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Revision Notes
Historiography : Indian Tradition — Revision Notes
Maharashtra Board · Class 10 · History and Political Science
Historiography : Indian Tradition revision notes for Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science: 4 topics in quick points.
44 questions34 flashcards5 concepts
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Key Topics to Revise
1
Ancient Tradition of Indian Historiography
- In ancient India, memories of ancestors, mythological stories, and social changes were preserved through oral recitals.
- Harappan seals and artefacts show that Indians had mastered writing by the third millennium B.C.E. or earlier, but the Harappan script remains undeciphered.
- The earliest known written historical documents in India are Ashoka Maurya's 3rd century B.C.E. edicts on rocks and stone pillars.
2
Medieval Indian Historiography
- Biographies of kings and dynastic histories became an important step in Indian historiography.
- Harshacharit, written by Banabhatta in the 7th century C.E., is the biography of King Harsha.
- Rajtarangini, written by Kalhana in the 12th century C.E., is the history of Kashmir and its style is close to modern historiography.
3
Modern Period and Archaeological Research
- In the 20th century, Indian archaeological exploration and research started under British rule.
- Sir Alexander Cunningham, the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, supervised excavations of sites mentioned in Buddhist texts.
- Sir John Marshall's tenure saw the discovery of the Harappan Civilisation.
4
Colonial Historiography
- Many British officials and Christian missionaries wrote about Indian history during the colonial period.
- Their writings often showed prejudice and were used to justify British rule.
- James Mill wrote The History of British India in three volumes, published in 1817.
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Full NotesKey Concepts
Early Indian memory of ancestorsFrom the 1st century CThis MauryanHarshacharit by Banabhatta is King Harsha’sKalhana wrote the history of Kashmir
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the important topics in Historiography : Indian Tradition for Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science?
Key topics in Historiography : Indian Tradition include Ancient Tradition of Indian Historiography, Medieval Indian Historiography, Modern Period and Archaeological Research, Colonial Historiography. Study these first, then practise questions on each for the Maharashtra Board Class 10 board exam.
How should I revise Historiography : Indian Tradition for the Maharashtra Board Class 10 board exam?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 44 practice questions on Historiography : Indian Tradition. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.
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