Sources of Early Indian History

 1. Classify the literary sources of understanding early Indian History. 20 marks

2. What kind of social, cultural, economic, political life is depicted in the Dharmashastras of India? 20 marks

3. Ascertain the value of the accounts of foreign travellers in constructing ancient Indian History. 20 marks

4. Throw light on the non-literary sources of early Indian History. 20 marks

5. Classify the Vedic Literature. 20 marks

6. Which are the main sources of ancient indian history? Assess the role of archaeology in reconstructing the cultural history of India. 60 marks                                                                                             

7. Dates are not very attractive things. But without dates , will not history become an impassable distance of facts? Can you analyze how dates and facts are synthesized in ancient Indian History. 20 marks

8. Make a review of the growth of science and technology in ancient technology. 20 marks 

9. “Ancient Indians had no taste for historiography; their scholars cared more for religious, spiritual and philosophical studies. Indian historiography is essentially an Islamic heritage.” Comment upon this statement with special reference to the contemporary writers and their works which help us in the reconstruction of history of the early medieval period of Indian history. (60m)  

10. Assess the pattern of settlement, economy, social organization and religion of India during 2000 to 500 BC from archaeological evidences. (60m) 

11. Discuss the changing approaches to the study of early Indian history. (60m) 

12. "Reconstruction of Early Indian history is hardly possible without the help of inscriptions and coins." Discuss. (60m) 

13. In what ways are the accounts of the Graeco Romans and the Chinese helpful in reconstructing the social history of India? How far is their information corroborated by other Contemporary sources? (60m) 

14. What light do early inscriptions and literature throw on the status of women in politico socio-economic spheres? (60m) 

15. On the basis of contemporary sources assess the nature of banking and usury in ancient India. (15m) 

16. Evaluate the ownership of land in ancient India on the basis of literary and epigraphic sources. (15m) 

17. “While using the accounts of foreign writers, historians must distinguish between statements based on hearsay and those grounded in perceptive observations.” Elaborate with examples. (15m) 

18. How far can the ancient Indian Sruti literature be used as historical sources? (15m)

19. Critically evaluate the theory and practise of land revenue system in ancient India. (20 Marks) 

20. Art and culture are reflected to a far greater extent than political history in the epigraphic sources. Comment. (15 Marks) 

21. How did early Indian historical tradition, as reflected in Itihasa-Purana, emerge? What are the distinctive features of this genre? (20 Marks) 

22. Do you agree that archaeological evidence often helps in the better understanding literary sources? Comment.  (15 Marks)