How to complete ancient history for UPSC

Ancient history need a different approach, while preparing for UPSC. Beside good resources , a complete understanding of the issues across entire ancient history period is needed.

What is the best source for ancient history (book list) ?

 For ancient history , keep the resources limited and focus more on conceptual clarity.

1. RS SHARMA ( OLD NCERT)
2. DN JHA – ANCIENT INDIA
3. UPENDER SINGH
4. IGNOU BA MATERIAL
5. ROMILLA THAPAR (SELECTED TOPICS LIKE 2^NDURBANISATION)

How to prepare for the ancient history portion of the civil services examination ?

 Begin ancient history portion by studying the previous year question paper topic wise. You can prepare ancient history either through HORIZONTAL TECHNIQUE  OR VETICAL TECHNIQUES

 THE VERTICAL TECHNIQUE  involves  studying history as given in syllabus , chapter wise according to the syllabus , for example;

1. paleolithic,Mesolithic
2. Indus valley,harappa
3. Aryans and vedic age
4. Mahajanapadas
5. Mauryan empire
6. Post mauryan empire
7. Gupta period

THE HORIZONTAL TECHNIQUE is the best way to study history,where you focus on single topic across all period from ancient india, studying continuity and change.

For example,

 SOCIETY IN ANCIENT INDIA

SLAVE IN ANCIENT INDIA

 RELIGION IN ANCIENT INDIA

 ECONOMY IN ANCIENT INDIA

 ART AND ARCHITECTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA

 POLITICAL SYSTEM IN ANCIENT INDIA

 TRADE, CRAFT,INDUSTRY IN ANCIENT INDIA

 AGRICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA

 LITRETURE IN ANCIENT INDIA

 URBANISATION IN ANCIENT INDIA

You can also do comparison between north india and south india :

SOCIETY in north india and in south india

RELIGION in north india and in south india

BHAKTI MOVEMENT in north india and south india

ART AND ARCHITECTURE in north india and south india

POLITICAL SYSTEM in northj india and south india

ECONOMY  in north india and south india.

This technique helps you to have broader outlook over a single issue/topic. You can observe continuity,change and decline through entire period from ancient India.

1. Have one standard handwritten notes on each topic.
2. Prepare a list of topics by observing the syllabus and past year question and study them either through HORIZONTAL TECHNIQUE OR VERTICAL TECHNIQUES as discussed above , and make your own notes accordingly.
3. Focus on multiple revision and do answer writing practise in exam based condition at home.
4. Study TOPPER’S ANSWER COPY to understand how to write good answers with diagram covering every aspect of the answer.

At last, practise MAP WORK. Make a list of ancient sites as you study ancient history, with importance of that site , plot those sites on a physical map.