Sources: History Optional PYQs

Archaeological sources: Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments

Literary sources: Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature In regional languages, religious literature.

Foreign accounts; Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.

PYQs: Sources (1985-2024)

1. “Ancient Indians had no taste for historiography; their scholars cared more for religious, spiritual and philosophical studies.Indian historiography is essentially an Islamic heritage ” Comment upon this statement with special reference to the contemporary writers and their works which help us in the reconstruction of history of the early Medieval period of Indian history. (1996)
2. Assess the pattern of settlement, economy, social organisation and religion of India during 2000 to 500 BC from archaeological evidences. (2003)
3. Discuss the changing approaches to the study of early Indian History. (2006)
4. “Reconstruction of Early Indian history is hardly possible without the help of inscriptions and coins.” Discuss. (2007)
5. In what ways are the accounts of the Graeco-Romans and the Chinese helpful in reconstructing the social history of India? How far is their information corroborated by other contemporary sources? (2009)
6. What light do early inscriptions and literature throw on the status of women in politico- socio- economic spheres? (2010)
7. On the basis of contemporary sources assess the nature of banking and usuary in ancient India. (2013)
8. Evaluate the ownership of land in ancient India on the basis of literary and epigraphic sources. (2013)
9. Evaluate the contribution of the Puranas in disseminating secular knowledge among the masses in ancient India. (2013)
10. “While using the accounts of foreign writers, historians must distinguish between statements based on hearsay and those grounded in perceptive observations.” Elaborate with examples. (2014)
11. How far can the ancient Indian Sruti literature be used as historical sources? (2015)
12. “The copious references to the preservation of Varnashrama system by the kings eulogized in inscriptions are mere reflection of the Smriti tradition.” Discuss. (2016)
13. Art and culture are reflected to a far greater extent than political history in the epigraphic sources. Comment. (2017)
14. How did the early Indian historical tradition, as reflected in Itihasa-Purana, emerge? What are the distinctive features of this genre? (2018)
15. Do you agree that archaeological evidence often helps in better understanding of literary sources? Comment. (2019)
16. Foreign accounts as a source of ancient Indian history may have some advantages also have a few shortcomings. Citing appropriate examples, example the statement. (2022)
17. How do the comparative study of languages, archaeological sources and vast corpus of Vedic literature helps to determine the Aryan problem in Indian history. Discuss. (2023)