History of Bangladesh Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover the historical timeline of Bangladesh from ancient settlements and dynasties through Muslim and British rule to modern democratic movements and the 2024 uprising.

Mahasthangarh

The ancient city also known as Pundranagar, which was built in the $4\text{th century BC}$.

Uari-Bateshwar

An archaeological site in Narsingdi where traces of ancient human settlements and pre-historic weapons like stone axes have been found.

Emperor Ashoka

The Maurya emperor believed to have issued the inscription found in Pundranagar, considered primary evidence of the history of present-day Bangladesh.

Pundravardhan Bhukti

A province in the northern part of Bangladesh that was under the rule of the Gupta dynasty.

Shashanka

A powerful 7th-century ruler of Gaur who held the surname Gaureshwar.

Matsyanyaya

A period of chaos and internal conflict, resembling a 'fish kingdom,' that occurred in Bengal for about a hundred years after the death of Shashanka.

Gopala

The founder of the Pala Dynasty who removed the tyranny of Matsyanyaya and sat on the throne of Gaur.

Paharpur Mahavihara

A famous monument of the Pala Dynasty located in the Naogaon district.

Atish Dipankar

A famous 11th-century scholar from the Bikrampur region who traveled to Tibet to preach Buddhism.

Samatata

An ancient region of Bengal visited by the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, who found as many as $30$ Buddhist monasteries there.

Sena Dynasty

A dynasty that came to Bengal from Karnataka in the Deccan of India to serve in the Pala army before seizing power.

Muslin

A world-famous fine cotton cloth produced by the weavers of ancient Bengal that was exported to other countries.

Charyapada

An ancient testament of the Bengali language composed during the Pala period.

Ramcharit

A famous book written by poet Sandhyakar Nandi concerning the events of the Pala era.

Dheeman and Beetpal

Two renowned sculptors of the Pala Era who achieved significant fame.

Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji

The Turkish general who conquered Nadia in $1204 \text{ AD}$, initiating Muslim rule in Bengal.

Alauddin Hussain Shah

The greatest ruler of the Hussain Shahi dynasty, known for stabilization and religious tolerance.

Islam Khan Chishti

The Mughal Subahdar who defeated the Baro-Bhuyans and established Dhaka as the capital of Subah Bengal in $1610$.

Battle of Plassey

A battle in $1757$ where Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah was defeated due to conspiracies, leading to the beginning of British colonial rule.

Battle of Buxar

The conflict following which Bengal came completely under British control after the defeat of Mir Qasim.

Sepoy Mutiny

An uprising in $1857$ after which Bengal came directly under the rule of the Queen of England.

Major Ziaur Rahman

The military officer who declared the independence of Bangladesh from the Kalurghat radio station on March 26, $1971$.

Bakshal

A one-party system introduced in $1975$ through a constitutional amendment.

July Mass Uprising

The $2024$ movement referred to as a shining example of democratic aspirations that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5.

Abu Sayeed

A student protester from Rangpur who was martyred on July 16, $2024$, during the Quota Reform Movement.