Syllabus for Optional Mains
| Topics | Sub Topics |
|---|---|
| Ghuri, Rajputs, Feudalism | Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula – The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success – Economic, social and cultural consequences; Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans Alberuni’s India – Brahman and the new social order; Condition of women; “Indian Feudalism” – Agrarian economy and urban settlements; Origin and the rise of Rajputs, Trade and commerce; Indian science and technology |
| Sufism and Bhakti, Literature | Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma Mimansa Growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti movement. Bhakti Saints, Impact / Role of Bhakti/ Literature in the newly developing languages / Bhakti. Sufi Movement; Arrival of Islam |
| Delhi Sultanate (13/14) | (Delhi Sultanate) Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban; Mongol Menace; The Khalji Revolution – Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy; Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, Theocracy; Theory of Kingship; Decline of the Sultanate; Foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account; Economy: Agricultural production, Land Revenue, Judicial Administration Women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate; Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, Literature in the languages of South India; Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, Painting, evolution of a composite culture Composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, Rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, Maritime trade, Industries and Labour, trade and commerce (13/14) |
| Vijaynagara, Bengal, Kashmir, Gujarat, Malwa, Bahamanis | The Vijayanagara Empire – Polity; Krishnadevaraya; Agriculture; Segmentary State European Accounts; Art and Culture ; Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Bahmanids, Gujarat, Malwa; Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Kalhan’s Rajtarangini |
| Sur and Portuguese (15/16) | Lodis – The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration; Agrarian Reforms; Portuguese Colonial enterprise |
| Babur to Akbar | Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun; Akbar – Evolution of religious and social outlook – Theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy; Administration; Rajput policy; Land Revenue; Industry and Commerce; Conquests and consolidation of the Empire; Historiography – Persian histories |
| Jahangir to Aurangzeb | Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb Nature of the Mughal State – Religious Policy; Education and Literature (Hindi and other religious literature and other literature) Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts – The Empire and the Zamindars; Agriculture and Craft Production |
| Ahom, Sikh, Maratha, Nawab, Nizam | The Ahom Kingdom; Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth; Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom; Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas The 18th Century – State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh; Emergence of Afghan Power; Battle of Panipat: 1761 |
