Category: History

Persian Invasion (550 BC)-   Contemporary to reign of Bimbisara, Persian attacked N-W front of India & Magadha continued to rise in N-E & Central-north in India In N-W front of India, several small provinces like Kamboja, Gandhara & Madra Read More …

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, in a trend that had begun at the 18th, many thinkers in the Muslim world felt that Islam was going through a period of social decline, political weakness and economic disintegration, expressing itself in Read More …

Principles of Arya Samaj: Acceptance of the Vedas as the only source of truth. Opposition to idol worship. Opposition to the theory of God-incarnation and religious pilgrimages. Recitation of the mantras of the Vedas and performance of ‘Havan’ and ‘Yajna’. Read More …

The Gupta Empire was observed as the classical age of Indian culture because of its legendary and artistic happenings. Some information on roles for leading women comes from the Kama Sutra, a manual about the many ways to acquire pleasure, Read More …

The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic“rebirth” following the middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th centuryto the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy,literature and art. The Read More …

a) Chaitya: a Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with a Stupa at one end. Inmodern texts on Indian architecture, the term chaityagriha is often usedto denote an assembly or prayer hall that houses a Stupa. Ex: Karle caves b) Vihar: Read More …

Persian language became widespread in the Mughal Empire by the timeof Akbar’s reign. Abul Fazl was a great scholar and historian of his period.He set a style of prose writing and it wasfollowed by many generations. Many historical works were Read More …

The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic“rebirth” following the middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th centuryto the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy,literature and art. The Read More …

The most important cause of the downfall of the Mughal Empire was the religious policy of Aurangzeb. The Mughal state in the days of Akbar, Jahangir, and Shahjahan was basically a secular state. Its stability was essentially founded on the Read More …

Bengal Nawab’s short-sightedness, negligence, ignorance and lack of contact with other world cost the state dearer.  They did not firmly put down the increasing tendency of the English. After 1707 EIC had started to use military force, or to threaten Read More …

Lord Wellesley introduced subsidiary system at the end of the 18th century and it proved to be an effective tool and eventually Britishers were able to control India and it lead to the establishment of British empire in India.  The Read More …

Mahalwari system was introduced in 1833 during the period of William Bentick. Mahalwari system is the modified version of the Zamindari settlement The revenue settlement was to be made village by village or estate (mahal) by estate with landlords or Read More …

  Established in 1915, the Mahasabha (known previously as the Sarvadeshak Hindu Sabha) has been struggling to stay politically and socially relevant. Local forerunners to the Mahasabha had been sprouting across the country since the early decades of the 20th Read More …

Eka Movement or Unity Movement is a peasant movement which surfaced in Hardoi, Bahraich and Sitapur during the end of 1921 by Madari Pasi, an offshoot of Non Cooperation Movement. The initial thrust was given by the leaders of Congress Read More …

The name Khajuraho is derived from its Sanskrit nomenclature ‘Kharjuravahaka’ which is the confluence of two Sanskrit words ‘Kharjur’ meaning date palm and ‘Vahaka’ meaning bearer. There are about 25 temples spread over an area of approximately 6 square Km. Read More …

Akbar’s policy (Akbar – Shah Jahan) After the mid-16th century, many Rajput rulers formed close relationships with the Mughal emperors and served them in different capacities It was due to the support of the Rajputs that Akbar was able to Read More …

Alauddin took steps to make administration rigid and sound along with conquering of kingdom. He banned the meddling of Ulemas and other religious leaders in the administration. He declared that the Sultan’s will is the law. To curb the audacious relatives and Read More …

Adhishsthana or the Base Platform – generally made of a solid block of granite laid out to hold the structure’s weight and also accentuate the temples upward thrust. Shringa or Central Tower – the whole temple structure is capped by Read More …

Bengal Nawabs underestimated the hidden power and potential of EIC. They failed to grasp the true intention of EIC.  Nawabs were having the power to deal with the Company’s threats, but they continued tounderestimate the EIC power.They failed to see Read More …

Indus Valley Civilization Indus valley civilization or Harappan civilization, the earliest known urban culture of the Indian subcontinent. The nuclear dates of the civilization appear to be about 2500–1700 BCE, though the southern sites may have lasted later into the Read More …

None of the Indian powers rose to claim the heritage of the Grand Mughals for they were strong enough to destroy the Empire but not strong enough to unite it or to create anything new in its place. They could Read More …

Most of the invaders came from the north-western region, for them Panipat enroute to Delhi and positioned as a suitable battle field. Panipat is a plain, less sloped area and had less population. This geographical feature gave an advantage to Read More …

200 years of British rule had some positive developments too and they eventually led to the formation of Modern India. The positive developments are as follows: Economy: A well-developed railway network across India. Immediately after independence, India could setup heavy Read More …

The contribution of Mughals to the art of painting was remarkable. The foundation for the Mughal painting was laid by Humayun when he was staying in Persia. He brought with him two painters – Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdal Samad Read More …

As an answer to Lord Birkenhead’s challenge, an All Parties Conference met in February 1928and appointed a subcommittee under the chairmanship of Motilal Nehru to draft a. This was the first major attempt by the Indians to draft a constitutionalframework Read More …

From 1973 there was a sharp recession, growing unemployment,rampant inflation and scarcity of basic food. The oil crisis of the mid 70’s had also contributed to the crisis and all of these developments together led to riots and large-scale unrest Read More …

The Congress was on the brink of split. The 1907 session was to be held at Nagpur. But Nagpurwas the stronghold of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The moderates were aware that the local delegateswould raise the issues in favor of the Read More …

Sardar’s greatest role in the integration of states was his able handling of the Hyderabad crisis. Most of the states acceded to India, Hyderabad was a landlocked state that stretched over 82,000 square miles (over 212,000 square kilometres) in southeastern Read More …

The group comprised of Kalidasa Vetala Bhatta Varahamihira Vararuchi Amarasimha Dhanvantari kshapanak Shanku Ghatakarpura Kalidasa Kalidasa was a famous Sanskrit writer and poet in the court of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya). Kalidasa was the author of three famous plays. Abhijnanasakuntalam :tells Read More …

The earliest efforts in Municipal administration in India were made in the Presidency Towns of Madras, Calcutta and Bombay. In 1687, an order of Court of Directors directed the formation of a Corporation of Europeans and Indian members of the Read More …

No country under colonial dependence could undertake any industrial transformation, if not all-round development. Up to the First World War, India experienced the classic period of imperialism of free trade and the British Government’s unsympathetic, hostile policy against industry. In Read More …

Religious reform began among the Parsis in Mumbai in the middle of the 19th century. In 1851, the Rehnumai Maz’dayasan Sabha or Religious Reform Association was founded by Nauroji Furdonji, Dadabhai Naoroji, S.S. Bengalee and others. They started a journal Read More …

Socialism also had a revolutionary side. One such important organization was Hindustan socialist republican army (HSRA). Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) was a revolutionary organisation, also known as Hindustan Socialist Republican Army established in 1928 at Feroz Shah Kotla New Read More …

The three secrets of the Bhagavad-Gita Great scholars of the Bhagavad-Gita say that the scripture fundamentally deals with three primary teachings, which are called the three secrets. The first secret is about duty. A person must do his duty according Read More …

Economic Critique of British Empire: It was perhaps the most important contribution ofthe moderates. RC Dutt, DadabhaiNaroji (Drain Theory). They also exposed the ill effectof foreign capital in India in form of suppression of Indian industries. ? Constitutional Reforms: Indian Read More …

The Extremists wanted to extend the Boycott and Swadeshi Movement to regions outsideBengal and also to include all forms of associations (such as government service, law courts,legislative councils, etc.) within the boycott programme and thus start a nationwide massmovement. The Read More …

Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, a teacher at Hindu College, Calcutta, in the 1820s, promoted radicalideas and encouraged his pupils to question all authority. Referred to as the Young BengalMovement, his students attacked tradition and custom, demanded education for women andcampaigned Read More …

LW was governor general of India during 1798-1805 and he played a major role in the expansion of East India Company.  His main objective were to expand British rule in India and to extend the trade relationship of the East Read More …

Main Differences Between Mathura School of Arts and Gandhara School of Arts-   (1) Origin Mathura School: No foreign Influence, however, later it cross fertilized with the Gandhara School. Its development took place indigenously. Gandhara School: Strong Greek influence.  Was based on Read More …

The Hunas’ invasion in India had far reaching effects and significance in Indian History, as mentioned below: First of all, the Hunas had destroyed the dominance of the Gupta Empire in India and on their feudatories. Small kingdoms began to Read More …

The illegal use of Mughal Imperial export trade permits (dastaks) granted to the British in 1717, for engaging in internal trade within India. The British cited this permit as their excuse for not paying taxes to the Bengal Nawab. British Read More …

Popularly known as the “Grand Old Man of India”, DadabhaiNaoroji was born in Bombay on 4September 1825 in a Parsi family with a prominent lineage of Zoroastrian priests. The youngNaoroji was therefore brought up to take on his father’s profession Read More …

Not contented with the political mendicancy of the ‘moderates’ and the inefficient decisionmaking of the ‘extremist’, the advent of individual and revolutionary terrorism was gettingprominence in the freedom struggle.Indian youth resort to revolutionary terrorism during the independence struggle in threephases: Read More …

Proto-historic period is the age nearest to the historical period. In so far as India is concerned the civilisation of the Vedic period is the proto-historic period. The hymns composed by the Vedic priests had perfected a poetic technique. These Read More …

Most important change was the evolution of caste system. Various sub castes evolved in addition to the traditional four-castes. The Brahmanas and Kshatriyas emerged as the two leading castes out of the general mass of population, known as vaisyas. The Read More …

Causes of Decline: Decline of Indian courts: The disappearance of Indian courts struck the first blow at Indian handicrafts. As native states passed under British rule, the demand for fine articles, for display in durbars and other ceremonial occasions disappeared. Read More …

Judicial Reforms Cornwallis introduced some significant reforms in the sphere of judicial administration and tried to complete the unfinished work of Warren Hastings. During his period number of revenue districts was reduced from 35 to 23 in the Presidency of Read More …

Poona Pact of 1932 is an agreement between the untouchables or depressed classes of India and the Hindus. Dr. B.R.Ambedkar led the depressed class. The Poona Pact took place at Yerawada Jail in Pune, Maharashtra on 24th September, 1932.During the Read More …

Administrative and Judicial Reforms: The administrative structure of British India had been given shape by Cornwallis. But since the days of Cornwallis the company had made great advances, and defects in that structure became apparent as it had not kept Read More …

On March 20, 1929, arrests against WPP, CPI and other labour leaders were made in several parts of India, in what became known as the Meerut Conspiracy Case. Most of the WPP leadership was now put behind bars. The trial Read More …