CLUSTER UNIVERSITY JAMMU

SYLLABUS – SEMESTER 1st (CBCS) – HISTORY

(CORE COURSE – THEORY)

TITLE: The History of India from Earliest Times up to 300 CE

COURSE CODE : 1HISTC0101 CREDITS : 06
DURATION OF EXAMINATION TOTAL: 150 Marks
MINOR TEST : 01 Hour MINOR TEST: 30 Marks
MAJOR TEST : 03 Hours MAJOR TEST: 120 Marks

Objectives:

The objective of the proposed syllabus is to apprise the students of the complex procedure of construction
of history, as knowledge of history is prerequisite for better future. The objective is also to enable the
students to understand the progress made by Indians from pre historic times onwards.

Unit – I PRE HISTORY ( Hours : 18 )

1. Major Prehistoric ad Neolithic sites: Bhimbetka, Brahmagiri, Burzahom, Gufkral, Inamgaon and
Mehrgarh.
2. Survey of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Cultures and their features: Tool implements, art,
environment and sources of livelihood.
3. Survey of Neolithic Culture and features: Tool implements, art, environment and sources of
livelihood.

Unit – II SOURCES AND HARAPPAN CULTURE ( Hours : 18 )

1. A brief survey of sources of Ancient Indian History: Epigraphy, Numismatics and literary
sources.
2. Harappan Culture: Origin and Extent.
3. Dominant features: Town Planning, Religion and Art. Decline of the Harappan Culture

Unit – III THE VEDIC CULTURE ( Hours : 18 )

1. A Brief Overview of Early Vedic Culture: Polity, Economy, Society and Religion.
2. A Brief Overview of Later Vedic Culture: Polity, Economy, Society and Religion.
3. Iron age and its features: From Pastoralism to Agricultural life.

Unit – IV TERRITORIAL STATES AND RISE OF MAGADHA ( Hours : 18 )

1. Mahajanpadas and causes of Magadha’s Success.

2. Jainism and Buddhism: Doctrine, Spread, contribution and decline.
3. Alexander’s invasion and impact.

Unit –V MAURYAS AND POST – MAURYAS ( Hours : 18 )

1. Chandragupta Maurya: Conquests and Administration.

2. Economy, Policy of Dhamma of Ashoka, Administrative reforms of Ashoka and Mauryan Art.
3. Kushanas with special reference to Kanishka-Aspects of Polity, Religion and Commerce.

COURSE CODE : 1HISTC0101 Page | 1

 CLUSTER UNIVERSITY JAMMU
SYLLABUS – SEMESTER 1st (CBCS) – HISTORY
(CORE COURSE – THEORY)

Suggested Readings:

1. Basham A.L, The Wonder That Was India, New Delhi, Rupa and Company, 1967
2. Chakrabarti, Dilip K, India: An Archaeological History – Palaeolithic beginnings Historic
Foundations Delhi: OUP,1999.
3. Jain V.K, Prehistory and ProtoHistory of India, Delhi, 2015.
4. Jha, D.N, Ancient India in Historical Outline , New- Delhi, Manohar Publishers, Revised and
enlarged edition , 2009.
5. Jha , D.N , Early India : A Concise History, Delhi , Manohar, 2004.
6. Kosambi , D.D. , An Introduction to the Study of Indian History , New Delhi, Popular Prakashan ,
1975 .
7. Singh Upinder, A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India, from the Stone to the 12th
Century, New Delhi, Pearson, 2013.
8. Sharma R.S, Perspectives in Social and Economic History of Early India , Delhi, Munshiram
ManoharLal, 1995.
9. Thapar, Romila, Early India from the Origins to A.D. 1300, New Delhi, Penguin , 2002.
10. Thapar, Romila, Ashoka and the Decline of Mauryas, Third Edition , New Delhi, OUP , 2012.
11. Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan SeriesVol I &II.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAPER SETTERS AND CANDIDATES:

Minor Test:
1) The Minor Test shall be held for the first 20% of the syllabus having 30 marks i.e.
covering first unit out of five units.
2) It will comprise of three long answer type questions of 8 marks each and students will
have to attempt any two and 10 short answer type questions of 2 marks each and student
will have to attempt any 7 questions.

Major Test: It will be of two parts

1) Part A: It will comprise of 5 questions of 3 marks and 9 questions of 1 mark. (Short
answer/objective type question of 24 marks) covering all five units with equal weightage
to all units.
2) Part B: Comprising of eight long answer questions of 24 marks each, from 2nd, 3rd, 4th
and 5th units. Two questions shall be set from each unit and student will have the internal
choice.
Each question of 24 marks will have two parts:
i) Long answer question of 18 marks.
ii) Short answer question/numerical of 6 marks.

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