History Optional 4 UPSC

Self Study History Test 1 with solution Click to  Download

S. Baliyan Modern History Notes for History Optional

Ancient Port  

World History Syllabus   Enlightenment and Modern ideas:  Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau; Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies; Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism Origins of Modern Politics:  European States System; American Revolution and the Constitution; French revolution and aftermath, 1789- 1815; American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery; British Democratic Politics, 1815- 1850; Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists. Industrialization:  English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society; Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan; Industrialization and Globalization. Nation-State System:  Rise of Nationalism in 19th century; Nationalism: state-building in Germany and Italy; Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the world. Imperialism and Colonialism:  South and South-East A...

Modern History Syllabus European Penetration into India:  The Early European Settlements; The Portuguese and the Dutch; The English and the French East India Companies; Their struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars; Bengal -The conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and the English; The Battle of Plassey; Significance of Plassey. British Expansion in India:  Bengal – Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; The Battle of Buxar; Mysore; The Marathas; The three Anglo-Maratha Wars; The Punjab. Early Structure of the British Raj:  The early administrative structure; From diarchy to direct control; The Regulating Act (1773); The Pitt’s India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833); The voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule; The English utilitarian and India. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule:  Land revenue settlements in British India; The Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement; Mahalwari Settlement; Economic impact of t...

Ancient History Syllabus Sources: 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. Pre-history and Proto-history:  Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic). Indus Valley Civilization:  Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture. Megalithic Cultures:  Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry. Aryans and Vedic Period:  Expansions of Aryans in India. Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic...

Medieval History Syllabus Early Medieval India, 750-1200: Polity:  Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs; The Cholas: administration, village economy and society; “Indian Feudalism”; Agrarian economy and urban settlements; Trade and commerce; Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order; Condition of women; Indian science and technology Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:  Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa; Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India, Sufism; Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India; Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting The Thirteenth Century: Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate:  The Ghurian invasions – fa...

How should one prepare for modern India for a history optional? My score was 173 in Paper 2. Hopefully I can help u a little for this paper. Must read books and materials:  B L Grover, Bipan Chandra, Balyan sir notes, Bipan Chandra India post Independence Complementary books:  Shekhar Bandoadhyay (read only few topics like socio-religious reform movements, labour, women and Dalit movements etc.) Must do:  Download previous year questions. It is beautifully compiled topic wise by  selfstudyhistory.  Analyse the questions asked in each topic thoroughly. You will understand what to read and what to skip.  Analysis of previous year questions helped me a lot.  Example: Battle of Plassey or Drain of wealth or Gandhian freedom struggle have been asked so many times. It helps in selecting topics which are highly relevant for the exam. 1.1. Modern India (from 1707–1857) Refer B L Grover and Balyan sir notes. Prepare notes for various themes...

What are the important chapters to cover from RS Sharma's Ancient History from the UPSC CSE? Few topics which are  quite important for CSE.  Cover it from  R S Sharma and new NCERT themes in Indian history. Indus Valley civilization ( very important). Cover the salient features of this civilization : it's  art and culture, Economy, urban planning, society etc. Vedic civilization : Rig Vera and alter vehicle period. Cover the above salient features here as well. Buddhism and Jainism : causes behind their rise, salient features of both religion, significance of both religions.  Complement R S Sharma with Wikipedia of buddhism and Jainism. Mauryan period: (very important):  cover this from R S Sharma. Complement it with  NCERT themes in Indian history and NCERT Class 11th Art and culture. Post-Mauryan period: cover the art, culture, Economy and society in the period of  foreign invasions like shaka, kushana etc.  Cover it from R S S...