Indian History - Ancient, Medieval, and Modern

Indian History is a crucial topic for RRB exams, covering major events, personalities, and movements.

Ancient India

Indus Valley Civilization (2500-1500 BC)

• Major Sites: Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Dholavira, Kalibangan
• Important Features: Grid pattern, Great Bath, Granaries, Script
• Trade: Mesopotamia, Persia, Afghanistan
• End: Around 1500 BC due to climate change and Aryan migration

Vedic Period (1500-600 BC)

• Rigveda: Oldest religious text (1500-1000 BC)
• Social Structure: Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra
• Early Republics: Mahajanapadas (16 major republics)
• Important Texts: Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda

Mauryan Empire (322-185 BC)

• Chandragupta Maurya: Founder (322-298 BC)
• Ashoka the Great: Greatest ruler (268-232 BC)
• Kalinga War: 261 BC, led to Buddhism adoption
• Administration: Centralized with provinces

Medieval India

Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526)

Five Dynasties

1. Slave Dynasty (1206-1290): Qutubuddin Aibak, Iltutmish
2. Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320): Alauddin Khilji
3. Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414): Muhammad bin Tughlaq
4. Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451)
5. Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526): Ibrahim Lodi

Mughal Empire (1526-1857)

• Babur: Founder (1526-1530), Battle of Panipat (1526)
• Akbar: Greatest ruler (1556-1605), religious tolerance
• Shah Jahan: Taj Mahal builder (1628-1658)
• Aurangzeb: Last great ruler (1658-1707)

Modern India

British East India Company

• 1600: Company established
• 1757: Battle of Plassey (Robert Clive defeats Siraj-ud-Daulah)
• 1764: Battle of Buxar
• 1857: First War of Independence (Revolt of 1857)

Freedom Movement

Early Phase (1885-1919)

• 1885: Indian National Congress formation
• 1905: Partition of Bengal
• 1915: Gandhi returns from South Africa

Gandhian Phase (1919-1947)

• 1919: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
• 1920: Non-Cooperation Movement
• 1930: Civil Disobedience Movement (Dandi March)
• 1942: Quit India Movement

Independence and Partition

• 1947: India gains independence (August 15)
• 1947: Partition into India and Pakistan
• 1950: Constitution comes into force (January 26)

Important Personalities

Freedom Fighters

• Mangal Pandey: First rebel of 1857
• Rani Lakshmibai: Jhansi ki Rani
• Bhagat Singh: Revolutionary martyr
• Subhash Chandra Bose: INA founder
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Iron Man of India

Social Reformers

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Brahmo Samaj founder
• Swami Vivekananda: Ramakrishna Mission
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: Constitution architect

Practice Questions

Question 1

The Indus Valley Civilization belongs to which period?

Question 2

Who was the first Muslim ruler to conquer India?

Question 3

The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year?

Question 4

Who started the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Question 5

The Constitution of India was adopted on:

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