Ancient Medieval and Culture Class 07

DISCUSSION ON THE ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL INDIA SYLLABUS AND

QUESTIONS (1:13 P.M.)
• The focus is more on the IVC, Vedic Age, Ashokan Edicts, Gupta Age, and
Sangam Period.
• Students should focus on the PYQs.
• In medieval India, the focus is on the Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Vijaynagar,
Bhakti movement, Su movement, and the Advent of Europeans.
PREHISTORIC PERIOD (1:18 P.M.)
• It comprises the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Chalcolithic ages.
• Paleolithic Age (500000- 10000 B.C.)
• Mesolithic Age (10000- 6000 B.C.)
• Neolithic Age (6000- 1000 B.C.)
• Copper Age (3000 B.C- 500 B.C.)
• Bronze Age (2600- 1300 B.C.)
• These ages are characterized by the evolution of humans and the type of
tools they were using.
STAGES OF HUMAN EVOLUTION (1:21 P.M.)
• Australopithecus
• Homo Habilis
• Homo Erectus
• Neanderthal
• Homo Sapiens
• Cromagnons
PALAEOLITHIC AGE (1:25 P.M.)
• Hunting and gathering were prevalent.
• Flaked tools were used for hunting and gathering.
• The invention of the wheel took place here.
• Early humans used to live in caves or small huts.
• The end of this age was marked by the end of the last ice age.
• Materials like limestone, pink granite, etc. were used.
• The important sites are Hunsgi (Karnataka), Sohan Valley (Pakistan),
Bhimbetka (Narmada Valley), Adamgarh Hill (Madhya Pradesh), Gudiyam
Cave (Tamil Nadu), Attirampakam (Tamil Nadu), Sanghao Cave (Pakistan),
Nevasa (Godavari Valley), Kalpi (Ganga Plains), Lalitpur, Chopani Mando
(Uttar Pradesh), Baghor, etc.
• Adamgarh Hills has the remains of the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, and
Chalcolithic ages.
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 • Acheulians refer to an assemblage of tools marked by advanced and
symmetrical handaxes and cleavers.
• Bhimbetka has evidence of the earliest drawn rock art.
• In Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), animal teeth have been found. It suggests that
these were used as ornaments.
• In Baghor, we have found evidence related to worshipping gods as female
goddesses.
• In Lakhudiyar caves we have found prehistoric paintings.

MESOLITHIC PERIOD (1:42 P.M.)

• The humans used the small stone tools (microliths).
• Mesolithic man used to live around the rivers.
• Agriculture was developed during the later phases. However, hunting and
gathering were still prevalent.
• The important sites were Bagor (Rajasthan), Tilwara, Adamgarh (Madhya
Pradesh), Bhimbetka, Chopani Mandu, etc.
• In the Bhimbetka the bones of domesticated animals are found.
• The Mesolithic man depicts human activities like hunting and gathering the
way the Palaeolithic man did.
• Apart from that, the social life and activities of the Mesolithic man had
become more stable and profound as they have depicted in the rock art
activities like burial ceremonies, childbirth, belief in life (because of the dead
bodies laid out and buried with some goods), etc.

NEOLITHIC PERIOD
• Humans switched from hunting and gathering to agriculture.
• They domesticated animals and cultivated cereal grains.
• They used polished hand axes, adzes for ploughing and tilling, etc.
• In Mehrgarh we have found the earliest evidence of wheat and barley
cultivation. This area is known as the bread basket of Baluchistan.
• In the Kashmir valley, we have sites like Gufjral and Burzahom. They have pit
dwellings with well-made oors, unique bone tools, and a complete absence
of microliths.
• Gufkral has yielded harvesters.
• Burzahom has yielded evidence of contact with pre-Harappans based on
pottery, and it is the only site with dog burials along with human burials.
• In Chopani Mandu the earliest evidence of the use of pottery (in the Neolithic
age) has been found.
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 • In Koldihwa and Mahagarh we have found evidence related to the
domestication of sheep.
• In Chirand, we have found the bone tools and the beads of semi-precious
tools.
• In Karnataka, the important sites are Sangankallu, Maski,
• Nagajurkonda has pit dwellings with roofs supported by wooden poles.
• The evidence in Daimabada and Nevasa suggested that Neolithic farmers
moved to the Chalcolithic age.

CHALCOLITHIC AGE (3000-600 B.C.) (2:10 P.M.)

• There was the emergence of metal along with stones.
• The rst metal they used was copper.
• The important chalcolithic sites are Chirand (luxuriant black and redware
pottery), Daimabad, Maski, Piklihal, Ahar, Balathal, Ganeshwar (an important
copper belt), Navdatoli ( re altars), etc.
• Chalcolithic living
• Most of the chalcolithic cultures ourished in the region of black cotton soil.
• They also practiced Jhum cultivation.
• Wheat and Barley were the staple crops.
• Society
• At Imangaon the well-to-do farmers lived in the centre away from the artisans
who lived in the smaller houses on the fringes.
• It suggests the presence of social differentiation.
• We can also nd in society public structures like granaries, canals, etc. that
suggest the presence of administrative authority.
• Religion
• Terracotta gurines and bull gures indicate the female goddesses and
sacred animals.
• Burial Practices
• The dead were buried within the house in the North-South direction.
• In south India East-West direction was seen.
• Children were buried in urns.

INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION (2:28 P.M.)

• The seals were mostly made of steatite.
• The script was Boustrephedon.
• The barter system existed as there was no presence of metallic currency.
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 • The seals were considered as the medium of exchange having standardized
weights (mostly using 16 or its multiple).
• The Inland transportation was mainly carried out by the bullock cart.
• However, animals like sheep, goats, donkeys, etc were used to carry the
merchandise.
• Foreign trade was carried out by ships and boats.
• The important sites are Manda, Shortugai, Alamgirpur, etc.
• Polity
• There was a kind of cultural homogeneity achieved which was not possible at
that point in time without a central authority.
• There was the establishment of planning structures like citadels, great baths,
granaries, etc. This suggests the presence of central authority.
• Some historians believed that the great building at Mohenjodaro could be
labelled a palace, and a stone statue found there could be of a priest-king.
• There is a possibility of accepting decentralized control as well. There could
be a rule by the council (Uran elites and Totemic clan).
• Society
• There was the presence of ornaments.
• Growing beards was prevalent among men.
• Games of dice, marbles, miniature cooking vessels, etc. are found.
• Religious Beliefs
• Polytheism was there.
• They used to worship nature.
• Phallic worship was prevalent.
• Burials
• Complete burial was popular at Mohenjodaro.
• Fractional burial (the body was rst exposed to elements, and then bones
were collected) was popular in Harappa and Mohenjodaro.
• There was an urn burial as well along with a cof n burial.
• At Kalibangan, a pit burial was found.
• At Lothal, a double burial is found.

VEDIC AGE (3:06 P.M.)

• It is divided into two Rig Vedic Age and Later Vedic Age.
• The inscriptions relating to the Aryans are the Hittite inscription, Kassite
inscription, and Mitanni inscription.
• Max Mueller held that Aryans came from Central Asia.
• Bal Gangadhar believed that Aryans came from the Arctic region.
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 • Swami Dayanand Saraswati held that they might have come from the Tibet
region.
• Bhagwandas Gidwani held that they are the indigenous people.
• The Aryan term represents the linguistic group representing the Indo-
European family of languages.
• (* Refer to the important terms and the gods from the handout.)
• Sabha, Samiti, and Vidhata were important assemblies during the Rigvedic
age. They had a check on the power of the chief.
• The divine nature of Kingship evolved during the later Vedic age.
• Women enjoyed a better position in the Rigvedic age.
• Rigvedic society was mainly a pastoral economy supported by agriculture.
• Agriculture became the chief occupation during the later Vedic age.
• There was neither temple nor idol worship during the Rigvedic age.
• Vedic Literature (3:24 P.M.)
• Vedic literature is divided into Shruti and Smritis.
• Shruti Literature
• It has been heard and embodies eternal, self-existent truth realized by rishis
in a state of meditation or revealed to them by God. For example, Vedas
• There are four Vedas Rigveda, Samveda, Atharvaveda, and Yajurveda.
• Each Veda has four parts Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, and Upanishad.
• Oldest Upanishads are Brhadaranyaka and Chandogya.
• The latest Upanishad is Muktika Upnishad recorded by Dara Shikoh in 1656.
• Smriti Literature
• These have been remembered over the years.
• For example, Vedangas, Puranas, Dharmashastras, and Nitishastras.
• Contribution of Vedic Literature in the Present Era
• Atharvaveda and Ayurveda deal with the medicine.
• Sulvasutra deals with geometry.
• Upavedas are regarded as the basis of the modern science.
THE TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: MAHAJANAPADAS