CONTENTS

UNIT 1: Pre-History to Proto-History                           9
I. Hunting-Gathering Societies-Paleolithic
II. Advent of Food Production-Neolithic-Chalcolithic Cultures
III. First Urbanisation- Harappan Culture - Agriculture, Craft, Trade, Society, Religion and Art
UNIT 2: Transition from Rural to Urban                   51
I. Transition from Mixed Pastoral Economy to Settled Agriculture (1500-500 BCE)
II. Second Urbanisation in the Ganga Valley-Agriculture, Craft, Trade, Guilds and Labour
III. State Controlled Economy of the Mauryas
IV. Post-Mauryan Economy-Trade Routes, Coinage, Urban Centres; External Trade Networks - Indo-Roman, Indo-China
UNIT 3: Society and Religion                                  75
I. Emergence of Social Stratification-Varna-jati, Varnashrama dharma, Untouchability, Gender Relations
II. Emergence and Spread of Jainism, Buddhism and other Religious Sects
III. Puranic Religion
IV. Emergence and Development of Bhakti
UNIT 4: Towards Early Medieval India (300-1200 CE)    93
I. Land Grants, Changing Production Relations, Graded Land Rights and Peasantry, Debates on Indian Feudalism
II. Patterns of Trade, Currency and Urban Settlements
III. Land Grant Economy in South India-Brahmadeyas and Agraharas, Temple Economy (Cholas)
UNIT 5: Literature and Art                                155
I. Literature-Survey of Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit and Tamil
II. Art and Architecture - Mauryan, Post- Mauryan, Gupta, Post- Gupta; Evolution of Regional Styles