History Optional

Paper 1 :

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1. Sources  

• Archaeological sources :
• Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments.
• Literary sources:
• Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature.
• Foreign account: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.

2. Pre‐history and Proto‐history: 

Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic). 

3. Indus Valley Civilization: 

Origin, date, extent, characteristics-decline, survival and significance, art and architecture. 

4. Megalithic Cultures:

Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry. 

5. Aryans and Vedic Period:

• Expansions of Aryans in India:
• Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation 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.

6. Period of Mahajanapadas:

Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas. 

Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.  

7. 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.

8. 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. 

9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India:

Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, Economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and architecture. 

10. 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, scientific literature, art and architecture. 

11. Regional States during Gupta Era:

The Kadambas, Pallavas, 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. 

12. 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.

13. Early Medieval India, 750‐1200:

— Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs. 

— The Cholas: administration, village economy and society “Indian Feudalism”. 

— 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. 

14. 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, Sufism. 

— Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India. 

— Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting. 

15. The Thirteenth Century: 

— Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghorian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success. 

— Economic, Social and cultural consequences. 

— Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans. 

— Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban. 

16. The Fourteenth Century: 

— “The Khalji Revolution”. 

— Alauddin Khilji: 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 of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account. 

17. 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, Sufi 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. 

18. 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. 

19. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century‐Society and culture: 

— Regional cultures specificities. 

— Literary traditions. 

— Provincial architectural. 

— Society, culture, literature and the  arts in Vijayanagara Empire. 

20. Akbar:

— Conquests and consolidation of empire.  

— Establishment of jagir and mansab systems.  

— Rajput policy.  

— Evolution of religious and social outlook. Theory of Sulh‐i‐kul and religious policy.  

— Court patronage of art and technology. 

21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century: 

— Major administrative policies of Jahangir, 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. 

— The Ahom kingdom. 

— Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom. 

22. 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 mercantile classes. Banking, insurance and credit systems.  

— Conditions of peasants, Condition of Women. 

— Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth. 

23. Culture during Mughal Empire: 

— Persian histories and other literature. 

— Hindi and religious literatures.  

— Mughal architecture.  

— Mughal painting.  

— Provincial architecture and painting.  

— Classical music.  

— Science and technology.   

24. The Eighteenth Century:

— Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire.  

— The regional principalities: 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, political, cultural and economic, on eve of the British conquest. 

Paper 2 :

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1. European Penetration into India: 

The Early European Settlements; The Portuguese and the Dutch; The English and the French East India Companies; Their struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars; Bengal-The conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and the English; The Battle of Plassey; Significance of Plassey. 

2. British Expansion in India: 

Bengal-Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; The Battle of Buxar; Mysore; The Marathas; The three Anglo-Maratha Wars; The Punjab. 

3. Early Structure of the British Raj: 

The Early administrative structure; From diarchy to direct contol; The Regulating Act (1773); The Pitt’s India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833); The Voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule; The English utilitarian and India. 

4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule: 

1. Land revenue settlements in British India; The Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement; Mahalwari Settlement; Economic impact of the revenue arrangements; Commercialization of agriculture; Rise of landless agrarian labourers; Impoverishment of the rural society.
2. Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce; De-industrialisation; Decline of traditional crafts; Drain of wealth; Economic transformation of India; Railroad and communication network including telegraph and postal services; Famine and poverty in the rural interior; European business enterprise and its limitations.

5. Social and Cultural Developments: 

The state of  indigenous education, its dislocation; Orientalist-Anglicist controversy, The introduction of western education in India; The rise of press, literature and public opinion; The rise of modern vernacular literature; Progress of Science; Christian missionary activities in India. 

6. Social and Religious Reform Movements in Bengal and Other Areas:

Ram Mohan Roy, The Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The Young Bengal Movement; Dayanada Saraswati; The social reform movements in India including Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.; The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India; Islamic revivalism-the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements. 

7. Indian Response to British Rule: 

Peasant movement and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries including the Rangpur Dhing (1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841-1920), the Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Deccan Uprising (1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900); The Great Revolt of 1857—Origin, character, casuses of failure, the consequences; The shift in the character of peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period; the peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s. 

8. Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism; Politics of Association; The Foundation of the Indian National Congress; The Safety-valve thesis relating to the birth of the Congress; Programme and objectives of Early Congress; the social composition of early Congress leadership; the Moderates and Extremists; The Partition of Bengal (1905); The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; the economic and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement; The beginning of revolutionary extremism in India. 

9. Rise of Gandhi; Character of Gandhian nationalism; Gandhi’s popular appeal; Rowlatt Satyagraha; the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement; National politics from the end of the Non-cooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement; the two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru Report; the Round Table Conferences; Nationalism and the Peasant Movements; Nationalism and Working class movements; Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885-1947);  the election of 1937 and the formation of ministries; Cripps Mission; the Quit India Movement; the Wavell Plan; The Cabinet Mission. 

10. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935. 

11. Other strands in the National Movement. 

• The Revolutionaries: Bengal, the Punjab, Maharashtra, U.P. the Madras Presidency, Outside India.
• The Left; The Left within the Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress Socialist Party; the Communist Party of India, other left parties.

12. Politics of Separatism; the Muslim League; the Hindu Mahasabha; Communalism and the politics of partition; Transfer of power; Independence. 

13. Consolidation as a Nation; Nehru’s Foreign Policy; India and her neighbours (1947-1964); The linguistic reorganisation of States (1935-1947); Regionalism and regional inequality; Integration of Princely States; Princes in electoral politics; the Question of National Language. 

14. Caste and Ethnicity after 1947; Backward Castes and Tribes in post-colonial electoral politics; Dalit movements. 

15. Economic development and political change; Land reforms; the politics of planning and rural reconstruction; Ecology and environmental policy in post-colonial India; Progress of Science. 

16. Enlightenment and Modern ideas: 

(i) Major Ideas of Enlightenment : Kant, Rousseau. 

(ii) Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies. 

(iii) Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism. 

17. Origins of Modern Politics: 

(i) European States System. 

(ii) American Revolution and the Constitution. 

(iii) French Revolution and Aftermath, 1789-1815. 

(iv) American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery. 

(v) British Democratic politics, 1815-1850 : Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists. 

18. Industrialization:

(i) English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society. 

(ii) Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan. 

(iii) Industrialization and Globalization. 

19. Nation‐State System: 

(i) Rise of Nationalism in the 19th century. 

(ii) Nationalism : State-building in Germany and Italy. 

(iii) Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the World. 

20. Imperialism and Colonialism: 

(i) South and South-East Asia. 

(ii) Latin America and South Africa. 

(iii) Australia. 

(iv) Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism. 

21. Revolution and Counter‐Revolution: 

(i) 19th Century European revolutions. 

(ii) The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921. 

(iii) Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany. 

(iv) The Chinese Revolution of 1949. 

22. World Wars: 

(i) 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars : Societal implications. 

(ii) World War I : Causes and Consequences. 

(iii) World War II : Causes and Consequences. 

23. The World after World War II: 

(i) Emergence of Two power blocs.  

(ii) Emergence of Third World and non-alignment. 

(iii) UNO and the global disputes. 

24. Liberation from Colonial Rule: 

(i) Latin America-Bolivar. 

(ii) Arab World-Egypt. 

(iii) Africa-Apartheid to Democracy. 

(iv) South-East Asia-Vietnam. 

25. Decolonization and Underdevelopment: 

(i) Factors constraining Development ; Latin America, Africa. 

26. Unification of Europe:

(i) Post War Foundations ; NATO and European Community. 

(ii) Consolidation and Expansion of European Community 

(iii) European Union. 

27. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World: 

(i) Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet Communism and Soviet Union, 1985-1991. 

(ii) Political Changes in East Europe 1989-2001. 

(iii) End of the Cold War and US Ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.