Magadh Mahila College
Patna University
Department of History
Bhawana Singh(Guest Faculty)
Email id-
B.A- 1st year
Paper-1, Unit-1
Sources of Indian History
Types of sources of Indian history:
Archeological sources
Literary sources
Foreign Accounts
Archeological Sources:
Inscriptions
Coins
Seals
Potteries
Monuments
Caves
Sculptures
The study of coins is known as numismatics. The study of inscription is known as Epigraphy.
The word archeology is the combination of two word ‘Archaios’ and ‘Logia’, where archaios
means ancient and logia means knowledge. There are two methods of excavations- Horizontal
and Vertical excavations.
Inscriptions:
Inscriptions are the most important part of archeological sources. They can be considered as the
most authentic and reliable source. These are comparatively less biased. In the series of
, inscriptions, the oldest inscriptions belongs to Emperor Ashoka. His maximum number of
inscription are in Brahmi script, which exhibit the information about Ashoka’s rule,
administration and ‘Dhamma’. Few inscriptions besides Ashokan inscriptions are Prayag
Prashshti of Samudragupta, Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela, Aihole inscription of
Pulakeshin, etc. The entire history of Satvahanas is based on their archeological source.
Similarly, the inscription of rulers of ‘Pallavas’, ‘Chalukyas’, ‘Pandyas’, ‘Cholas’ also proved to
be of importance in the formation of their history.
Coins:
Coins are of immense importance in information of ancient Indian history. With the help of coins
we not only get to know about the trade and commercial activities of the time but also get to
know about the economic and technological development of the time through the shape, material
and technology involved in minting these coins. The dates mentioned on the coins help us to
know about the chronology of the king. Coins also helps us to interpret about the religious
ideologies of the rulers with the help of dates inscribed on them. The first coin of India was
known as ‘Punchmarked coins’. Since, it was made by the method of punching thus, was known
as Punchmarked coins. These coins were possibly introduced by the trading guilds and not by
any ruler. The ratio of purity in coins enables us to interpret about the economic condition of the
ruler and his time. The example:
The first gold coin was introduced by Indo-Greek the first ruler of Indo-Greek who introduced
gold coins.
The purest gold coins were issued by the ‘Kushanas’ and the maximum number of gold coins but
also most impure were issued by the ‘Guptas’.
Monuments or Memorials:
Monuments are one of the most important elements of archeological sources. The study of these
monuments not only helps us to interpret about the technical skills, living standard, economic
condition of the time but also help us to know about the architectural style of the time. Where the
magnificent monuments depicts the prosperity of a ruler or the dynasty on the improvement of
the empire. There were three styles of architecture in India:
Nagar style in the North.
Dravid style in the South.
And in Deccan i.e, in central part of India, a new style developed which came to be
known as Baser style.
There are few temples of Indian deity in South-East Asia and Central Asia for example-
Borobudur Temple in Java, Ankorwat Temple in Combodia.
Patna University
Department of History
Bhawana Singh(Guest Faculty)
Email id-
B.A- 1st year
Paper-1, Unit-1
Sources of Indian History
Types of sources of Indian history:
Archeological sources
Literary sources
Foreign Accounts
Archeological Sources:
Inscriptions
Coins
Seals
Potteries
Monuments
Caves
Sculptures
The study of coins is known as numismatics. The study of inscription is known as Epigraphy.
The word archeology is the combination of two word ‘Archaios’ and ‘Logia’, where archaios
means ancient and logia means knowledge. There are two methods of excavations- Horizontal
and Vertical excavations.
Inscriptions:
Inscriptions are the most important part of archeological sources. They can be considered as the
most authentic and reliable source. These are comparatively less biased. In the series of
, inscriptions, the oldest inscriptions belongs to Emperor Ashoka. His maximum number of
inscription are in Brahmi script, which exhibit the information about Ashoka’s rule,
administration and ‘Dhamma’. Few inscriptions besides Ashokan inscriptions are Prayag
Prashshti of Samudragupta, Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela, Aihole inscription of
Pulakeshin, etc. The entire history of Satvahanas is based on their archeological source.
Similarly, the inscription of rulers of ‘Pallavas’, ‘Chalukyas’, ‘Pandyas’, ‘Cholas’ also proved to
be of importance in the formation of their history.
Coins:
Coins are of immense importance in information of ancient Indian history. With the help of coins
we not only get to know about the trade and commercial activities of the time but also get to
know about the economic and technological development of the time through the shape, material
and technology involved in minting these coins. The dates mentioned on the coins help us to
know about the chronology of the king. Coins also helps us to interpret about the religious
ideologies of the rulers with the help of dates inscribed on them. The first coin of India was
known as ‘Punchmarked coins’. Since, it was made by the method of punching thus, was known
as Punchmarked coins. These coins were possibly introduced by the trading guilds and not by
any ruler. The ratio of purity in coins enables us to interpret about the economic condition of the
ruler and his time. The example:
The first gold coin was introduced by Indo-Greek the first ruler of Indo-Greek who introduced
gold coins.
The purest gold coins were issued by the ‘Kushanas’ and the maximum number of gold coins but
also most impure were issued by the ‘Guptas’.
Monuments or Memorials:
Monuments are one of the most important elements of archeological sources. The study of these
monuments not only helps us to interpret about the technical skills, living standard, economic
condition of the time but also help us to know about the architectural style of the time. Where the
magnificent monuments depicts the prosperity of a ruler or the dynasty on the improvement of
the empire. There were three styles of architecture in India:
Nagar style in the North.
Dravid style in the South.
And in Deccan i.e, in central part of India, a new style developed which came to be
known as Baser style.
There are few temples of Indian deity in South-East Asia and Central Asia for example-
Borobudur Temple in Java, Ankorwat Temple in Combodia.
