Medieval Indian History: History Optional Notes

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Medieval Indian History

1. Early Medieval India, 750‐1200

Early Medieval India, 750-1200: Major Political Developments

Origin and the Rise of Rajputs

Cholas: Administration, Village economy and Society

Indian Feudalism in Early Medieval Period

Agrarian Economy in Early Medieval India

Urban Settlements in Early Medieval India

Trade and Commerce in Early Medieval India

Society in Early Medieval India

Condition of Women

Indian Science and Technology

2. Cultural Traditions in India, 750‐1200

Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta

Philosophy: Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita

Philosophy: Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa

Religion: Forms and features of religion

Religion: Tamil devotional cult, Growth of Bhakti

Religion: Islam and its arrival in India

Religion: Sufism

Literature: Literature in Sanskrit

Literature: Growth of Tamil literature

Literature: Literature in the newly developing Languages

Literature: Kalhan’s Rajtarangini

Literature: Alberuni’s India

Temple Architecture: Odisha Temple Architecture

Temple Architecture: Kashmir Temple Architecture

Temple Architecture: Khajuraho Temple Architecture

Temple Architecture: Temples in Gujarat and Rajasthan

Temple Architecture: Temples in South India

Art and Architecture: Painting

3. The Thirteenth Century

The Ghurian invasions, factors behind Ghurian success.

Foundation of Delhi Sultanate: Rule of Iltutmish

Foundation of Delhi Sultanate: Rule of Balban

 4. The Fourteenth Century

The Khalji Revolution: Jalaluddin Khalji

Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measure

Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq

Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian Measures, Achievements in Civil Engineering and Public Works, Decline of the Sultanate

Shams Siraj Afif’s Account: Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi

Foreign Contact: Ibn Battuta’s Accounts

The Mangol threat to India during Sultanate period

5. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries

Government and Administration under the Delhi Sultanate

Economy: Agricultural Production

Economy: Rise of Urban Economy and Non-Agricultural Production

Economy: Trade and Commerce

Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes under the Sultanate

Society: town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate

Lekhapaddhati as a Source of History

Sultanate Architecture and New structural forms

Persian Literature, Literature in the regional languages of North India, Literature in the languages of South India

Painting, Music, Evolution of Composite Culture

Amir Khusrau and his Contribution

Educational development during Sultanate Period

6. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century‐Political Developments and Economy

Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal

Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Gujarat

Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Malwa

Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Lodis

Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Kashmir

Vijayanagara Empire

Society in Vijaynagar Empire

Bahmani Kingdom (Bahmanids)

Portuguese Colonial Enterprise

Central Asian Politics & advance of Babar towards India

Mughal Empire, First Phase: Babur

Mughal Empire, First Phase: Humayun

The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s Administration

Growth of Bhakti, Bhakti Movement

Sufi Movements

7. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century‐ Society and culture

Regional Cultures Specificities

Provincial Architecture: Bengal and Jaunpur

Provincial Architecture: Gujarat

Provincial Architecture: Deccan

Provincial Architecture: Malwa

Rana Kumbha’s Cultural Contribution

Architecture, Culture, Literature and Arts in Vijayanagara Empire

8. Akbar

Akbar: Conquests and consolidation of empire

Rajput Policy of Akbar

Establishment of Jagir & Mansab Systems

Land Revenue System under Akbar

Akbar’s Religious Views and Social Reforms

Court Patronage of Art and Technology

Foreign Policy of Akbar

9. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century

Mughal Administration

Mughal Land Revenue System

Rajput Policy of Akbar

Rajput Policy of Jahangir

Religious Policies of Jahangir

Religious Policies of Shahjahan

War of Succession by Shahjahan’s Sons: Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh

Religious Policies of Aurangzeb

Rajput Policy of Aurangzeb

Revolts against Aurangzeb

The Empire and the Zamindars

Nature of Mughal State

Mughal Theory of Sovereignty

Foreign Policy of Mughals in Northwest

Deccan Policy of Mughals

Late Seventeenth Century crisis and the revolts

Peasant Revolts of Jats, Satnamis, Sikhs and Marathas

The Ahom Kingdom

Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom

10. Economy and society, in the 16th and 17th Centuries

Population in Mughal India

Fiscal and Monetary System, Prices in Mughal India

Agriculture Production in Mughal India

Craft Production in Mughal Period

Towns

Commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French Companies

Indian Mercantile Classes, Banking, Insurance and Credit Systems

Potentiality of Emergence of Capitalism in Mughal India

Condition of Peasants in the 16th and 17th Centuries

Condition of Women in the 16th and 17th Centuries

Evolution of the Sikh Community and the Khalsa Panth

Bernier’s Account of India

11. Culture during Mughal Empire

Persian Histories and other Literature (Mughal India)

Hindi and Religious Literatures in Mughal India

Mughal Architecture

Mughal Painting

Rajput Painting

Provincial Architecture: Bijapur

Provincial Architecture: Kashmir

Provincial Painting: Pahari School of Painting

Provincial Painting: Deccan Painting

Provincial Painting: Patna Kalam Painting

Classical Music in Mughal India

Science and Technology in Mughal India

12. The Eighteenth Century

Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire

Regional Principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh

Maratha Ascendancy under the Peshwas

Nature of Political System of Marathas

The Maratha Fiscal and Financial System

Emergence of Afgan Power

Third Battle of Panipat

State of Politics, Culture and Economy on the eve of the British Conquest