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Complete Indian & World History — Ancient, Medieval, Modern India, World History, Art & Culture — quick revision for UPSC & boards.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Major Sites | Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Kalibangan |
| Town Planning | Grid pattern streets, baked brick houses, drainage system, Great Bath |
| Economy | Agriculture (wheat, barley), trade with Mesopotamia, seals, weights |
| Society | No clear evidence of kings, possibly oligarchy, no temples |
| Script | Pictographic (undeciphered), ~400 signs found on seals |
| Religion | Mother Goddess (Pashupati seal), Shiva-like figure, nature worship |
| Decline | Environmental degradation, river course changes, invasion theories |
| Ruler | Period | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | 322-298 BCE | Founded empire with Chanakya (Arthashastra), defeated Seleucus Nicator |
| Bindusara | 298-273 BCE | Consolidated empire, maintained relations with Hellenistic world |
| Ashoka the Great | 268-232 BCE | Kalinga War (261 BCE) → Dhamma, edicts, Buddhist missions, rock edicts |
| Dynasty | Period | Key Rulers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slave (Mamluk) | 1206-1290 | Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Begum | First Muslim empire in India, Qutub Minar, Iltutmish consolidated |
| Khalji | 1290-1320 | Alauddin Khalji | Market reforms, military campaigns, repelled Mongols 4 times |
| Tughlaq | 1320-1414 | Ghiyasuddin, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Firoz Shah | Token currency, capital shifted to Daulatabad |
| Sayyid | 1414-1451 | Khizr Khan | Weak dynasty, vassals of Timur |
| Lodi | 1451-1526 | Bahlul, Sikandar, Ibrahim | Afghan dynasty, defeated by Babur at Panipat 1526 |
| Emperor | Period | Key Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Babur | 1526-1530 | First Battle of Panipat (1526), founded Mughal Empire, memoirs (Baburnama) |
| Humayun | 1530-1540/1555-1556 | Lost to Sher Shah Suri, regained throne with Persian help |
| Akbar | 1556-1605 | Mansabdari system, Din-i-Ilahi, Rajput policy, Fatehpur Sikri, navratnas |
| Jahangir | 1605-1627 | Nur Jahan influence, painting patronage, chain of justice |
| Shah Jahan | 1627-1658 | Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Peacock Throne, Deccan campaigns |
| Aurangzeb | 1658-1707 | Longest reign, Deccan expansion, religious orthodoxy, empire declined |
| Event | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Plassey | 1757 | British defeated Siraj ud-Daulah, EIC gained control of Bengal |
| Battle of Buxar | 1764 | British defeated Mir Qasim & Shah Alam II, Diwani rights of Bengal |
| Subsidiary Alliance | 1798 | Wellesley — Indian states could not have own armed forces |
| Doctrine of Lapse | 1848 | Dalhousie — annexed states without male heir (Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur) |
| Annexation of Awadh | 1856 | Dalhousie on pretext of misgovernance |
| Reformer | Organization | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Raja Ram Mohan Roy | Brahmo Samaj (1828) | Sati abolition (1829), Western education, Vedanta, rationalism |
| Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar | — | Widow remarriage (1856), girls education, Bengali prose |
| Jyotirao Phule | Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) | Anti-caste, women education, Satyashodhak (truth-seeking) society |
| Dayananda Saraswati | Arya Samaj (1875) | Back to Vedas, Swadeshi, Vedic schools, Shuddhi movement |
| Ramakrishna Paramahamsa | — | Spiritual harmony of all religions, disciple Vivekananda |
| Swami Vivekananda | Ramakrishna Mission (1897) | Chicago Parliament of Religions 1893, Vedanta in West, practical Vedanta |
| Annie Besant | Theosophical Society | Home Rule Movement (1916), Indian education, women upliftment |
| Syed Ahmed Khan | Aligarh Movement | Aligarh Muslim University (1875), modern education for Muslims |
| Sir Syed Ahmad Khan | — | Scientific Society (1864), Aligarh college → University (1920) |
| Phase | Period | Method | Key Events & Leaders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | 1885-1905 | Petitions, dialogue | INC (1885), Dadabhai Naoroji (poverty drain), WC Bonnerjee, Moderates vs Extremists split at Surat 1907 |
| Extremist | 1905-1919 | Swadeshi, boycott, agitation | Partition of Bengal (1905), Swadeshi movement, Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Pal — Bal-Lal-Pal |
| Gandhian | 1919-1947 | Non-cooperation, civil disobedience, Quit India | Rowlett Act/Jallianwala Bagh (1919), Non-Cooperation (1920-22), Civil Disobedience/Dandi March (1930), Quit India (1942), Independence (1947) |
| Event | Period | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| French Revolution | 1789-1799 | Causes: financial crisis, inequality; Estate General → National Assembly; Bastille (14 July 1789); Jacobins; Robespierre; Napoleon (1799-1815) — Napoleonic Code |
| Industrial Revolution | 1760-1840 | Started in Britain; steam engine, textile mills; factory system; urbanization; new social classes; impact on colonies |
| American Revolution | 1775-1783 | 13 colonies vs Britain; Declaration of Independence (1776); George Washington; Constitutional Republic |
| Unification of Italy | 1859-1871 | Count Cavour (diplomacy) + Garibaldi (armed struggle); Kingdom of Italy proclaimed 1861; Venice & Rome added by 1870 |
| Unification of Germany | 1864-1871 | Otto von Bismarck (blood & iron policy); Franco-Prussian War 1870; German Empire proclaimed 1871 at Versailles |
| World War I | 1914-1918 | Allies vs Central Powers; Treaty of Versailles (1919); League of Nations; 10 million deaths; collapse of 4 empires |
| Russian Revolution | 1917 | February Revolution → Provisional Government; October Revolution → Bolsheviks; Lenin; USSR formed (1922) |
| Great Depression | 1929-1939 | Wall Street Crash; worldwide economic crisis; mass unemployment; New Deal (FDR) |
| World War II | 1939-1945 | Axis vs Allies; Holocaust; Hiroshima & Nagasaki (1945); 60+ million deaths; UN formed (1945); Cold War began |
| Cold War | 1947-1991 | USA vs USSR; NATO vs Warsaw Pact; Korean War; Vietnam War; Space Race; Cuban Missile Crisis; Dissolution of USSR (1991) |
| Decolonization | 1945-1975 | Asian & African independence; India (1947), China (1949), African nations; Non-Aligned Movement |
| Dance | State/Region | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu | Temple dance of Shiva, devadasis, TNPDU recognition |
| Kathak | North India (UP) | Storytelling dance, Mughal influence, Lucknow & Jaipur gharanas |
| Odissi | Odisha | Temple sculptures of Konark, Jayadeva's Gita Govinda, Tribhangi |
| Manipuri | Manipur | Meitei culture, Pung cholom drum, devotional themes |
| Mohiniyattam | Kerala | Lasya dance, temple art, Sopana Sangeet, ensemble |
| Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh | Bhama Kalapam, Siddhendra Yogi, solo & group performances |
| Kathakali | Kerala | Story play, elaborate costumes/makeup, 24 mudras, 41 basic mudras |
| Sattriya | Assam | Vaishnava monasteries, Sankaradeva (15th century), Ankia Naat |
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1885 | INC Founded | A.O. Hume, W.C. Bonnerjee, first session Bombay; moderate approach |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal | Curzon — divide Hindu/Muslim; Swadeshi & Boycott movement; boycott of British goods |
| 1907 | Surat Split | Moderates vs Extremists; INC reunited in 1916 at Lucknow |
| 1911 | Delhi Durbar | Capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi; George V visit |
| 1916 | Lucknow Pact | INC & Muslim League agreed on separate electorates; readmitted extremists |
| 1917 | Champaran Satyagraha | First civil disobedience in India; indigo farmers; Gandhi's first victory |
| 1917 | Russian Revolution | Inspired Indian nationalists; Communist Party of India formed (1925) |
| 1919 | Rowlett Act & Jallianwala Bagh | Emergency powers; 13 April massacre in Amritsar by Dyer; Rowlatt Acts repealed |
| 1920 | Non-Cooperation Movement | Gandhi launched; surrender of titles, boycott of schools/courts/law councils; Chauri Chaura (1922) |
| 1924 | Belgaum Congress | Gandhi President of INC; Hind Swaraj declared goal |
| 1927 | Independence Resolution | Purna Swaraj (complete independence) resolution at Madras session |
| 1928 | Simon Commission | All-white commission boycotted; Lala Lajpat Rai died during protest |
| 1930 | Civil Disobedience | Salt March (Dandi, 12 March-6 April); Dharasana salt works raid; first Round Table Conference |
| 1931 | Gandhi-Irwin Pact | Civil disobedience suspended; Second RTC; Bhagat Singh executed (23 March 1931) |
| 1932 | Third RTC / Communal Award | Poona Pact (Gandhi-Ambedkar); MacDonald Communal Award (separate electorates for Depressed Classes) |
| 1935 | Government of India Act | Provincial autonomy; direct elections; Sindh separated from Bombay; federal structure never implemented |
| 1937 | Provincial Elections | INC won in 7/11 provinces; formed ministries; C. Rajagopalachari (Madras) |
| 1939 | World War II | India dragged in without consultation; INC resigned from ministries in protest |
| 1940 | Individual Satyagraha | Vinoba Bhave, Nehru; limited civil disobedience by individuals |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement | "Do or Die" — 8 August; mass uprisings; parallel governments; all leaders arrested |
| 1944 | Gandhi-Jinnah Talks | Rajaji formula; Gandhi agreed to Pakistan concept; Jinnah insisted on full Pakistan |
| 1945-46 | INA Trials | Subhas Chandra Bose & Indian National Army trials at Red Fort; naval mutiny (Feb 1946); immense public anger |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission | Grouped provinces plan; rejected by League; Interim Government formed under Nehru |
| 1947 | Mountbatten Plan & Independence | 3 June plan; partition approved; 15 August 1947 — Independence! |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2600 BCE | Harappan Civilization peak |
| 563 BCE | Birth of Buddha |
| 327-325 BCE | Alexander's invasion of India |
| 322 BCE | Chandragupta Maurya founds Mauryan Empire |
| 269-232 BCE | Ashoka's reign; Kalinga War 261 BCE |
| 320 CE | Chandragupta I founds Gupta Empire |
| 712 CE | Arab invasion — Muhammad bin Qasim, Sindh |
| 1192 CE | First Battle of Tarain — Prithviraj Chauhan loses to Muhammad Ghori |
| 1206 | Qutbuddin Aibak founds Delhi Sultanate |
| 1526 | First Battle of Panipat — Babur founds Mughal Empire |
| 1600 | East India Company chartered |
| 1757 | Battle of Plassey |
| 1764 | Battle of Buxar |
| 1857 | Revolt of 1857; Sepoy Mutiny |
| 1858 | British Crown takes over from EIC |
| 1885 | Indian National Congress founded |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal |
| 1911 | Capital shifted to Delhi |
| 1919 | Jallianwala Bagh massacre |
| 1920 | Non-Cooperation Movement |
| 1930 | Civil Disobedience / Dandi March |
| 1935 | Government of India Act |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement — "Do or Die" |
| 1947 | Independence — 15 August; Partition |
| 1950 | Republic Day — Constitution came into effect (26 January) |
| 1971 | Bangladesh Liberation War |