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Explore the Ancient History of India through its rich art forms, literature, and architecture. From the Harappan culture and Vedic traditions to Mauryan inscriptions, Gupta achievements, and philosophical schools, this syllabus highlights the evolution of society, culture, and knowledge across centuries.

1. Harappan Culture (Bronze Age)

• Architecture: Grid-planned cities, Great Bath, granaries, dockyard at Lothal.
• Art: Seals, terracotta figurines, bronze dancing girl.
• Material Culture: Standardized weights, pottery, beads.

2. Vedic Age

• Rig Vedic: Oral hymns, pastoral society, sacrificial altars.
• Later Vedic: Iron tools, agriculture, Brahmanas & Upanishads.
• Social: Varna system crystallization.

3. Religious Movements

• Jainism: Agamas, ascetic art, cave shelters.
• Buddhism: Stupas (Sanchi), rock-cut caves (Barabar), symbols (wheel, lotus).

4. Mauryan Age

• Ashokan Inscriptions:
  • Rock Edicts (major/minor/separate).
  • Pillar Edicts (lion capital at Sarnath).
• Architecture: Palaces at Pataliputra, stone masonry.
• Art: Polished stone sculpture, animal capitals.

5. Central Asian Contact

• Impact: Cavalry, pottery styles, coinage.
• Art Schools: Gandhara (Greco-Buddhist realism) vs Mathura (indigenous symbolism).

6. Satavahana Phase

• Material Culture: Roman trade, coins with bilingual inscriptions.
• Architecture: Amaravati stupa, rock-cut caves.
• Literature: Prakrit texts, Gatha Saptashati.

7. Gupta Empire

• Art: Ajanta murals, temple architecture (Dashavatara, Deogarh).
• Literature: Kalidasa, Sanskrit flourishing.
• Science & Tech: Aryabhata (astronomy), metallurgy (iron pillar).

8. Peninsula Developments

• Brahmanization: Spread of rituals, temple culture.
• Peasant Protest: Resistance to hierarchy.

9. Philosophy Schools

• Yoga: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
• Nyaya: Logic.
• Vaisheshika: Atomistic theory.
• Mimansa: Ritual interpretation.
• Vedanta: Metaphysical thought.

10. Social Changes

• Tribal & Pastoral Phase → kinship society.
• Agriculture & Upper Order → surplus, stratification.
• Varna System Set → institutional hierarchy.