Sources of Ancient Indian History
Key notes
Sources are divided into literary sources and archaeological sources.
Literary sources
Religious literature
- Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.
- Brahmanas: Explanations of rituals.
- Aranyakas: Texts linked with forest traditions and philosophical speculation.
- Upanishads: Philosophical discussions on Brahman, Atman and reality.
- Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Puranas: Genealogies, legends, cosmology and religious traditions.
- Buddhist texts: Tripitaka, Jatakas and other texts.
- Jain texts: Agamas and related literature.
- Sangam literature: Important for early South Indian history.
Secular literature
- Arthashastra of Kautilya.
- Panini’s Ashtadhyayi.
- Patanjali’s Mahabhashya.
- Sangam texts.
- Biographies and court literature.
Archaeological sources
- Inscriptions.
- Coins.
- Pottery.
- Tools and weapons.
- Sculptures.
- Monuments.
- Seals.
- Beads and ornaments.
- Burials.
- Excavated settlements.
Important branches
- Epigraphy: Study of inscriptions.
- Numismatics: Study of coins.
- Palaeography: Study of ancient scripts.
- Archaeology: Study of material remains.
Foreign accounts
- Megasthenes: Indica.
- Fa-Hien: Gupta period.
- Xuanzang: Harsha’s period.
- Pliny and Periplus: Trade and geography.
- Al-Biruni: Early medieval India.
Limitations
- Literary texts may contain myths and religious bias.
- Inscriptions are often royal and may glorify rulers.
- Coins generally provide limited social information.
- Archaeological evidence may be fragmentary.
- Interpretation can change with new discoveries.
MCQs
The study of inscriptions is called:
- A. Epigraphy
- B. Numismatics
- C. Archaeobotany
- D. Cartography
Answer: A
Megasthenes wrote:
- A. Indica
- B. Arthashastra
- C. Rajatarangini
- D. Buddhacharita
Answer: A
The Tripitaka is associated with:
- A. Buddhism
- B. Jainism
- C. Shaivism
- D. Ajivikas
Answer: A
The study of ancient scripts is known as:
- A. Palaeography
- B. Numismatics
- C. Epigraphy
- D. Ethnography
Answer: A
The Arthashastra is traditionally associated with:
- A. Kautilya
- B. Kalidasa
- C. Banabhatta
- D. Patanjali
Answer: A