OPSC History Optional Syllabus (Paper - 1)

1. Sources of early Indian history.
2. Early pastoral and agricultural communities.
3. The Indus Civilization: its origins, nature and decline.
4. Patterns of settlement, economy, social organization and religion in India (c. 2000 to 500 B.C.) .
5. Evolution of society and culture: evidence of Vedic texts (Samhitas to Sutras).
6. Life & Teachings of Mahavira and Buddha. Contemporary society. Early phase of state formation and urbanization.
7. Rise of Magadha; the Mauryan empire. Ashoka’s inscriptions; his dhamma. Nature of the Mauryan state.
8. Post-Mauryan period in India: Political and administrative history,. Society, economy, culture and religion. Tamilaham and its society: the Sangam texts.
9. India in the Gupta and post-Gupta periods (to c. 750): Political history of India; Samanta system and changes in political structure; economy; social structure; culture; religion.
10. Themes in early Indian cultural history: languages and texts; major stages in the evolution of art and architecture; major philosphical thinkers and schools; ideas in science & Technology and mathematics.
11. Kalinga War; Kharavela-achievements.
12. Political History of Odisha (c.4th Century AD – 7th Centry AD).

Section-B

13. India, 750-1200 : Polity, society and economy. Major dynasties and political structures in North India. Agrarian structures. Feudalism in India. Rise of Rajputs. The Imperial Cholas and their contemporaries in South India. Villagle communities in the South. Conditions of women. Commerce-mercantile groups and guilds; towns. Problem of coinage. Arab conquest of Sind; the Ghaznavide empire.
14. India, 750-1200: Culture, Literature, Kalhana as a historian. Styles of temple architecture; sculpture; Religious thought and institutions: Sankaracharya’s Vedanta. Ramanuja. Growth of Bhakti, Advent of Islam in India; Sufism. Indian science. Alberuni and his study of Indian science and civilization.15. The 13th Century: The Ghorian invasions. Factors behind Ghorian success, Economic, social and cultural consequences; Foundation of Delhi Sultanate. The “Slave” Dynasty. IItutmish; Balban; Early Sultanate architecture.
16. The 14th Century: Alauddin Khalji’s conquests, agrarian and economic measures; Muhammad Tughluq’s major “projects”; Firuz Tughluq’s concessions and public works; Decline of the Sultante; Foreign contacts: Ibn Battuta.
17. Economy Society and Culture in the 13th and 14th centuries: Caste and slavery under Sultanate, Technological changes, Sultanate architecture, Persian literature: Amir Khusrau, Historiography; Zia-ud—din Barani. Evolution of a composite culture, Sufism in North India, Lingayats, Bhakti schools in the south.
18. The 15th and early16th Century (Political History): Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids, The Vijayanagra Empire. Lodis. Mughal Empire, First phase : Babur, Humayun. The Sur Empire : Sher Shah’s administration. The Portuguese colonial enterprise.
19. The 15th and early 16th Century (society, economy and culture): Regional cultures and literatures, provincial architectural styles. Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire. Monotheistic movements: Kabir and Nanak. Bhakti Movements: Chaitanya, Sufism in its pantheistic phase.
20. Akbar: His conquests and consolidation of empire. Establishment of jagir and mansab systems. His Rajput policy. Evolution of religious and social outlook. Theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy. Abul Fazl, thinker and historian. Court patronage of art and technology.
21. Mughal empire during 17th & 18th Centuries: Major policies (administrative and religious) of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb. The Empire and the Zamindars. Nature of the Mughal state. Late 17th Century crisis: Revolts. Shivaji and the early Maratha kingdom; Decline of Mughals . Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas.
22. Economy and Society, 16th and 17th Centuries: Population. Agricultural and craft production. Towns; Trade and Commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies; Indian mercantile classes. Banking, insurance and credit systems. Conditions of peasants, famines. Condition of Women.
23. Culture during Mughal Empire: Persian literature (including historical works). Hindi and religious literatures. Mughal architecture. Mughal Painting. Provincial schools of architecture and painting. Classical music. Science and technology. Sawai Jai Singh as astronomer. Mystic eclecticism : Dara Shukoh. Vaishnav Bhakti. Maharastra Dharma. Evolution of the Sikh community (Khalsa).
24. Medieval Odisha : The Bhaumakaras and the Somavamsis; The Imperial Gangas and Suryavamsi Gajapatis; Cult of Jagannatha.