Indian history part-1 Introduction to Indian History

Introduction to Indian History

1. What Is History?

• Definition: “History” = study of the past; from Greek historia (“research, inquiry”).

• Key Historians:

  • Herodotus (484–425 BC): “Father of History” – wrote The Histories on Greco‑Persian wars.

  • Cicero (106–43 BC): First to call Herodotus “Father of History.”

  • Leopold von Ranke (1795–1886 AD): “Father of Modern History”—“What actually happened.”

  • E.H. Carr (1892–1982 AD): History = continuous dialogue between historian & facts.

2. Systems of Dating

• BC/AD (Western Christian):

  • BC = Before Christ (e.g., Buddha born 563 BC).

  • AD = Anno Domini, “in the year of the Lord” (e.g., Jesus crucified 30 AD).

• Counting Years:

  • There is no year 0: 1 BC → 1 AD.

  • Backward count: 1 BC = 2, 2 BC = 3…

  • Forward count: 1 AD = 1, 2 AD = 2…

3. Time‑Glossary

Term	Meaning
Decade	10 years
Half‑Century	First or last 50 years of century
Century	100 years
Millennium	1,000 years
Circa (c.)	“About,” used when date is approximate

Examples:

• 6th century BC = 600 BC–501 BC

• 20th century AD = 1901 AD–2000 AD

4. Major Eras & Their “Start Dates”

Era Name	From	Remark
Kali	3102 BC	20 yrs after Mahabharata War
Saptarshi	3077 BC	After 25 yrs of Kali
Vikrama	58 BC	King Vikramaditya’s victory over Sakas
Saka	78 AD	Kushan ruler Kanishka’s ascension
Gupta	319 AD	Chandragupta I’s coronation
Harsha	606 AD	Harshavardhana’s reign begins
Hijri	622 AD	Muhammad’s migration to Medina
… and more up to Raj Saka (1674 AD)

5. Periodisation of Indian History

• Pre‑Historic (30,00,000 BC–600 BC): no written records

• Proto‑Historic (2,500 BC–600 BC): earliest scripts (e.g., Indus seals)

• Historic (600 BC–present): written evidence

• Tripartite Model (Cellarius): Ancient (to 647 AD) → Medieval (647–1757) → Modern (1757–1990)

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• MCQs based on above topic

• 1. Who is considered the "Father of History"?

  A. Cicero
  B. Herodotus
  C. E.H. Carr
  D. Ranke
  ✅ Answer: B. Herodotus
  📝 He wrote “The Histories” and documented the Greco-Persian wars.

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  2. Who first gave the title “Father of History” to Herodotus?

  A. Aristotle
  B. Plato
  C. Cicero
  D. Thucydides
  ✅ Answer: C. Cicero
  📝 Roman philosopher Cicero gave Herodotus this title.

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  3. What does AD stand for in the dating system?

  A. After Death
  B. Anno Dominus
  C. Anno Domini
  D. Annual Date
  ✅ Answer: C. Anno Domini
  📝 Latin for “in the year of the Lord” referring to Jesus Christ.

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  4. Which year comes immediately after 1 BC?

  A. 0
  B. 1 AD
  C. 2 BC
  D. 2 AD
  ✅ Answer: B. 1 AD
  📝 There is no year 0 in BC/AD system.

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  5. Which of the following is a correct time period for the 6th century BC?

  A. 601–500 BC
  B. 600–501 BC
  C. 600–500 AD
  D. 601–501 AD
  ✅ Answer: B. 600–501 BC
  📝 Century dates count backward in BC.

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  6. The Saka Era began in which year?

  A. 58 BC
  B. 622 AD
  C. 78 AD
  D. 319 AD
  ✅ Answer: C. 78 AD
  📝 Started with the reign of Kushan ruler Kanishka.

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  7. What is the time range for India’s Prehistoric period?

  A. 2500 BC–600 BC
  B. 600 BC–Present
  C. 30,00,000 BC–600 BC
  D. 2000 BC–600 AD
  ✅ Answer: C. 30,00,000 BC–600 BC
  📝 No written records exist from this time.

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  8. The Gupta Era began with the coronation of:

  A. Chandragupta Maurya
  B. Samudragupta
  C. Ashoka
  D. Chandragupta I
  ✅ Answer: D. Chandragupta I
  📝 Gupta calendar begins in 319 AD.

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  9. Who said, “History is a continuous dialogue between historian and facts”?

  A. E.H. Carr
  B. Herodotus
  C. Ranke
  D. Max Muller
  ✅ Answer: A. E.H. Carr
  📝 A modern approach to understanding history's interpretation.

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  10. What does the term "circa (c.)" mean in history?

  A. Century
  B. Correct date
  C. Common era
  D. Approximately
  ✅ Answer: D. Approximately
  📝 Used when the exact date is uncertain.