Social Studies & Its Pedagogy
History — Our Pasts (Ancient to Modern India)
Social Studies & Pedagogy
Paper II
5 topics
What this chapter covers
The 5 topics below make up History — Our Pasts (Ancient to Modern India) in the CTET syllabus. Open any topic for notes, solved examples and a practice MCQ test.
1Sources & Earliest Societies
2First Cities & Early Empires
3Sultans, Mughals & Regional Cultures
4Company Rule & The Revolt of 1857
5Nationalist Movement & After Independence
Study material & tests
📚 Study this chapter
Concept notes, key points, solved examples and hint-guided practice for every topic.
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🎯 Topic MCQ tests
8 auto-graded CTET-style questions per topic, with full explanations.
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📝 Chapter test
25 fresh mixed-difficulty questions, timed, with solutions.
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Key Concepts — Quick Reference
This chapter
Landmark dates to memorise cold
| Harappan Civilisation | c. 2500 BCE (mature phase ~2600-1900 BCE), Bronze Age cities |
|---|---|
| Mauryan Empire / Ashoka | Mauryas from c. 321 BCE; Ashoka ruled c. 268-232 BCE; Kalinga War c. 261 BCE |
| Battle of Plassey | 1757 - Company defeats Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal |
| Battle of Buxar | 1764 - Company wins Diwani (revenue rights) of Bengal in 1765 |
| Revolt of 1857 | First major uprising against Company rule; began at Meerut |
| Indian National Congress | Founded 1885 (A. O. Hume); first session in Bombay |
| Dandi Salt March | 1930 - Civil Disobedience Movement led by Gandhi |
| Quit India Movement | 1942 - "Do or Die"; demand for immediate British withdrawal |
| Independence | 15 August 1947; Republic on 26 January 1950 |
Who is who / what is what
| Ashoka | Mauryan king; spread Dhamma; edicts in Brahmi/Prakrit |
|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | Founder of Mauryan Empire, guided by Chanakya (Kautilya) |
| Samudragupta | Gupta ruler praised in the Prayag Prashasti (Allahabad pillar) |
| Akbar | Greatest Mughal; policy of sulh-i-kul (peace with all); Din-i-Ilahi |
| Sources of history | Archaeological (tools, coins, monuments) + literary (manuscripts, inscriptions) |
| Bhakti & Sufi | Devotional movements stressing love of God over ritual/caste |