Page 8 - SST Class 07
P. 8
The Vedas and related books were put into observed from their day-to-day lives. However,
writing quite late. The Rig Veda describes there were many scenes from the life of the
the period 1500-1000 BC and the later Buddha and tales from the Jataka and other
Vedic literature gives glimpse of the history such books. Sculptures show the state of artistic
of about 1000-600 BC. technique and it shows gradual refinement
Buddhist literature, the two epics (Ramayana and through the years.
Mahabharata) and other book help us to know Music : The Mughal rulers patronised music.
about the subsequent periods. We mainly rely on Babar himself was a poet and musician. Akbar
literary sources for the history of India just before patronised many musicians. Tansen was a
the Mauryas. famous name among all of them.
Literary works by foreign visitors like Chinese, Thus, the various foreign or indigenous literary
Romans and Greeks, who came to India, also act sources of ancient Indian history provide ade-
as literary sources of ancient Indian history. The quate knowledge on various aspects and thus
Indica by Magasthenes, a Greek ambassador in provide support to reconstruct ancient Indian
the court of Chandragupta Maurya, includes history.
various information of the era. A proper geo- ROLE OF THE HISTORIAN
graphical account of India can be obtained from At the time of writing the history, it is most
Ptolemy’s ‘Geography’. Naturalis Historia of important to analyse all the sources of history. A
Pliny gives an account of India’s flora and fauna
historian’s chief responsibility is to examine and
and mineral resources and also mentions about
interpret all these sources and write an unbiased
trade relations between Italy and India. Whereas,
and systematic historical account.
idea about India’s ports, harbours and trade and
DIVERSE NOMENCLATURE OF INDIA
commerce conducted through the sea route can
India has been known by its various names from
be obtained from Periplus of Erythraen.
the beginning of the Medieval Period. From
Moreover, various texts by Chinese visitors like
Aryavarte to Hindustan. India got its name —
Hiuen Tsang, Fa Hien and others provide a
Hindustan because of the people living around
detailed picture of Indian Buddhism.
the Indus River. It is derived from a Persian word
Paintings and Sculptures
that means the same as Sindhu in Sanskrit.
Rock paintings of the medieval period have
‘Hind’ indicates Indian subcontinent in Persian
survived in the caves of Buddhist and Jain
and Arabic. When it was used in the 13th
monks. These were usually depictions of facts
Paintings and Sculptures Pallava Sculpture
Social Science-7 8
