Ancient Indian History Mind Map: Stone Age to Harsha, Indus Valley, Vedic Age, Mauryas and Guptas in One Page for SSC

This ancient Indian history mind map for SSC condenses the whole of ancient India, from the Stone Age to Harsha, into one structured page. Use it as the final revision sheet: read each branch, recall the details from your detailed notes and then test yourself with the practice questions and FAQs.

The Mind Map

• Prehistoric India
  • Palaeolithic: hunters, stone tools, Bhimbetka paintings (Madhya Pradesh)
  • Mesolithic: microliths, domestication of animals begins
  • Neolithic: agriculture, pottery, Mehrgarh (Balochistan; oldest farming site)
  • Chalcolithic: copper and stone, Ahar, Malwa, Jorwe cultures
  • Iron Age: megaliths in South India
• Indus Valley Civilisation (about 2600–1900 BCE)
  • Harappa found in 1921 (Daya Ram Sahni); Mohenjodaro in 1922 (R. D. Banerjee)
  • Town planning: grid streets, burnt bricks, covered drains, Citadel and Lower town
  • Great Bath (Mohenjodaro), granary (Harappa), dockyard (Lothal)
  • Other sites: Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, Banawali, Chanhudaro
  • Seals, Pashupati seal, undeciphered script; trade with Mesopotamia
  • Worship of the Mother Goddess, Pashupati, trees and animals; no clear temples
• Vedic Age (about 1500–600 BCE)
  • Early Vedic: Rig Veda (10 mandalas), Sapta Sindhu region, pastoral, tribal
  • Later Vedic: Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads; iron used; the Ganga plains
  • Society: four varnas; Sabha, Samiti and Vidatha
  • Gods: Indra, Agni, Varuna (early); Prajapati, Vishnu, Rudra (later)
  • Four ashramas; sixteen samskaras
• Mahajanapadas and Early Kingdoms (6th century BCE)
  • 16 Mahajanapadas: Magadha, Kosala, Kashi, Vatsa, Avanti, Anga, Vajji and others
  • Magadha rose: Bimbisara, Ajatashatru (Haryanka), Shishunaga, Nanda (Mahapadma Nanda)
  • Capital shifts: Rajagriha to Pataliputra
  • Alexander’s invasion of the north-west in 326 BCE (Battle of the Hydaspes)
• Buddhism and Jainism
  • Buddha: born at Lumbini; enlightenment at Bodh Gaya; first sermon at Sarnath; death at Kushinagar
  • Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path; the Middle Path
  • Buddhist councils: Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra and Kashmir
  • Mahavira: the 24th Tirthankara; five vows (Panch Mahavrata); Jain councils at Pataliputra and Vallabhi
  • Sects: Hinayana and Mahayana; Digambara and Svetambara
• Mauryan Empire (321–185 BCE)
  • Chandragupta Maurya founded it with Chanakya (Kautilya, Arthashastra)
  • Bindusara; Ashoka (Kalinga War 261 BCE, Dhamma, rock and pillar edicts, Brahmi script)
  • Megasthenes: Indica; the Greek ambassador
  • Administration: provinces, spies, strong army; Sarnath Lion Capital is the national emblem
  • Decline: Brihadratha was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga
• Post-Mauryan Period (200 BCE–300 CE)
  • Shungas and Kanvas in the north
  • Satavahanas in the Deccan (Gautamiputra Satakarni)
  • Indo-Greeks (Menander), Shakas, Parthians
  • Kushanas: Kanishka, Saka era (78 CE), Gandhara and Mathura art, the fourth Buddhist council
  • Sangam age in the south: Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas
• Gupta Empire (about 320–550 CE)
  • Chandragupta I; Samudragupta (Napoleon of India; Allahabad pillar by Harishena)
  • Chandragupta II Vikramaditya; Fa-Hien visited; Navaratnas including Kalidasa
  • Science: Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Brahmagupta; Sushruta in medicine
  • Art: Ajanta paintings, Dashavatara temple, iron pillar at Mehrauli
  • Nalanda University; decline due to the Huna invasions
• Harsha and After
  • Harshavardhana (606–647 CE) of Thanesar, capital Kannauj
  • Hiuen Tsang visited; Banabhatta wrote Harshacharita
  • Prayag assembly (Kumbh) every five years
  • Defeated by Pulakeshin II on the Narmada
  • South Indian dynasties: Pallavas, Chalukyas, Cholas

Quick Dates

How to Use This Mind Map

1. Read one branch at a time and close your eyes to recall the details.
2. Draw the mind map from memory on a blank page; check what you missed.
3. Revise the quick dates every day for a week.
4. Solve the practice questions to check your recall.

Quick Tips

• Draw the mind map from memory.
• Remember the order of the dynasties.
• Learn the dates of the major events.
• Link each branch with its detailed note.

Quick Revision Points

• Harappa was discovered in 1921; Mohenjodaro in 1922.
• Ashoka fought the Kalinga War in 261 BCE.
• Chandragupta Maurya was advised by Chanakya.
• The Gupta period is called the Golden Age.
• Harsha ruled from Kannauj.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Who discovered Harappa?
   Answer: Daya Ram Sahni (1921)
2. Which is the oldest farming site in South Asia?
   Answer: Mehrgarh
3. Who wrote the Arthashastra?
   Answer: Kautilya (Chanakya)
4. Who is called the Napoleon of India?
   Answer: Samudragupta
5. Which Chinese traveller visited India during Harsha’s time?
   Answer: Hiuen Tsang
6. In which year did the Kalinga War take place?
   Answer: 261 BCE
7. Who founded the Saka era?
   Answer: Kanishka (78 CE)
8. Where did Buddha give his first sermon?
   Answer: Sarnath
9. Which Greek ambassador visited the Mauryan court?
   Answer: Megasthenes
10. Who defeated Harsha on the Narmada?
    Answer: Pulakeshin II

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the MindMaps notes page and the next topic Medieval Indian History Mind Map.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a mind map?

A diagram that shows a topic with its branches and sub-points for quick revision.

How should I use the mind map?

Read the branches, recall the details and then draw it from memory.

What are the main periods of ancient Indian history?

Prehistoric, Indus Valley, Vedic, Mahajanapadas, Mauryan, post-Mauryan, Gupta and Harsha.

Who founded the Mauryan Empire?

Chandragupta Maurya.

Who was the greatest Mauryan ruler?

Ashoka.

Which period is called the Golden Age of India?

The Gupta period.

What were the Mahajanapadas?

The 16 great states of the 6th century BCE.

Which civilisation was found at Harappa?

The Indus Valley Civilisation.

Who was Hiuen Tsang?

A Chinese Buddhist monk who visited India in the 7th century.

Is this topic asked in SSC?

Yes. Ancient history is a regular part of the history section.

What is the national emblem derived from?

The Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.

Which book describes the Mauryan India by a Greek?

Indica by Megasthenes.