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Historiography : Indian Tradition

Maharashtra Board · Class 10 · History and Political Science

Complete topic list for Historiography : Indian Tradition in Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science. Key concepts, sub-topics, and what to focus on for board exams.

44 questions34 flashcards5 concepts

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4 Topics · Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science

Topics in Historiography : Indian Tradition

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  • The earliest known written historical documents in India are Ashoka Maurya's 3rd century B.C.E. edicts on rocks and stone pillars.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.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Indian historiography as a developing tradition shaped by ancient sources, medieval writings, colonial interpretations, and modern ideological schools

Ancient Indian historiographySohagaura Copper-plateMedieval Indian historiographyZiauddin BaraniBabur and Akbar period writingBakhar traditionModern historiography and archaeologyColonial historiography

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Historiography : Indian Tradition for Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science?
Historiography : Indian Tradition covers several key topics that are frequently asked in Maharashtra Board Class 10 board exams. Focus on the core concepts listed on this page and practise related questions to build confidence.
How to score full marks in Historiography : Indian Tradition — Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 44 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly, and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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