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Ancient India

From the Indus Valley cities and the Vedic age to the Mauryas, the Guptas and the great dynasties of south India and Karnataka.

Lessons in this module

Indus Valley, Vedic Age and the Mahajanapadas

Lesson • 5 quiz questions

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Buddhism, Jainism and the Mauryan Empire

Lesson • 5 quiz questions

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Guptas and the Dynasties of the South and Karnataka

Lesson • 5 quiz questions

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Lesson notes

1. Indus Valley, Vedic Age and the Mahajanapadas

India's written story starts with the cities of the Indus Valley, continues with the Vedic age, and reaches the first big kingdoms called Mahajanapadas. Exams ask about sites, rivers, texts and the rise of Magadha.

The Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation

It was a Bronze Age civilisation. Its mature phase is dated to about 2600-1900 BCE.
Harappa (on the Ravi, now in Pakistan) was excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921; Mohenjo-daro (on the Indus, Sindh) by R. D. Banerji in 1922.
Planned towns with grid streets, covered drains and baked bricks. The Great Bath is at Mohenjo-daro.
Lothal (Gujarat) had a dockyard; Kalibangan (Rajasthan) shows a ploughed field and fire altars; Dholavira (Gujarat) is famous for water management.
Dholavira became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. Rakhigarhi (Haryana) is one of the largest Harappan sites in India.
The Harappan script has not been deciphered. Famous finds: the bronze 'Dancing Girl' and the 'Pashupati' seal.

The Vedic age

Early Vedic (Rigvedic) period: about 1500-1000 BCE. Later Vedic period: about 1000-600 BCE.
There are four Vedas: Rigveda (the oldest), Samaveda (melodies), Yajurveda (rituals) and Atharvaveda (charms, medicine).
The Rigveda has 10 books (mandalas). The Gayatri Mantra is in the Rigveda.
Sabha and Samiti were assemblies that advised the chief (rajan).
The national motto 'Satyameva Jayate' comes from the Mundaka Upanishad.
In the later Vedic period iron came into use and the varna system became more rigid.

Mahajanapadas and the rise of Magadha

Buddhist texts such as the Anguttara Nikaya list 16 Mahajanapadas (great states) in the 6th century BCE.
Most were monarchies; some, like Vajji (capital Vaishali), were republics called gana-sanghas.
Asmaka was the only Mahajanapada south of the Vindhyas, on the Godavari.
Magadha became the strongest under the Haryanka kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, then the Shishunagas and the Nandas.
Magadha's capital moved from Rajagriha (Rajgir) to Pataliputra (near Patna).
Alexander of Macedon reached the north-west in 326 BCE and fought Porus at the Hydaspes (Jhelum).

Quick facts

Harappa found: 1921, Daya Ram Sahni
Mohenjo-daro found: 1922, R. D. Banerji
Dockyard: Lothal, Gujarat
Dholavira UNESCO: 2021
Oldest Veda: Rigveda
Satyameva Jayate: Mundaka Upanishad
16 Mahajanapadas: listed in Anguttara Nikaya
Alexander in India: 326 BCE

💡 Make a small table: Harappan site - modern state - famous find. Exams often mix up Lothal, Kalibangan and Dholavira.

📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.

2. Buddhism, Jainism and the Mauryan Empire

In the 6th century BCE new religious ideas challenged costly rituals. Soon after, the Mauryas built India's first large empire. Ashoka's edicts, several of them in Karnataka, are a favourite exam topic.

Buddhism

Gautama Buddha (Siddhartha) was born at Lumbini (now in Nepal); his traditional birth date is about 563 BCE, though many scholars place it later.
He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, gave his first sermon at Sarnath and died (Mahaparinirvana) at Kushinagar.
His teaching: the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path (the 'Middle Way').
Four Buddhist councils: Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra (under Ashoka) and Kashmir (under Kanishka).
After the fourth council Buddhism divided into Mahayana and Hinayana (Theravada). The Tripitaka is written in Pali.

Jainism

Jains believe in 24 Tirthankaras. Rishabhanatha was the first; Parshvanatha the 23rd; Vardhamana Mahavira the 24th.
Mahavira was born at Kundagrama near Vaishali and died at Pavapuri in Bihar.
The 'Triratna' (three jewels): right faith, right knowledge, right conduct. Ahimsa (non-violence) is central.
Jainism later split into Digambara and Svetambara sects.
Tradition says Chandragupta Maurya went with the monk Bhadrabahu to Shravanabelagola (Karnataka) and ended his life there.
The 57-foot Gommateshwara (Bahubali) statue at Shravanabelagola was built around 981-983 CE by Chavundaraya, a minister of the Western Ganga kings.

The Mauryas and Ashoka

Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire around 321 BCE with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya), author of the Arthashastra.
Megasthenes, the Greek envoy of Seleucus, described Pataliputra in his book Indica.
Ashoka fought the Kalinga war (about 261 BCE). Rock Edict XIII describes his regret and his turn to Dhamma.
Most edicts are in Prakrit in the Brahmi script; James Prinsep deciphered Brahmi in 1837.
The Maski edict (Raichur, Karnataka) was the first to name the king as 'Ashoka'. Other Karnataka edicts: Brahmagiri, Siddapura, Jatinga-Rameshwara, Sannati, Koppal.
The Lion Capital of Sarnath is India's national emblem; the Ashoka Chakra is on the national flag.

Quick facts

Buddha's first sermon: Sarnath
Buddha's enlightenment: Bodh Gaya
24th Tirthankara: Mahavira
Gommateshwara statue: Shravanabelagola, c. 981-983 CE
Arthashastra: Kautilya (Chanakya)
Indica: Megasthenes
Kalinga war: Rock Edict XIII
Edict naming 'Ashoka': Maski, Karnataka
Brahmi deciphered: James Prinsep, 1837

💡 Remember the Buddha's life as a route: Lumbini (birth) - Bodh Gaya (enlightenment) - Sarnath (sermon) - Kushinagar (death).

📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.

3. Guptas and the Dynasties of the South and Karnataka

The Gupta period is often called a 'classical age' for art, literature and science. In the south, Karnataka was home to powerful dynasties: the Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and Hoysalas, whose temples are now world heritage.

The Guptas and Harsha

Chandragupta I started the Gupta era around 319-320 CE.
Samudragupta's conquests are recorded in the Allahabad (Prayag) pillar inscription written by his court poet Harisena.
Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) ruled at the time the Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien (Faxian) visited; Kalidasa is linked with his court.
Aryabhata wrote the Aryabhatiya (499 CE); the Mehrauli iron pillar shows great metal skill.
Nalanda university was founded in the Gupta period (Kumaragupta I).
Later, Harshavardhana (606-647 CE) ruled from Kannauj; the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited his court.

Early Karnataka: Kadambas and Chalukyas of Badami

Mayurasharma founded the Kadamba dynasty around 345 CE, with Banavasi as capital; it is seen as the first native kingdom of Karnataka.
The Halmidi inscription (about 450 CE, Hassan district) is the oldest known Kannada inscription.
The Chalukyas of Badami (Vatapi) were founded by Pulakeshin I in the 6th century.
Pulakeshin II defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada; the Aihole inscription by the poet Ravikirti records this.
Pallava king Narasimhavarman I captured Vatapi in 642 CE and took the title 'Vatapikonda'.
Pattadakal temples (UNESCO, 1987) and Aihole, called a 'cradle of Indian temple architecture', belong to this period.

Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and the Tamil kingdoms

Dantidurga founded the Rashtrakuta dynasty around 753 CE; Amoghavarsha I made Manyakheta (Malkhed, Kalaburagi) the capital.
Krishna I built the rock-cut Kailasa temple at Ellora.
The Kavirajamarga, the earliest available Kannada work on poetics, comes from Amoghavarsha I's court; it is credited to the king himself or to his court poet Srivijaya.
The Hoysalas ruled from Belur and later Halebidu (Dwarasamudra). Vishnuvardhana built the Chennakeshava temple at Belur.
The 'Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas' (Belur, Halebidu, Somanathapura) became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.
In Tamil Nadu, the Pallavas built Mahabalipuram; the Chola king Rajaraja I built the Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur.

Quick facts

Gupta era begins: 319-320 CE
Allahabad pillar: Harisena, on Samudragupta
Fa-Hien: Chandragupta II's reign
Hiuen Tsang: Harsha's reign
Kadamba founder: Mayurasharma, Banavasi
Oldest Kannada inscription: Halmidi, c. 450 CE
Aihole inscription: Ravikirti, on Pulakeshin II
Kailasa temple, Ellora: Rashtrakuta Krishna I
Hoysala temples UNESCO: 2023
Pattadakal UNESCO: 1987

💡 Pair each Karnataka dynasty with its capital: Kadambas - Banavasi, Chalukyas - Badami, Rashtrakutas - Manyakheta, Hoysalas - Belur/Halebidu.

📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.

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