Hayat Ashraf

The syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination with History as an optional subject is as follows: Paper I: 1. Sources and approaches to study of ancient and medieval Indian history. 2. Pre-history and proto-history: Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic). 3. Indus Valley Civilization: Origin, extent, major sites, society, economy, and culture. 4. Megalithic cultures: Distribution of megaliths in India; cultural dimensions. 5. Aryans and Vedic Period: Expansions of Aryans in India; Vedic culture; society and economy; religious and philosophical ideas; Mahajanapadas; Jainism and Buddhism; Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact. 6. Period of Mauryas: Chandragupta, Asoka; Ashoka's inscriptions; Asoka's dhamma; the decline of the Mauryas. 7. Post-Mauryan Period: Early state and society in Eastern India, Kharavela, the Satavahanas, Gupta Empire; society; Harsha; Indian feudalism;...