SSC Indian History Notes: Ancient, Medieval and Modern India
History is one of the major scoring parts of the General Awareness section of SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD and CPO. In most papers, 3 to 6 questions are asked from Indian history, and they are mainly direct questions on dynasties, rulers, battles, movements, books and places. The syllabus is large, but the pattern of questions is repeated, so a student who prepares timelines and tables can revise it in a short time.
These SSC Indian History notes are divided into the three standard periods: ancient, medieval and modern India. Each part gives the key topics, the facts that are asked again and again and the tips to remember them. For detailed chapters, read the notes on the Indus Valley Civilization and the prehistoric period.
What You Get in These History Notes
- Period-wise summaries of ancient, medieval and modern Indian history.
- Tables of the dynasties, the rulers, the capitals and the important events.
- The list of the movements, the acts, the governors-general and the viceroys.
- The facts of art, architecture and culture, which are favourite questions.
- A preparation plan and the links to Indian Polity and Indian Geography.
Ancient India
Prehistoric Period and Indus Valley Civilization
- The prehistoric period is divided into the Palaeolithic (old stone), Mesolithic (middle stone), Neolithic (new stone) and Chalcolithic (copper-stone) ages. Fire was discovered in the Palaeolithic age and agriculture started in the Neolithic age.
- The Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization (about 2500 to 1750 BCE for the mature phase) was a Bronze Age urban civilization. Its main sites are Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (now in Pakistan), and Lothal, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi and Banawali in India. It had planned cities, a drainage system, the Great Bath and the Granary, and its script is still not read.
Vedic Age and Religious Movements
- The Early Vedic period (about 1500 to 1000 BCE) is known from the Rigveda; the Later Vedic period (1000 to 600 BCE) from the Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, the Brahmanas and the Upanishads.
- The four Vedas are the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. The Rigveda has 10 mandalas and 1028 hymns.
- In the 6th century BCE, Mahavira (the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism) and Gautama Buddha (born in Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, death at Kushinagar) started Jainism and Buddhism.
- The sixteen Mahajanapadas were the large states of that time; Magadha became the most powerful.
Mauryan, Post-Mauryan and Gupta Empires
| Dynasty or ruler | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | Founded the Mauryan empire (321 BCE) with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya), author of the Arthashastra |
| Bindusara | Son of Chandragupta; called Amitraghata |
| Ashoka | Fought the Kalinga war (261 BCE) and adopted Buddhism; his edicts are in the Brahmi script; his lion capital at Sarnath is the national emblem of India |
| Kushanas (Kanishka) | Started the Shaka era (78 CE); the Fourth Buddhist Council was held in his time |
| Satavahanas | Ruled the Deccan; Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest king |
| Chandragupta I | Started the Gupta empire (the Gupta era from 319 CE) |
| Samudragupta | Called the Napoleon of India; the Allahabad pillar inscription describes his conquests |
| Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) | Navaratnas including Kalidasa; the Chinese traveller Fahien visited India in his time |
| Harshavardhana | Ruled from Kannauj (606 to 647 CE); the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited his court; wrote Ratnavali and Nagananda |
- The southern dynasties: the Cholas (Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur by Rajaraja I), the Cheras, Pandyas, the Pallavas (Mahabalipuram) and the Chalukyas (Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha).
- The Gupta age is called the Golden Age: Aryabhata (astronomy and mathematics), Kalidasa, Varahamihira and the iron pillar at Delhi.
Medieval India
- Delhi Sultanate (1206 to 1526): five dynasties: Slave (Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultan, Balban), Khilji (Alauddin Khilji, market reforms), Tughlaq (Muhammad bin Tughlaq moved the capital to Daulatabad and issued token currency; Firoz Shah Tughlaq), Sayyid and Lodi (Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat, 1526).
- Qutb Minar was started by Qutbuddin Aibak and completed by Iltutmish.
- Vijayanagara Empire (1336) was founded by Harihara and Bukka; Krishnadevaraya was the greatest ruler. The Bahmani Kingdom (1347) was in the Deccan.
- Mughal Empire: Babur (founder, 1526), Humayun, Akbar (1556 to 1605: Din-i-Ilahi, Mansabdari system, Todar Mal's land revenue system, the battle of Haldighati in 1576), Jahangir, Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal, Red Fort) and Aurangzeb (died in 1707).
- Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun, built the Grand Trunk Road, introduced the silver rupee and a good revenue system.
- The Marathas: Shivaji (coronation in 1674 at Raigad), the Peshwas and the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).
- Bhakti and Sufi movements: Kabir, Guru Nanak, Mirabai, Tulsidas, Chaitanya, Ramanuja; the Chishti order (Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti) and others.
- Medieval architecture: Qutb Minar, Alai Darwaza, Humayun's Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal and Gol Gumbaz.
Modern India
| Period | Important events |
|---|---|
| 1498 | Vasco da Gama reached Calicut |
| 1600 | East India Company formed |
| 1757 | Battle of Plassey: Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah |
| 1764 | Battle of Buxar: British gained the control of Bengal |
| 1857 | The Revolt of 1857, started from Meerut |
| 1885 | Indian National Congress founded (A. O. Hume; first president W. C. Bonnerjee) |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon; Swadeshi movement |
| 1906 | Muslim League founded |
| 1916 | Lucknow Pact and the Home Rule Leagues |
| 1919 | Jallianwala Bagh massacre; Rowlatt Act |
| 1920 to 22 | Non-Cooperation Movement; Chauri Chaura incident (1922) |
| 1930 | Civil Disobedience Movement; Dandi March |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement ("Do or Die") |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission |
| 1947 | Independence and Partition (15 August) |
- Social reformers: Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj, abolition of sati), Dayanand Saraswati (Arya Samaj), Swami Vivekananda (Ramakrishna Mission), Jyotiba Phule, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Annie Besant.
- Governors-general and viceroys and the acts: Regulating Act 1773, Pitt's India Act 1784, Charter Acts of 1813, 1833 and 1853, Government of India Act 1858, Indian Councils Acts 1861, 1892 and 1909, Government of India Act 1919 and 1935 and the Indian Independence Act 1947. Lord Mountbatten was the last viceroy, and C. Rajagopalachari the last Governor-General.
- Important leaders: Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose (Azad Hind Fauj), Sardar Patel, Bal Gangadhar Tilak ("Swaraj is my birthright"), Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
Art, Architecture and Culture
- Temple styles: Nagara (north), Dravida (south) and Vesara (mixed).
- Classical dances: Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (north), Kathakali (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Odissi (Odisha), Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya.
- Painting: Ajanta and Ellora cave paintings, Mughal and Rajput miniatures, the Madhubani and Warli folk art.
- Music: Hindustani and Carnatic traditions; Tansen at the court of Akbar.
- Languages and literature: the Sangam literature in Tamil, Kalidasa's Shakuntalam and Abhijnanashakuntalam, and the works of Banabhatta and Kalhana (Rajatarangini).
How to Prepare SSC Indian History
- Make a timeline for every period and write the important year, ruler and event on one page.
- Learn the dynasties with their founder, the capital and the best-known ruler.
- Study the freedom struggle in chronological order, along with the acts.
- Revise the art and culture facts as short tables.
- Solve 20 questions after every period and note the facts that you forgot.
- Revise all the timelines every week and solve the previous year questions in the last month.
Tips for the Exam
- Do not memorise only the years; learn the sequence of the events.
- Remember the pairs: person with the work, battle with the year and the winner.
- Link the history with the maps of Indian Geography for the places.
Practice and Next Steps
After the notes, solve the SSC practice papers, the previous year papers and the free SSC quizzes. Read the Indian Polity notes for the constitutional development, and keep up with current affairs.
Explore Other SSC Subjects
SSC exams test many subjects, so a good study plan connects them. Move to the next subject once you finish this one:
- Quantitative Aptitude Notes: Maths formulas, tricks and solved examples
- Reasoning Notes: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning topics
- English Notes: Grammar, vocabulary and comprehension
- General Awareness Notes: History, polity, geography, economy and static GK
- Computer Knowledge Notes: Computer basics, MS Office, internet and security
- General Science Notes: Physics, chemistry and biology for SSC
- Statistics Notes: Statistics for CGL Tier 2 (JSO)
- Finance and Economics Notes: Finance, accounts and economics for CGL Tier 2 (AAO)
- General Hindi Notes: Hindi grammar and vocabulary
- Current Affairs Notes: Latest national and international events
- Indian Geography Notes: Physical, economic and world geography
- Indian Polity Notes: Constitution, parliament and governance
- Indian Economy Notes: Economy, budget, banking and schemes
- Civil Engineering (SSC JE) Notes: Civil engineering topics for SSC JE
- Mechanical Engineering (SSC JE) Notes: Mechanical engineering topics for SSC JE
- Electrical Engineering (SSC JE) Notes: Electrical engineering topics for SSC JE
- Stenography Notes: Shorthand, typing and transcription for Stenographer
You can also practise with the SSC practice papers, solve the previous year papers and attempt the free SSC quizzes.
Frequently Asked Questions About SSC Indian History Notes
How many questions come from history in SSC exams?
Usually 3 to 6 questions in the General Awareness section are asked from Indian history, including ancient, medieval, modern history and the freedom struggle.
Which period of history is the most important for SSC?
Modern history and the freedom struggle are the most important, followed by ancient and medieval history and art and culture.
Who was the founder of the Mauryan empire?
Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan empire in 321 BCE with the help of Chanakya.
In which year was the Battle of Plassey fought?
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the British (Robert Clive) and Siraj-ud-Daulah.
When was the Indian National Congress founded?
The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885, and its first president was W. C. Bonnerjee.
Which movement is called "Do or Die"?
The Quit India Movement of 1942 is known by the slogan "Do or Die".
Who was the last viceroy of India?
Lord Mountbatten was the last viceroy and the first Governor-General of independent India.
How should I prepare Indian history for the SSC exam?
Make timelines and tables for each period, learn the dynasties and the freedom struggle events in order, revise weekly and solve previous year questions.
Which modern history topics are the most important for SSC?
The Revolt of 1857, the formation of the Indian National Congress, the Gandhian movements, important Acts of the British period, and the events before and after independence are the most asked topics.
How can I remember dates in Indian history?
Make a timeline of 50 to 60 important events, learn them in small groups and revise them weekly. Linking a date to a story or a person makes it easier to remember.
Are art and culture questions part of history in SSC?
Yes. Questions on temples, architecture, paintings, dance forms and literature of different periods are often asked along with history, so give them some time. You can also read the General Awareness notes for related topics.
What is the difference between the Indus Valley and the Vedic civilization?
The Indus Valley civilization was an urban civilization with planned cities, while the early Vedic society was mainly rural and pastoral. Their sources are also different: archaeology for the first and the Vedas for the second.