Indian History Part 3

 

Chapter 01

Indian History

(Part 3)

Chinese Sources

Chinese travellers visited India mainly to study Buddhism and collect religious texts.

Important Chinese Travellers

  • Fa-Hien (Faxian) (399–414 AD)
    Visited during the reign of Chandragupta II (Gupta period).
    His book Fo-Kuo-Ki describes social, religious and economic conditions.
    He mentions that punishments were mild and people were generally prosperous.

  • Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) (629–645 AD)
    Visited during Harshavardhana’s reign.
    His book Si-Yu-Ki (Records of the Western World) gives detailed information about political conditions, administration, Nalanda University, and Harsha’s empire.

  • I-Tsing (Yijing) (671–695 AD)
    Visited India to study Buddhist texts.
    Provides information about Nalanda and Buddhist monasteries.

Tibetan Sources

Tibetan texts are mainly religious but useful for historical reconstruction.

  • Taranatha’s History of Buddhism – Provides information about the spread of Buddhism in India.

  • Tibetan chronicles contain references to Indian kings and Buddhist scholars.

Arabian Sources

Arab writers provide valuable information, especially about medieval India.

  • Sulaiman (9th century AD)
    Described trade relations between India and Arab countries.

  • Al-Masudi (10th century AD)
    His work Muruj-ul-Zahab gives details about Indian political conditions.

  • Al-Biruni (973–1048 AD)
    Came with Mahmud of Ghazni.
    Wrote Tahqiq-i-Hind (Kitab-ul-Hind).
    Provides detailed account of Indian religion, science, society and customs.

  • Ibn Battuta (1333 AD)
    Visited during Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign.
    His book Rihla describes administrative system and social life.

Periodisation of Indian History

Indian History is generally divided into:

  1. Ancient Period

  2. Medieval Period

  3. Modern Period

Ancient Period (Beginning – 647 AD)

Major Phases:

  • Prehistoric Period

  • Indus Valley Civilization

  • Vedic Period

  • Mahajanapada Period

  • Mauryan Period

  • Post-Mauryan Period

  • Gupta Period

  • Post-Gupta / Vardhana Period

Medieval Period (647 AD – 1757 AD)

Divided into:

  • Early Medieval Period (647–1206 AD)

  • Delhi Sultanate Period (1206–1526 AD)

  • Mughal Period (1526–1707 AD)

  • Later Mughals & Regional States

Modern Period (1757 AD – 1991 AD)

Major Phases:

  • British Expansion

  • Revolt of 1857

  • Social & Religious Reform Movements

  • Indian National Movement

  • Independence (1947)

Stages of British Colonialism

  1. Mercantile Phase (1757–1813)
    Monopoly of trade and revenue appropriation.

  2. Industrial Phase (1813–1858)
    Policy of free trade; decline of Indian industries.

  3. Financial Phase (1860–1947)
    Investment of British capital in India.

British Policy Towards Native States

  • Ring Fence Policy (1757–1813)

  • Subordinate Isolation Policy (1813–1858)

  • Subordinate Union Policy (1858–1935)

  • Equal Federation Policy (1935–1947)

National Movement Phases

  • First Phase of Congress (1885–1905) – Moderate Phase

  • Second Phase (1905–1917) – Extremist Phase

  • Third Phase (1917–1947) – Gandhian Era

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