Historiography : Indian Tradition — Syllabus
Maharashtra Board · Class 10 · History and Political Science
What Historiography : Indian Tradition covers in Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session.
Interactive on Super Tutor
Studying Historiography : Indian Tradition? Get the full interactive chapter.
Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for syllabus and more.
Free trial, no card needed.
Topics in Historiography : Indian Tradition
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- The earliest known written historical documents in India are Ashoka Maurya's 3rd century B.C.E. edicts on rocks and stone pillars.
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.
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.
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
Work through every topic in Historiography : Indian Tradition with notes and quizzes
Start This ChapterFrequently Asked Questions
What are the important topics in Historiography : Indian Tradition for Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science?
How should I revise Historiography : Indian Tradition for the Maharashtra Board Class 10 board exam?
Sources & Official References
Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.
More resources for Historiography : Indian Tradition
Practice Quiz
Test yourself with a quick quiz
Important Questions
Exam-style questions with answers
Revision Notes
Key points for last-minute revision
Chapter Summary
Understand the chapter at a glance
Concept Maps
See how topics connect
Study Plan
Step-by-step plan for this chapter
Flashcards
Quick-fire cards for active recall
For serious students
Get the full Historiography : Indian Tradition chapter — start free.
Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for Maharashtra Board Class 10 History and Political Science. Free to start, no card needed.