knockingpoint

The remnants of the library of Nalanda, built in the 5th century BCE by Gupta kings. It was rebuilt twice after invasion, first after an invasion from the Huns in the 5th century BCE and then after an invasion from the Gaudasin the 7th century CE but abandoned after the third invasion by Turkic invaders in the 12th century. Takshasila (in modern-day Pakistan) was the earliest recorded centre of higher learning in India from possibly 8th Century BCE, and it is debatable whether it could be regarded a university or not in modern sense, since teachers living there may not have had official membership of particular colleges, and there did not seem to have existed purpose-built lecture halls and residential quarters in Taxila, in contrast to the later Nalanda university in eastern India. Nalanda was the oldest university-system of education in the world in the modern sense of university. There all subjects were taught in Ariano -páli Langua...

Political Causes The policy of Doctrine of Lapse Economic Causes heavy taxation, evictions, Discriminatory Tariff Policy against Indian products and destruction of traditional handicrafts that hit peasants, artisans and small zimindars. Military Discrimination as Indian soldiers were paid low salaries, they could not rise above the rank of subedar and were racially insulted. Grievances of Sepays:  The introduction of Enfield rifles, andits cartridge of which was greased with animal fat, provided the spark. British social reforms ( widow remarriage, abolitionof sati, education for girls, Christan missionaries). Cause of Failure The Nizam of Hyderabad, the Raja of Jodhpur, Scindia of Gwalior the Holkar of Indore, the rulers of Patiala, Sindh and Kashmir and the Rana of Nepal provided active support  to the British. Comparative lack of efficient leadershi...

THE CHALUKYAS History of the Chalukyas, the Karnataka rulers, can be classified into three eras: 1)  The early western era  (6th -8th century), the Chalukyas of Badami (vatapi); 2)  The later western era  (7th - 12th century), the Chalukyas of Kalyani; 3)  The eastern chalukya era  (7th - 12th century), the chalukyas of Vengi. 1)  Pulakesin I  (543-566) was the first independent ruler of Badami with Vatapi in Bijapur as his capital. 2 ) Kirthivarma I  (566-596) succeeded him at the throne. When he died, the heir to the throne, Prince Pulakesin II, was just a baby and so the king‘s brother, Mangalesha (597-610), was crowned the caretaker ruler. Over the years, he made many unsuccessful attempts to kill the prince but was ultimately killed himself by the prince and his friends. 3)  Pulakesin II  (610-642), the son of Pulakesin I, was a contemporary of Harshavardhana and th...

Gupta Empire The start of Gupta Empire is considered by many historian from the reign of  Maharaja Shrigupta . Chandragupta-I  was the first powerful ruler of Gupta Empire and ascended the throne in 320 AD. The Gupta Period from 320 AD to 550 AD is also known as  the Golden Age of India . In the Gupta period India attained the peak of glory in every aspects starting from science, art, literature, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. Emperors of Gupta Empire Shrigupta and Ghatotkacha. The reign of Maharaja Shrigupta (240 AD to 280 AD) is considered by many historians to be the starting point of Gupta Empire. Ghatotkacha succeeded his father Shrigupta and ruled from 280AD to 319 AD. Chandragupta I Chandragupta I  was the  son of Ghatotkacha  and succeeded his father. He was the first powerful king of the dynasty. He ruled the Empire from 320 AD to 335 AD. Chandragupta I adop...

Indo Greeks First to invade India  were the Greeks who were called  Indo-Greeks. The most famous Indo- Greek ruler was Menander with his  Capital at Sakala  in Punjab (Modern Sialkot) The Indo-Greeks were the  first to issue gold coins  in India. Menander was converted into a Buddhist by Buddhist monk Nagasena (Nagarjuna) Demitrius, the king of Bacteria  invaded  India about 190BC.  He is considered as  Second Alexander  (But the Indian ruler who accepted the name second Alexander  (Sikandar-i-sani)  was Alauddin Khilji) Indo-Greeks were the first to introduce military governorship in India. Kushan Empire Kujula Kadphises  is considered to be the  founder of Kushan Empire.  He established the kingdom by unifying the disparate  Yuezhi tribes  of ancient Bactria in the early 1st century AD and expanded its territory of present day Afg...

Two major dynasties of India, the Maurya Empire (321 BC- 185 BC) and Gupta Empire (240 BC-550 AD), were originated from Magadha. Apart from Maurya and Gupta dynasties, there were other dynasties which were started from Magadha, Haryanka dynasty (544-413 BC) Shishunaga dynasty (413-345 BC) Nanda dynasty (424-321 BC) Haryanka dynasty:- Haryanka is  the name of a new dynasty  founded in Magadha by Bimbisara . Bimbisara  founded the dynasty by  defeating  the   Brihadrathas . Bimbisara  was a contemporary of  Buddha . Pataliputra and Rajagriha were the capitals of Magadhan kingdom. Magadha falls in the Patna region of Bihar. Shishunaga Dynasty:- Haryankas were overthrown by  Sisunaga  and he  founded  the Sisunaga dynasty there. Kalasoka  the son and successor of Sisunaga was succeeded by  Mahapadma Nanda  and he foun...

Lord Canning (AD 1856-62) : The last Governor General  and the  first Viceroy . Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse. Revolt of 1857, Mutiny took place. Indian Penal Code 1860 was passed. Passed the Act, 1858 , which ended the rule of the East India Company. The Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were established in 1857. Lord Elgin (AD 1862) : Wahabi Movement Lord John Lawrence (AD 1864-69) : Established the  High Courts  at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1865. Telegraphic communication was opened with Europe. Created the Indian Forest Department. Lord Mayo (AD 1869-72) : Organised the Statistical Survey of India and for the  first time  in Indian history, a  census  was held in 1871. Started the process of financial decentralisation in India. Established the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Established the Rajkot College at Kathiawar and Mayo ...

Jahangir (1605 - 1627) Jahangir came to the throne in 1605. He issued 12 ordinances. He established  Zanjir-il-Adal  – Chain of Justice in Agra Fort and was known for his strict administration of Justice. He married Mehrunnisa, an Afghan widow in 1611 and Later he gave her the titles Noor Mahal (light of the palace), Noor Jahan (light of the world) and Padshah Begum. In 1606 Jahangir executed fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Dev, because he helped Jahangir’s son Prince Khusru to rebel against him. In 1609, Jahangir received  William Hawkins , an envoy of King James I of England, who reached India to obtain trade concession. In 1615,  Sir Thomas Roe  reached the court of Jahangir as the first ambassador of James I of England in the court of Jahangir. As a result of his efforts, first English factory was established at Surat in Gujarat. Period of Jahangir is considered as the  Golden Age of Mughal Painting . Jahan...

Maratha Families        Location Peshwa                          Pune Gaekwad                       Baroda Bhonsle                         Nagpur Holkar                           Indore Scindia                          Gwalior The first great leader of the Marathas was Chhatrapati Shivaji. The Marathas became prominent in the later half of the 17th century. Shivaji belonged to the Bhonsle clan of the Marathas. Shahaji Bhonsle and Jija Bai were the Parents of Shivaji. He was born in 1627 February 19 at the fort of Shivner near Junnar. His father was a military commande...

Murshid Kuli Khan: Murshid Quli Khan was appointed as Bengal’s diwan by Aurangzeb as naib subedar and later as the subedar in 1717 by Farukh Siyar. He gradually assumed autonomy though he continued to pay tribute to Mughal Emp He carried out the reorganization of the finances through the transfer of large parts of jagir lands into khalisa lands. He introduced the system of revenue farming. He granted Takkavi loans to peasants for personal use, improved agriculture and for paying land revenues in times of famines. He reorganized administration giving equal opportunities of employment to Muslims and Hindus. His policy of appointing local Hindu zamindars and moneylenders as revenue farmers led to the rise and growth of a new landed aristocracy in Bengal. He maintained strict control over the activities of foreign trading companies; preventing the servants of East India Company from abusing the privileges granted to the company by t...

Hyder Ali The state of Mysore rose to prominence in the politics of South India under the leadership of Hyder Ali. In 1761 he became the de facto ruler of Mysore. The war of successions in Karnataka and Haiderabad, the conflict of the English and the French in the South and the defeat of the Marathas in the Third battle of Panipat (1761) helped him in attending and consolidating the territory of Mysore. Hyder Ali was defeated by Maratha Peshwa Madhav Rao in 1764 and forced to sign a treaty in 1765. He surrendered him a part of his territory and also agreed to pay rupees twenty-eight lakhs per annum. The Nizam of Haiderabad did not act alone but preferred to act in league with the English which resulted in the first Anglo-Mysore War. Tipu Sultan Tipu Sultan succeeded Hyder Ali in 1785 and fought against British in III and IV Mysore wars. He brought great changes in the administrative system. He introduced modern i...

The Aryans were semi-nomadic pastoral people and originated from the area around the Caspian Sea in Central Asia(Many historians have given various theories regarding their original place). The Central Asian theory is given by  Max Muller. Entered India probably through the Khyber Pass(Hindukush mountain) around 1500 BC. Early Vedic or Rig Vedic Period(1500- 1000 BC) Political Organization Monarchial form. The tribe was known as Jan and its king as  Rajan. The family was the basic unit of society. The family was patriarchal in nature. Economy Aryans followed a mixed economy i.e pastoral and agricultural in which cattle played a predominant part. The standard unit of exchange was Cow. At the same time coins were also there. Religion The Aryans personified the natural forces and looked upon them as living beings. The most important divinity was  Indra  ...