Ancient Indian History – Key Vocabulary

This set contains core vocabulary terms spanning India’s pre-history through early medieval era, covering archaeological sites, cultural phases, major dynasties, key texts, religious concepts, and architectural styles. Designed for rapid review of fundamental names, places, and ideas appearing in the lecture.

Lower Palaeolithic Age

Earliest phase of human history in India (700,000 BC – 50,000 BC) marked by hunting–gathering, use of hand-axes & control of fire.

Attirampakkam

Tamil Nadu site yielding some of the oldest Lower Palaeolithic stone tools in India.

Microlith

Small, refined Mesolithic stone tool used as arrowheads, scrapers, etc.

Bhimbetka

Madhya Pradesh rock-shelter complex with Upper Palaeolithic remains and earliest cave paintings (UNESCO).

Neolithic Age

Prehistoric period (8000 BC – 4000 BC) of settled life, agriculture, domestication & polished stone tools.

Mehrgarh

Neolithic site in Baluchistan where wheat & barley cultivation and early dentistry were found.

Daojali Hading

Assam Neolithic site showing evidence of shifting cultivation.

Burzahom

Kashmir Neolithic site famous for pit-dwellings and dog-in-burial practices.

Chalcolithic Age

Copper–Stone Age (4000 BC–1500 BC) featuring Black-and-Red Ware pottery and early village cultures.

Black and Red Ware

Characteristic bi-chromatic pottery of the Chalcolithic cultures.

Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)

Bronze-Age urban civilization (c.2600-1900 BC) noted for grid-cities, drainage, seals & undeciphered script.

Great Bath

Large public water tank at Mohenjo-daro, thought for ritual bathing.

Pashupati Seal

IVC steatite seal depicting horned yogic deity—prototype of Shiva.

Lothal

Gujarat IVC port-town with dockyard and evidence of rice husk.

Dockyard (Lothal)

Rectangular basin at Lothal indicating maritime trade facilities in the IVC.

Kalibangan

Rajasthan IVC site with fire-altars and ploughed field surface.

Fire Altars

Brick structures at Kalibangan indicating ritualistic fire worship.

Rakhigarhi

Haryana site; largest IVC city found in India with granary & cemetery.

Dholavira

Gujarat IVC city famed for water-reservoirs and three-part town planning.

Boustrophedon

Writing style of IVC script: right-to-left then left-to-right in alternate lines.

Upper Palaeolithic Age

Period (40,000 BC – 10,000 BC) with Homo sapiens, blade tools and cave art.

Iron Age

Stage following Chalcolithic when iron metallurgy began; in India c.1200 BC onward.

V. S. Wakankar

Indian archaeologist who discovered Bhimbetka rock caves (1957).

Hathnora

Madhya Pradesh site where Narmada Homo erectus skull was found.

Rig Veda

Oldest Veda; 10 mandalas, 1028 hymns mainly to Indra, composed c.1500-1000 BC.

Sama Veda

‘Veda of melodies’; musical chanting text derived from Rig Veda verses.

Yajur Veda

Prose-poetry guidebook for sacrificial rituals; White & Black recensions.

Atharva Veda

Collection dealing with charms, medicine, magic & daily life.

Purush Sukta

Rig Veda hymn (10th Mandala) that outlines cosmic creation & four varnas.

Gayatri Mantra

Famous Rig Vedic chant from 3rd Mandala, attributed to Vishwamitra.

Sabha

Vedic small council of elders advising the king (Rajan).

Samiti

Popular Vedic assembly of the whole tribe for decision making.

Gotra

Patrilineal lineage group first emerging in Later Vedic period.

Ashrama System

Four life-stages: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sanyasa.

Rajasuya

Vedic royal consecration sacrifice for supremacy.

Ashvamedha

Horse sacrifice asserting a king’s sovereignty over surrounding lands.

Vajpeya

Vedic ritual for royal revitalization and power.

Dvija

‘Twice-born’; upper-varna males after sacred-thread ceremony.

Gautama Buddha

Founder of Buddhism (563-483 BC); attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.

Four Noble Truths

Buddha’s core doctrine explaining suffering & its cessation.

Eightfold Path

Buddhist practical path: right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.

Triratna (Buddhism)

The ‘Three Jewels’—Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha.

Theravada

Oldest surviving Buddhist school emphasising personal liberation; Pali canon.

Mahayana

‘Great Vehicle’ Buddhist tradition venerating Bodhisattvas & Buddha images; Sanskrit texts.

Hinayana

Early Buddhist path focused on individual salvation; term used by Mahayanists.

Vajrayana

Tantric form of Buddhism stressing rituals, mantras & deities; evolved in Tibet.

Bodhi Tree

Sacred fig tree at Bodh Gaya under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

Dharmachakra Pravartana

Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath setting ‘Wheel of Dharma’ in motion.

Mahaparinirvana

Final passing away of Buddha at Kushinagar aged 80.

Sattapani Cave

Rajgriha venue of the First Buddhist Council (483 BC).

Vinaya Pitaka

Buddhist canonical text containing monastic rules.

Sutta Pitaka

Collection of Buddha’s discourses forming doctrinal core.

Abhidhamma Pitaka

Philosophical analysis section of Buddhist canon.

Moggaliputta Tissa

Monk who led Third Council under Ashoka and authored Kathāvatthu.

Kanishka

Kushan emperor (c.78 AD) who convened Fourth Buddhist Council and started Saka Era.

Madhyamika School

Buddhist philosophical school founded by Nagarjuna advocating Śūnyavāda (emptiness).

Tirthankara

Jain spiritual teacher; total 24, last is Mahavira.

Mahavira

24th Jain Tirthankara (599-527 BC) who systematized Jainism.

Digambara

Jain sect whose monks practise nudity; women believed incapable of liberation.

Svetambara

Jain sect with white-clad monks & nuns; women can achieve moksha.

Ahimsa

Principle of non-violence central to Jainism (also in Buddhism, Hinduism).

Triratna (Jainism)

Three Jewels: Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct.

Sallekhana

Jain religious fast-unto-death, also called Santhara.

Kalpasutra

Jain text by Bhadrabahu containing Tirthankara biographies & monastic rules.

Mahajanapada

One of 16 large states in 6th-century BC northern India.

Magadha

Powerful Mahajanapada in Bihar that evolved into Mauryan Empire.

Vajji Confederacy

Oligarchic Mahajanapada with capital Vaishali, noted for republican polity.

Anga

Mahajanapada with capital Champa; famous for trade.

Arthashastra

Statecraft treatise attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya) of Mauryan era.

Megasthenes

Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya; author of ‘Indica’.

Bindusara

Mauryan ruler (298-273 BC), called Amitrochates by Greeks; patron of Ajivikas.

Ashokan Edicts

Rock & pillar inscriptions describing Emperor Ashoka’s Dhamma and policies.

Dhamma

Ashoka’s ethical code promoting non-violence, tolerance & welfare.

Dhamma Mahamatra

Special officer appointed by Ashoka to propagate Dhamma.

Sarnath Lion Capital

Four-lion pillar capital of Ashoka; India’s national emblem.

Maski Edict

Ashokan inscription that identifies ‘Devanampiya’ as King Ashoka himself.

Sudarshan Lake

Irrigation reservoir first built by Mauryas; repaired by Rudradaman & Skandagupta.

Satavahanas

Andhra dynasty (c.60 BC-225 AD) ruling Deccan; capitals Pratishthana & Amaravati.

Gautamiputra Satakarni

Greatest Satavahana king; defeated Western Kshatrapas; known from Nasik inscription.

Karle Chaitya

Largest rock-cut Buddhist prayer hall built under Satavahanas (Maharashtra).

Sakas

Indo-Scythian rulers of western India (100 BC-150 AD) noted for Rudradaman I.

Rudradaman I

Western Kshatrapa king; Junagadh inscription in Sanskrit; repaired Sudarshan Lake.

Indo-Greeks

Hellenistic rulers in NW India; issued bilingual coins; Menander adopted Buddhism.

Kushanas

Central-Asian dynasty (50 AD-230 AD) ruling NW India; capital Purushpur.

Gandhara Art

Greco-Buddhist sculptural style in grey schist emphasizing realistic drapery.

Rabatak Inscription

Kushan epigraph recording Kanishka’s lineage and conquests.

Samudragupta

Gupta emperor (335-375 AD); ‘Napoleon of India’; Prayag Prashasti eulogy.

Prayag Prashasti

Allahabad pillar inscription by Harisena chronicling Samudragupta’s victories.

Chandragupta II

Gupta ruler ‘Vikramaditya’; issued silver coins; patronized Navaratnas.

Nalanda University

Ancient Buddhist monastic university founded during Kumaragupta I’s reign.

Mehrauli Iron Pillar

Delhi pillar with rust-resistant alloy; inscription to Chandragupta II’s victories.

Banabhatta

Court poet of Harsha; author of ‘Harshacharita’ & ‘Kadambari’.

Harshavardhana

Last major North Indian emperor (606-647 AD); patron of Mahayana Buddhism.

Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)

Chinese monk who visited India (630-645 AD) and documented Harsha’s reign.

Aihole Inscription

Pulakeshin II’s eulogy by Ravikirti detailing Chalukya genealogy & victories.

Pulakeshin II

Chalukya king who repelled Harsha; ruled Deccan from Badami.

Vesara Style

Temple architecture blending Nagara & Dravidian forms, begun by Chalukyas.

Pattadakal

UNESCO site in Karnataka with Chalukya-era mixed-style temples.

Pallavas

South-Indian dynasty ruling from Kanchipuram (3rd-9th c. AD).

Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)

Pallava port-city with rock-cut rathas & Shore Temple.