Ancient History Notes for UPSC & UPPCS – Complete Revision Guide (IAS-Level)

Preparing for UPSC or UPPCS exams? Ancient Indian History is a high-weightage subject in the Prelims and Mains, often yielding factual, scoring questions. This post offers concise, exam-focused notes on topics like the Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Age, Mauryan Empire, Gupta Period, and more—based on trusted sources and styled after top-ranking UPSC answer writers.

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✅ Perfect for UPSC Prelims, UPPCS, BPSC, SSC, and other state-level exams.

Prehistoric Period
Indus Valley Civilization
Vedic Age
Mahajanapadas & Religious Movements
Mauryan Empire
Post-Mauryan Kingdoms
Gupta Empire
South Indian Kingdoms (Sangam Age)
Art, Architecture & Culture
Early Medieval Transition
Vedic Literature Classification
Six Schools of Indian Philosophy
Scripts, Inscriptions & Coinage
Ancient Indian Science & Medicine

Ancient Indian History for UPSC – Timeline, Art, Dynasties

1. Prehistoric Period

Paleolithic: Hunter-gatherers, hand axes. Sites: Bhimbetka, Hunsgi.
Mesolithic: Microliths, early domestication. Sites: Bagor, Adamgarh.
Neolithic: Agriculture, polished tools, pottery. Sites: Mehrgarh, Burzahom, Chirand.

2. Indus Valley Civilization

Urban phase: 2600–1900 BCE
Cities: Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Dholavira, Lothal, Kalibangan
Features: Grid layout, drainage, citadel, granaries
Economy: Wheat, barley, seals, trade with Mesopotamia
Script: Pictographic, undeciphered
Decline: Floods, river shift, invasions

3. Vedic Age

Rig Vedic (1500–1000 BCE): Pastoral life, Rajan, Sabha, Samiti
Later Vedic (1000–600 BCE): Iron, agriculture, Painted Grey Ware

4. Mahajanapadas & Religious Movements

16 Mahajanapadas; Magadha dominant
Jainism: Mahavira, 24 Tirthankaras
Buddhism: Buddha, 4 Noble Truths, 8-Fold Path
Councils: Rajgir, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kashmir

5. Mauryan Empire

Founded by Chandragupta Maurya (322 BCE)
Ashoka: Kalinga war, Dhamma, rock edicts
Arthashastra: Kautilya on polity, espionage
Administration: Provinces (Desha), Amatyas, Dhamma Mahamattas
Decline: Weak rulers, invasions

6. Post-Mauryan Kingdoms

Indo-Greeks: Menander, Milinda Panha
Shakas: Saka Era (78 CE), Rudradaman I
Kushanas: Kanishka, 4th Buddhist Council
Satavahanas: Gauthamiputra Satakarni, Prakrit

7. Gupta Empire

Founded by Chandragupta I (319 CE)
Samudragupta: Allahabad Pillar
Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya): Kalidasa, Navratnas
Fa-Hien visit, decentralisation, Huna invasions

8. South Indian Kingdoms (Sangam Age)

Literature in Tamil, Chera-Chola-Pandya
Karikala Chola: Kallanai Dam
Ports: Puhar, Musiri; Roman trade

9. Art, Architecture & Culture

Mauryan: Ashokan Pillars, Barabar caves
Buddhist: Sanchi, Amaravati, Chaityas
Gandhara & Mathura: Greek vs Indigenous style
Gupta: Ajanta paintings, Nagara temples
Literature: Vedas, Puranas, Kalidasa

10. Early Medieval Transition

Later Sangam (300–600 CE)
Pallavas: Shore Temple (Mahabalipuram)
Chalukyas: Pulakesin II, Badami
Vakatakas: Patronised Ajanta

11. Vedic Literature Classification

Vedas: Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva
Brahmanas: Ritual prose texts
Aranyakas: Forest meditations
Upanishads: Atman, Brahman, Vedanta
Vedangas: Linguistics, rituals, astronomy
Smritis: Law codes (e.g., Manusmriti)

12. Six Schools of Indian Philosophy

Nyaya: Logic
Vaisheshika: Atomism
Samkhya: Purusha-Prakriti dualism
Yoga: Patanjali's path
Mimamsa: Vedic ritualism
Vedanta: Philosophical end of Vedas

13. Scripts, Inscriptions & Coinage

Scripts: Brahmi, Kharosthi
Inscriptions: Ashokan Edicts, Junagarh
Coins: Punch-marked, Indo-Greek, Gupta gold
Numismatics: Reveals economy, ruler titles

14. Ancient Indian Science & Medicine

Ayurveda: Charaka, Sushruta
Mathematics: Aryabhata (π, zero), Brahmagupta
Astronomy: Varahamihira, eclipse theory
Metallurgy: Iron Pillar, Zawar zinc smelting

This comprehensive summary is tailored for UPSC/UPPCS aspirants. With crisp facts and structured insights, it’s your perfect tool for Prelims and beyond. Bookmark and revise efficiently!