chandragupta story

Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa: Buddhist books written in Sri Lanka; Ashoka spread

Divyavadan: Tibetan Buddhist book, Ashoka spread.

Archaeological evidences:

Artefacts- materials used by the ancient people which are found at the sites, useful to understand pre-historic Period.

Tools- stone and bone tools and tools made up of metals like Bronze and Iron.

Pottery – Black and Red Ware, Northern Black polished ware, Polished Grey Ware etc.

Pollen analysis of the floral remains.

Burials and tools available near the burials.

Settlements and other architectural remains.

Inscriptions:

Engravings on stone or other metal objects.

Rock edicts- Major and Minor and Pillar edicts.

Allahabad inscription of Samudragupta.

�

Chirand Serpant cult (Bihar)

Burzahom Pit-dwelling and domestic dog was buried with their masters in grave.

Gulfkral Pit-dwelling (J&K)

Neolithic sites of South India Unique feature to have ash mound onmany sites like Piklihal, Maski, Hallur etc.