B.A. Social Notes

                                          Literary Sources T he literary sources can again be sub-divided into four groups known as Brahminical,Buddhist,Jain and Scientific. 1- Brahminical Literature - There is a great storehouse of Brahminical literature in India.It has played a very significant role in helping reconstruct the early history of India.It has been divided into following sub-divisions. 1-Vedas: The four vedas -Rigved,Yajurveda,Athavaved,and Samved are known as the earliest of the Brahminical literature.They are help in understanding the political,social and religious aspects of the Aryans.Rigved is the oldest of all th e vedas. 2-Brahmanas and Upanishads:Connected with the vedas there is another class of literature known a Brahmanas and Upanishads.The Brahmanas contain prose commentaries on vedic hymns while the Upanishads contain philosophical and ethical discourses which inform us on the cultural and regious thoughts of the Aryans. 3-Vedangas or Upvedas

              Sources of Ancient Indian History Archaeological Sources : Monuments , Inscription , Coins Literary Sources : Religious , Secular Foreign Accounts     Archaeological Source Monuments : Archaeological sources which enables us to reconstruct ancient history of india is monuments. 1- Architecture : It is the best source of understanding the thought and mental processes of the people of bygone days.This development was greatly influenced by each and every movement of history. Indian architecture was inspired by Buddhism.The Bhuddhist Stupas ,the Chaityas and the Viharas show it clearly.These architectural monuments helps us to know about the social,religious and political condition of the country at that time. 2 - Sculpture : The earliest representation of Indian sculpture is found in the Indus Valley Civilization.It has proved the existence of a civilization prior to that of the Aryans. The excavation of Taixila have given as a lot of information a