national law university and judicial academy, assam

programme: b.a., ll.b. (hons.) fyic

details of course offered

odd semester (i) – academic year ……………….

sl. course course

no code title l t/p cr ch
1 BL102.4 history of 4 1 4
(history india upto per per
major- i) 1200 ad week week

a. code and title of the course: BL102.4 (history major- i),

history of india upto 1200 a.d.

b. course credit: 04 (total marks 200)

c. medium of instruction: english

d. course compiled by: namrata gogoi

e. course instructor: namrata gogoi

1. course objectives : The Course encompasses the early period of indian
history. It aims to acquaint students with not only the political history of the
period but it also places equal emphasis on economic, social and cultural history.
Through this course students are expected to gain an in depth understanding of the
history of early India alongwith acquiring a context within which the various
judicial institutions of the period evolved.

2. teaching methodology: The teaching methodology shall be participatory

teaching with discussions on the topics included. The students are informed in
advance the topic for discussion and the topic of project / assignment they have to
prepare. The students prepare their topics from the sources suggested to them. The
students are also encouraged to do independent research on their respective
assignments. In the classroom every student is required to present his/her topic
and to have his/her doubt cleared through discussion. The teacher will be helping
and guiding the students in their pursuits of learning.

3. expected outcomes of the course: After the completion of the

Course the students are expected to have a clearer and in-depth understanding of
the subject. It is hoped that such an understanding would act as an efficient tool
for the student in studying the legal system in its entirety while acknowledging the
very solid foundation upon which the relationship between history and law rests.

4. course evaluation method

The course shall be assessed for 200 marks. The Evaluation Scheme would be as
follows:
Internal Assessment: 70% (140 marks)
Semester End Examination: 30% (60 marks)

Sl. Marks Distribution

No.
1 Project Work 40 marks

2 Seminar/Group Discussion 20 marks

3 Assignment/Assessment 30 marks

4 Mid-Semester Test 40 marks

 5 Attendance in class 10 marks
6 Semester End Examination 60 marks

5. detailed structure of the course (specifying course

modules and sub-modules)

Module I

Reconstructing Ancient Indian History: Sources And Methods Of Historical

Reconstruction, Early Traditions Of Indian History

The Harappan Civilisation: Origins, Settlement Patterns And Town Planning,

Agrarian Practices, Craft Production And Trade, Social Organizations, Political
Structures, Religious Beliefs And Practices, Urban Decline

Cultural Transitions Upto 600 B.C.: The Aryan Debate, Vedic Society,
Settlement Patterns, Technological And Economic Developments, Social
Stratifications, Political Institutions, Religion And Philosophy

Essential Readings
• Agarwal, D.P. Indus Civilisation. New Delhi:Aryan Book Depot, 2017.
• Kenoyer, J.M. Ancient Cities Of The Indus Valley Civilisation. Karachi:
Oxford University Press And American Institute Of Pakistan Studies, 1998
• Lal, B.B. Homeland Of The Aryans. New Delhi: Aryan Books, 2005
• Sharma, R.S. Material Culture And Social Formations In Ancient India. Delhi:
Macmillan India, 1983
• Sharma, R.S. Aspects Of Political Ideas And Institutions In Ancient India.
Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1996
• Singh, U. A History Of Ancient And Early Medieval India. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 2000
• Thapar, R. Early India: From The Origins To Ad 1300. New Delhi: Penguin,
2003
• Trautmann, T.R. (Ed.). The Aryan Debate. New Delhi: Oxford University
Press, 2005.
MODULE II
Changing Political Formations. 600 BCE-300CE: The Mahajanapadas, The
Gana-Sanghas, The Mauryan Empire, Ashoka And His Dhamma, The Post-
Mauryan Polities

Economy And Society: Expansion Of Agrarian Economy, Growth Of Urban

Centres, Craft Production, Trade Networks, Social Stratification- Class, Varna,
Jati, Untouchability, Gender, Marriage And Property Relations

ESSENTIAL READINGS
• Chakravarti, R. Exploring Early India Upto C. Ad 1300. Delhi: Primus, 2016
• Chakravarti, U. The Social Dimensions Of Early Buddhism. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 1987.
• Jaiswal, S. Caste: Origin, Function And Dimensions Of Change. New Delhi:
Manohar, 1998.
• Mukherjea, B.N. Rise And Fall Of The Kushana Empire. Calcutta: Firma
K.L.Mukhopadhyay, 1989
• Olivelle, P. (Ed.). Between The Empires: Society In India 300 Bce To 400 Ce.
New York: Oxford University Press, 2006
• Olivelle, P., J.Leoshko And H.P. Ray (Eds.). Re-Imagining Ashoka: Memory
And History. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2012
• Ray, H.P. The Winds Of Change: Buddhism And The Maritime Links Of
Early South Asia. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1994
• Roy, K. The Power Of Gender And The Gender Of Power: Explorations In
Early Indian History. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2010
• Sharma, R.S. Aspects Of Political Ideas And Institutions In Ancient India.
Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1996
• Singh, U. A History Of Ancient And Early Medieval India. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 2000
• Thapar, R. Early India: From The Origins To Ad. 1300. New Delhi: Penguin,
2003
• Thapar, R. Ashoka And The Decline Of The Mauryas. New Delhi: Oxford
University Press, 2012
 MODULE III

The Early Medieval In Indian History: Changing Perspectives

Polities: The Gupta Empire And Its Contemporaries, Post-Gupta Polities

Economy And Society: Agrarian Expansion, Land Grants, Urban Patterns, Trade,
Varna, Jati

Religion, Philosophy And Cultural Developments: Buddhism And Jainism,

Consolidation Of Brahmanical Tradition, Puranic Hinduism, Literature, Art And
Architecture

ESSENTIAL READINGS
• Chakravarti, U. The Social Dimensions Of Early Buddhism. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 1987.
• Chattopadhyay, B.D. The Making Of Early Medieval India. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 1997
• Gethin, R. Foundations Of Buddhism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998
• Huntington, S. The Art Of Ancient India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain. New York:
Weather Hill, 1985
• Jaini, P. The Jaina Path Of Purification. Berkeley: University Of California
Press, 1979
• Jha, D.N. (Ed.)., The Feudal Order: State, Ideology And Society In Early
Medieval India. Delhi: Manohar, 2000
• Sharma, R.S. Indian Feudalism. Madras: Macmillan, 1980
• Shrimali, K.M. The Age Of Iron And The Religious Revolutions. New Delhi:
Tulika, 2007
• Singh, U. A History Of Ancient And Early Medieval India. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 2000.

6. prescribed readings
• Agarwal, D.P. Indus Civilisation. New Delhi:Aryan Book Depot, 2017.
• Chakravarti, U. The Social Dimensions Of Early Buddhism. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 1987.
• Chakravarti, R. Exploring Early India Upto C. Ad 1300. Delhi: Primus, 2016
• Chattopadhyay, B.D. The Making Of Early Medieval India. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 1997
• Sharma, R.S. Aspects Of Political Ideas And Institutions In Ancient India.
Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1996
• Singh, U. A History Of Ancient And Early Medieval India. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 2000.
• Thapar, R. Early India: From The Origins To Ad. 1300. New Delhi: Penguin,
2003
• Thapar, R. Ashoka And The Decline Of The Mauryas. New Delhi: Oxford
University Press, 2012
• Trautmann, T.R. (Ed.). The Aryan Debate. New Delhi: Oxford University
Press, 2005.