M.A in Ancient History

Course Structure

Coins as a Source of Indian history,
Origin and evolution of the Coins,
Antiquity of the coinage in India
Coin techniques : Making of Coins,Punching, Die-Striking and Casting, Punch
marked coins, Janapad, city
Tribal and Nigam Coins : Malav, Kuninda, Yaudheya, Takshasila, Eran, Vidisha ,
Ujjayini , Tripuri, Kausambi
Indo-Greek, Parthian, Saka , Kusana, Satavahana, Western Ksatrapa
Coins of the Guptas, Maukharis and the Vardhamanas
Coins of the Kalachuris, The Chandellas, The Paramaras, The Gurjara – Pratiharas
The Chahamanas and the Coins of Kashmir
Importance of inscriptions in reconstruction of history, Origin and antiquity of the
art of writing in India, Writing material , Origin and development of Brahmi script
up to Gupta period
Preparation and Preservation of the records, dating and the Eras, Pre-era dating
methods, Kali, Vikram, Saka, Kalachuris, Gupta and regional eras
Historical and Cultural Study of the Following inscriptions :
1. Second Rock Edict of Ashoka
2. Twelth Rock Edict of Ashoka
3. Thirteenth Rock Edict of Ashoka
4. Seventh Pillar Edict of Ashoka
5- Bairat inscription of Ashoka
Historical and Cultural Study of the following inscriptions :
1. Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva
2. Besnagar Garuda pillar inscription of Heliodorus
3. Nasik inscription of Gautami Balasri
4. Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela
5. Junargarh Rock inscription of Rudradaman
1. Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta
2. Sanchi inscription of Chandragupta
3. Mandsaur pillar inscription of Kumaragupta I and Bandhuvarman
4. Poona copper- plate inscription of Prabhavati Gupta
5.Khajuraho inscription of Yasovarman and Dhanga
Definition, Aims and Scope of Archaeology its relations with Natural and
Social sciences. History of Archaeology from 19th century till the present, Rise of
Archaeological sciences
Discovering Archaeological sites and features. Aims and Methods of exploration,
Excavation, Preliminaries
Excavation : Purpose and methods, excavation techniques, lay out of trenches,
utility of Horizontal and Vertical excavation, Recording, Preservation , Preparation
of Report