M.A. in Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology

Course I - Historiography, Concepts & Methods

Meaning & Scope of History
Modern Historical Writings

Course II - Sources of Ancient Indian History & Culture : Literature

Introduction
Vedic and Dharmshastra Literature as Source
Other Ancient Indian Literature as Source
Research Methodology

Course III - History & Culture of Indian People
Prelude to Civilization
Bronze Age & Urban cultures
Background to the emergence of early Historic India
Janpadas & Mahajanpadas (Sixth Century-Fourth Century B.C.)

Course IV - Political & Cultural History of India :
(Fourth Century B.C. to 550 A.D.)

Towards Empire : (Fourth century-Second century B.C.)
Political & Cultural History of India (c.200 B.C. to the beginning of Christian era)
The Guptas & Vakatakas

Course V - Historical Writings & Individuals
Traditions & Historical Writings
Ancient Indian Historical Writings
Modern Historian

Course VI - Sources of Ancient Indian History : Material Remains
Archaeological Remains
Epigraphs
Coins
Sculptures & Paintings
Monuments
Research Methodology

Course VII - History of North India
(Circa A.D. 550-12/13 century A.D.)

The main Currents of Political History; The Mukharis; Later Guptas & Harsha
Post Harsha Period : Palas, and Pratiharas
Gahadwalas, Chandellas, Kalchuris, Paramaras, Chahamans, Chaulukyas
Dynasties of Sindh, Punjab and Kashmir

Course VIII - History of the Deccan & South India
(c. A.D. 550-1300)
The Pallavas
The Chalukyas of Badami
The Rashtrakutas
The Cholas

SPECIALIZATION

Course I : Principles & Methods of Archaeology
II: Methods of data retrieval
III. Chronology & dating methods
IV. Documentation & Reconstruction of the past

Course II : World Prehistory
I. Prehistory : Scope & Methods of Study
II. Hunting-gathering Stage of the Pleistocene Period
III. Early Holocene hunting-Gathering Stratergies
IV. Beginnings of food production: A world perspective

Course III : Protoshistoric and Early Historic Archaeology
I. Beginning & early phase of Copper-Bronze Age
II. Urban trends in Bronze Age
III. Devolution & late survival of Bronze Age Culture
IV. Prelude to Urbanization in Ganga Plains
V. Iron technology & growth of urbanism

Course IV : Practical Archaeology
I. Treatment and Preservation of antiquities
II. Drawing of archaeological findings
III. Methods of Surveying
IV. Photography for Archaeology
V. Methods of study of ancient human skeleton
VI. Field Training