Ancient India

Historical Sources (Literary & Archaeological Source)

By Examguru / 03 Oct, 2023 / Download PDF

Historical Sources (Literary & Archaeological Source)

The study of ancient Indian history depends on two major types of sources:

1. Literary Sources (साहित्यिक स्रोत)

These are written records that give us information about the religion, politics, culture, and society of ancient times.

Types of Literary Sources:

  • Indigenous Sources:

    • Religious Texts:

      • Brahmanic (Hindu): Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata

      • Buddhist: Tripitakas, Jatakas

      • Jain: 12 Angas, Bhagwati Sutra, Parishishtaparva

    • Secular Texts:

      • Historical writings (e.g., Rajatarangini by Kalhana)

      • Biographies (e.g., Harshacharita by Banabhatta)

      • Drama and literature (e.g., works of Kalidasa)

  • Foreign Sources:

    • Greek and Roman writers (Herodotus, Pliny)

    • Chinese pilgrims (Fa-Hien, Hiuen Tsang)

    • Arab historians (Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta)

These help in chronology and understanding external perspectives of India.

Difference Between Archaeological and Literary Sources

Feature

Archaeological Sources

Literary Sources

Nature

Material (inscriptions, coins, monuments)

Written (texts, manuscripts)

Reliability

High (less prone to manipulation)

Subjective, sometimes exaggerated

Study Fields

Epigraphy, Numismatics, Architecture

History, Language, Literature

Examples

Ashokan edicts, Harappa seals, Gupta coins

Vedas, Jatakas, Kalhana’s Rajtarangini

Origin

Found through excavations

Passed down through manuscripts or oral tradition

2. Archaeological Sources (पुरातात्विक स्रोत)

These are material remains of the past, which provide direct evidence of ancient civilizations.

Major Archaeological Sources:

Inscriptions:

  • Edicts of Ashoka (written in Brahmi script)

  • Mehrauli Iron Pillar, Allahabad Pillar Inscription

  • Studied under Epigraphy

Coins:

  • Provide information on economy, trade, rulers, and dates

  • Studied under Numismatics

  • Numismatics Society of India (est. 1910 in Allahabad)

Monuments & Structures:

  • Temples, stupas, caves, forts, palaces

  • Sanchi Stupa, Ajanta Caves, Konark Temple

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