The importance of literary and Archaeological sources for the study of Ancient Indian History.

1.0 Objectives:

The Objective of this study is to understand the importance of literary and archaeological sources in Ancient Indian History. From this assignment, I aim to understand the different literary sources (written) and archaeological sources (material remains) and how they are used in the study of Ancient Indian History.

2.0 Introduction:

The progress of man in the past is the subject matter of history. In order to understand the present India, we have to trace back its roots in Ancient India. The term Ancient India refers to that period of Indian history which began in the early 3rd millennium BCE, when a literate, city-based culture first emerged, to the end of the Gupta dynasty, in 500 CE.

The study of Ancient Indian History is important for several reasons. It tells us that people developed the earliest cultures in India, discovered livelihood practices, transport and shelter. The different forms of writing prevalent in India today are all derived from the ancient scripts.

The archaeological sources include material things like artifacts, buildings, inscriptions, coins etc while literary sources include written literature in the form of books, biographies etc. Archaeological sources are primary sources (first hand evidence) while as literary sources are both primary and secondary source. Archaeological sources cover more than 99% of history of mankind while as literary sources less than 1%. Archaeological sources are only source of our pre-history which is 99% time period of mankind. Archaeological sources present true picture of the event as they are without any bias. While as literary sources are mostly biased and exaggerated.

We can see clearly that both the sources are equally important. Archaeological sources are important in knowing about the kings, livelihood and about the people while literary sources are important in knowing about the languages the people used to speak, the texts they used to read.

3.0 Presentation of Subject Matter:

3.1 Sources of Ancient Indian History:

All historical interpretations are ultimately based on evidence derived from the sources of history, conventionally divided into two categories- literary sources and archaeological sources. From a historian’s point of view, literary sources include all texts — long or short, written or oral; archaeological sources include all tangible, material remains.

3.2 Literary Sources / Written:

Importance of Literary Sources:

· Literary sources are the information gathered in written forms that explain the essence of ancient culture. Sources incorporate information like journals, letters, books and investigative reports in impression, automated and visual compositions. Literature holds a mirror to the society. The beliefs, traditions, customs, mores, behaviour patterns etc of the society at a particular historical period are reflected directly or indirectly in the literary works such as fiction, Drama, poetry and so on. For example, what kind of status women enjoyed during a particular historical period may become evident from the women characters in literature of that period. Whether there was feudal system, untouchability etc also becomes evident from the literature in the same manner. Thus, literary sources are important for reconstructing history.

· Literary resources are very important because they help us to know the facts about the rulers and the person who has written that is also treated as a historian because he has or she has given a very brief of that time in in his or her book.

· Literary sources are useful because they provide detailed information on the objects and events of the past. People used it to write holy texts, chronicles of rulers, letters and teachings of saints, petitions and judicial records, and for registers of accounts and taxes. Example, chronicles of ruler, travelogues of foreign travellers.

Thesis:

Although the Ancient Indians knew how to write as early as 2500 BC, our oldest manuscripts are dated to 4th century AD and are found in central Asia. In India, they were written on birch bark and palm leaves, but in central Asia, where the Prakrit language has spread from India, manuscripts were also written on sheep leather and wooden tables. The ancient literature and the religious books are important sources of information for the reconstruction of ancient Indian history. The literary/written sources to reconstruct Ancient Indian history can be classified into: Religious, Secular, Sangam literature and Travelogues of foreign travellers. Literary sources remind us of our ancestor’s social, political, economic, cultural & religious activities. In nature, most of the ancient manuscripts are religious.

3.3 Archaeological Sources/ Material Remains:

Importance of Archaeological Sources:

· Archaeological sources are important because they verify the history.

· All archaeological data is valuable for the simple fact that it helps make history more tangible, and substantiates history. Example; a major history book is in process of being composed, historians usually consult archaeologist and their research, on their findings, so that all of that research can be used to substantiate whatever historic period a historian is writing on. These types of sources are a proof that history exists.

· Archaeological remains help us to recover the material remains of the past which can help us gain knowledge about the ancient, medieval and modern history. The ancient Indians left innumerable material remains.

Thesis:

Monuments and Inscription are two archaeological sources of information. Archaeological sources include buildings, houses, pottery, seals, coins, monuments, writings and paintings on stones or walls, tools, jewellery, bones, leftovers, pieces of metals and other artefacts. Monuments are old buildings or other old structures which are important for their historic connection or legacy and inscriptions are writings on seals, temple walls, stones or pillars, wooden tablets, bricks and images. Coins are one of the most important sources of archaeological sources. The study of coins is called numismatics. Coins depict figures of kings and their divinities and also mention dates which can help us reconstruct history and let us know about more the hierarchy of kings in ancient period. Inscriptions are another important source of information as they can survive for a long time. The study of inscriptions is known as epigraphy.

4.0 Conclusion:

Studying ancient history contributes to our cultural understanding and intellectual development. If we don’t know where we come from and the trials and tribulations which faced our forebears how can we understand ourselves? The study of history on any level can potentially help to define our own identities. I feel that if we didn’t know about our culture then we wouldn’t be who we are today. If our society didn’t know about its past what would there be for them to celebrate or avoid in its future. History builds who we are and by furthering our understanding of our past we better understand ourselves.

We all know how important the literary and archaeological sources are in reconstructing history. Literary is written history whereas archaeological sources are material remains of history. These two sources have been very useful in understanding history.

In conclusion, I would like to say that this assignment gave me a lot of knowledge about history and our sources. I have come to understand that without past, one cannot have a future. Reconstructing history to make our future and understand it, is one of the most important things to do.

I would like to finally conclude by a quote:

“The past where you learned the lesson, the future is where you apply it”

5.0 Bibliography:

1. Singh, Upinder. (2013). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson.

2. Sharma, R. S. (1995). Perspectives in Social and Economic History of Early India. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal.

3. Thapar, R., The Penguin History of Early India, Penguin, 2002, is a full and scholarly overview of the subject, from origins up to 1300 AD, for the general reader.

4. Thapar, Romila. (2002). Early India from the Origins to AD 1300. New Delhi: Penguin.