Ancient Indian History: Recognising Transformation
Introduction to the study of ancient Indian history, covering the key patterns of civilisational transformation from caves to towns, the distinction between prehistory, protohistory, and history, landmark moments in the historiography of India from the Royal Asiatic Society to the Nehruvian era, and the geographical spread of major ancient kingdoms and trade routes across the subcontinent
Topics
Introduction to Ancient Indian History
The broad arc of civilisational change in ancient India, classifying historical eras, key milestones in Indian historiography, and a geographical overview of major ancient kingdoms and trade routes
Art Forms of Ancient India: Performing and Visual Arts
An overview of Indian art forms covering the three types of culture, performing arts rooted in Natyasastra, and visual arts including paintings and sculpture
Architecture and Literature of Ancient India
A study of ancient Indian architecture from Mauryan stone structures and Ashokan stupas to rock-cut caves, monolithic temples at Ellora, and the three regional styles of structural temples, alongside the six streams of ancient Indian literature
Timeline of Ancient Indian History
A structured chronological walkthrough of ancient Indian history from the Harappan civilisation through the Vedic age, the Mahajanapada era, the Mauryan empire, and the post-Mauryan period of foreign contact and cultural synthesis
From the Gupta Golden Age to Indian Independence
A chronological walkthrough of Indian history from the Gupta period through the Harsha era, the tripartite struggle, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal dynasty, the East India Company, and the national struggle for independence