Historiography in the Ancient Period : In the ancient period in India memories of the great deeds of ancestors and mythological lore, also memories of social transitions were preserved with the help of oral recitals.
The inscriptions on the Harappan seals and other artefacts confirm that Indians had mastered the art of writing as early as the third millennium B.C.E. or perhaps before that. However, the Harappan script is not yet been successfully deciphered.
The earliest known written documents of historical nature found in India are in the form of inscriptions. They are dated to the 3rd century B.C.E., that is emperor Ashok Maurya’s times. His edicts are inscribed on natural rocks and stone pillars.
From the 1st century C.E. inscriptions begin to occur on coins, metal images and sculptures, and also on copper plates. They provide important historical information. We get to know about the dates of various kings, dynastic genealogies, territorial extent and administration of various empires and kingdoms and also important political events, social organisation, climate, famines, etc. of the respective times.
The ancient Indian literature including the epics Ramayana and Mahabharat, Puranas, Jain and Buddhist texts, historical accounts by Indian authors and also travelogues by foreign travellers are important sources of history.
Writing of biographies of kings and dynastic histories mark an important step in the Indian historiography. ‘Harshacharit’, written in the 7th century C.E. by Banabhatta is King Harsha’s biography. It portrays a realistic picture of the social, economic, political,religious and cultural life during the king’s times.
SSC 10th History, Maharashtra Board, 2019 - 2020.
Chapter 2. Historiography : Indian Tradition
1. Complete the sentences by choosing the correct option.
(1) ........ was the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India.
(a) Alexander Cunningham
(b) William Jones
(c) John Marshall
(d) Friedrich Max Muller
(2) ............ translated the Sanskrit text of ‘Hitopadesh’.
(a) James Mill
(b) Friedrich max Muller
(c) Mountstuart Elphinstone
(d) Sir John Marshall
(B) Identify the wrong pair in the following, correct it and rewrite.
(1) ‘Who were the Shudras’ - Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
(2) ‘Stri-Purush Tulana’ - Feminist writing
(3) ‘The Indian War of Independence 1857’ - Marxist History
(4) Grant Duff - Colonial History.
Answer: The incorrect pair is:
The Indian War of Independence, 1857 - Marxist History
The Appropriate Pair is:
The Indian War of Independence, 1857 - Nationalistic Historiography.
2. Explain the following with its reason.
3. Answer the following in 25-30 words.
4. Write detailed answers to the following questions :
5. (a) Complete the following chart.
Answer:
(b) Complete the following concept chart.
Answer:
6. Explain the following concepts.
