TNPSC Micro Topics

Persian and Macedonian Invasions Taxila Impact of Persian Contact The word “Hindu” appears for the first time in an inscription of Darius I at Persepolis, Iran. Darius lists “Hindu” as part of his empire. The word “Sindhu”, denoting a river in general and Indus in particular, became “Hindu” in Persian. The Greeks dropped the S […]

Nandas: The First Empire Builders of India A centralised state required a new administrative framework to govern an extensive territory, the creation of a bureaucracy, resources of money and men for managing the administration and the army. A system of revenue administration had to be developed to raise the funds needed for the state through

Rise of Magadha under the Haryanka Dynasty

Introduction Sources Let us now turn to two later sources. 1. The first is the rock inscription of Junagadh, near Girnar in Gujarat. (i) it indicates the extent of the Mauryan Empire, which had expanded as far west as Gujarat and (ii) it shows that more than four centuries after his death, the name of

Buddhism Life of Buddha Buddhist Councils Buddhist Sects Buddhist Literature The Starving Tigress: A Jataka Tale Born in a family renowned for purity of conduct and great spiritual devotion, the Bodhisattva became a great scholar and teacher. With no desire for wealth, he went to a forest and led a life of an ascetic. It

Jainism Life of Mahavira Tenets of Jainism Triratnas (1) Right faith (samyag-darshana) (2) Right knowledge (samyag-jnana) (3) Right conduct (samyag-mahavrata) Five Great Vows (1) Not to kill or injure (ahimsa) (2) Not to steal (asteya) (3) Not to lie (satya) (4) Celibacy (brahmacharya) (5) Not to possess property (aparigraha) Non-Violence Jainism in Tamilnadu Decline of

Ajivikas Lokayata and Carvaka Rivalry among Heterodox Sects

Emergence of Heterodox Thinkers Causes of Intellectual Awakening 1. State formation and the rigidity of the Vedic religion constrained the liberty of thought and action. A revolt against religious practice of following dogmas found its articulation in heterodox sects. 2. The emergence of territorial identities accelerated the process of socio-political and economic changes. The elite

Janapadas to Mahajanapadas Sixteen Mahajanapadas 1. Gandhara 2. Kamboja 3. Asmaka (Assaka) 4. Vatsa 5. Avanti 6. Shurasena 7. Chedi 8. Malla 9. Kuru 10. Panchala 11. Matsya 12. Vajji (Vrijji) 13. Anga 14. Kasi 15. Kosala 16. Magadha Gana-Sanghas Monarchies or Kingdoms

Developments in the Gangetic Plain Second Urbanisation 1. Political and administrative centres such as Rajagriha, Shravasti, Kaushambi and Champa 2. Centres of trade and commerce such as Ujjain and Taxila 3. Holy centres such as Vaishali.