Indian History

Prehistoric India

Homo erectus appeared in India about 5,00,000 years ago.

Homo sapiens appeared in India about 75,000 years ago.

Buddhism

1. Gautama/Siddhartha was a kshatriya prince of Sakya gana.

1. Gautama was born in Lumbini, Nepal.

1. Buddhism believes in Karma, Middle path, Nirvana and Rebirth.

1. Four noble truths - truth of dukkha, truth of origin of dukkha, truth of cessation of dukkha and truth of the path leading to the cessation of dukkha.

1. Noble eightfold path - right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.

1. Gautama meditated under a peepal tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar and got enlightened.

1. Buddha - the wise one.

1. Buddha's first teaching was at Sarnath.

1. Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kusinara/Kushinagar, UP.

1. Chaitya/Chaitya Griha - Buddhist shrine with stupa.

1. Stupa - Mound containing Buddhist Relics.

1. Vihara - Buddhist Monastery.

1. Major branches - Theravada and Mahayana.

1. Buddha declared 4 holy places in Mahaparinibbana Sutta - Kapilavastu, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kusinara.

1. Buddha's teachings were in Prakrit.

Jainism

24th tirdankara - Vardhamana Mahavira.

Mahavira was a kshatriya prince of Lichhavis, part of the Vajji sangha.

At the age of 30 he left home and after 12 years he got enlightment.

Mahavira teachings were in Prakrit.

Upanishads

1. Upanishad - approaching and sitting near.

1. atman (individual soul) and brahman (universal soul) are permanent in the universe.

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Zoroastrianism

Fall of Mughal Empire

Mughal Empire ruled for almost 200 years.
It started to shrink in the first half of 18th century (1700-1750).
In 1803, Delhi was captured by the British and the emperor was made a pensioner.
Decline started under Aurangazeb's reign.
In 1707, Aurangazeb died and his 3 sons fought for throne and Bahadur Shah became the emperor.
Bahadur Shah is educated and followed compromise and conciliation policy.
He reveresed some of the bad policies of his father.
He was tolerant towards Hinduism.

Rise of British in India

Freedom Fighters

Bhagat Singh: 

1. Member of HRA (Hindustan Republican Association).
2. Changed the name of HRA to HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association) (1928)
3. Member of Young Revolutionary Movement.
4. Founded Naujawan Bharat Sabha (1926)
5. Wrote for Veer Arjun news paper and Kirti, journal of Kirti Kisan Party.
6. Along with Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs and leaflets in the Central Legislative Assembly.
7. Undertook 116-day fast for equal treatment of British and Indian political prisoners.
8. Hanged on 23rd March 1931.