CS-GS Topics Flashcards
(417 cards)
- Sources
Archaeological sources :
Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics,
monuments.
Literary sources:
Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific
1iterature, 1iterature, 1iterature in regional languages, re1igious
literature.
Foreign account: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.
History 1
- Pre-history and Proto-history :
Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic
and meso1ithic); Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and
cha1co1ithic).
History 2
- Indus Valley Civilization:
Origin, date, extent, characteristics-decline, survival and
signiticance, art and architecture.
History 3
- Megalithic Cultures :
Distribution of pastoral and fanning cultures outside
the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements,
Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.
History 4
5.Aryans and Vedic Period:
Expansions of Aryans in India:
Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literarure;
Transfonnation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period;
Political, social and economical life; Significance of the Vedic
Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system.
History 5
- Period ofMahajanapadas:
Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and
monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic
growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and
Buddism; Rise of Magadha and Nand as.
Iranian and Mecedonian invasions and their impact.
History 6
- Mauryan Empire:
Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta,
Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of Dharma;
Edicts; Polity. Administration, Economy; Art, architecture and
sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion;
Literature.
Disintegration of the empire; sungas and Kanvas.
History 7
- Post-Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas,
Western Kshatrapas):
Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres,
economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social
conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.
History 8
- Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India:
Kharave]a, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sang am
Age; Administration, Economy, ]and grants, coinage, trade
gui1ds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam 1iterature
and culture; Art and architecture.
History 9
- Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:
Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage
of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian
feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and
educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi,
Literature, scientitlc literature, art and architecture.
History 10
- Regional States during Gupta Era:
The Kadambas, Pa11avas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity
and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of
Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakit movement,
Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple
architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and
administration; Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind;
Alberuni, The Chaluky as of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas,
Pandyas; Polity and Administration; Local Government;
Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of
temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature,
economy and society.
History 11
- Themes in Early Indian Cultural History:
Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of
art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools,
ideas in Science and Mathematics.
History 12
- Early Medieval India, 750-1200:
-Polity: Major political developments in Northern India
and the peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs.
-The Cho1as: administration, vi11age economy and
society “Indian Feuda1ism”.
-Agrarian economy and urban settlements.
-Trade and commerce.
-Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social
order.
-Condition of women.
-Indian science and technology.
History 13
- Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:
-Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and
Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa.
-Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional
cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India,
Sutism.
-Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil
literature, literature in the newly developing languages,
Ka1han’s Rajtarangini, A1beruni’s India .
-Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture,
painting.
History 14
- The Thirteenth Century:
-Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian
invasions - factors behind Ghurian success.
-Economic, Social and cultural consequences.
-Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans.
-Consolidation: The rule of lltutmish and Balban
History 15
- The Fourteenth Century:
-“The Khalji Revolution”.
- Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion,
agrarian and economic measure.
-Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures,
bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq.
- Firuz Tugluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil
engineering and public works, decline ofthe Sultanate,
foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account.
History 16
- Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and
Fourteenth Centuries:
-Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes,
town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and
slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Suti
movement.
-Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional
languages of North India, literaute in the languages of
South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural
forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture.
-Economy: Agricultural Production, rise of urban
economy and non-agricultural production, trade and
commerce.
History 17
- The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century-Political
Developments and Economy:
-Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul
Abedin), Gujarat.
- Malwa, Bahmanids.
-The Vijayanagara Empire.
-Lodis.
-Mughal Empire, first phase: Babur, Humayun.
-The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration.
-Portuguese colonial enterprise, Bhakti and Sufi
Movements.
History 18
- The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century- Society and
culture:
-Regional cultures specificities.
-Literary traditions.
-Provincial architectural.
-Society, culture, literature and the arts in Yijayanagara
Empire.
History 19
- Akbar:
-Conquests and consolidation of empire.
-Establishment ofjaxir and mansah systems.
-Raj put policy.
-Evolution of religious and social outlook. Theory of
Sullz-i-kul and religious policy.
-Court patronage of art and technology.
History 20
- Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century:
-Major administrative policies ofJahangir, Shahjahan and
Aurangzeb.
-The Empire and the Zamindars.
-Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and
Aurangzeb.
-Nature of the Mughal State.
-Late Seventeenth Century crisis and the revolts.
- TheAhom kingdom.
- Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.
History 21
- Economy and society, in the 16th and 17th Centuries:
-Population Agricultural and craft production.
-Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English
and French companies : a trade revolution.
-Indian mercanti1e classes. Banking, insurance and credit
systems.
-Conditions of peasants, Condition of Women.
-Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth
History 22
- CultureduringMughalEmpire:
-Persian histories and other literature
-Hindi and religious literatures.
- Mugha1 architecture.
- Mugha1 painting.
-Provincia] architecture and painting.
- C1assica1 music.
-Science and technology.
History 23
- The Eighteenth Century:
-Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire.
-The regional principa1ities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal,
Awadh.
- Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas.
-The Maratha fiscal and financial system.
-Emergence of Afghan power Battle of Panipat, 1761.
-State of, po1itica1, cultural and economic, on eve of the
British conquest.
History 24