India · CBSE Learning Outcomes
Class 12 History
Class 12 History: Themes in Indian History. An intensive, source-based study of Indian history from the Harappan civilisation to the framing of the Constitution, exploring archaeological evidence, chronicles, devotional traditions, Mughal courts, colonial transformations, and the birth of the Indian republic.
Archaeology and Ancient Urbanism
An exploration of the earliest urban cultures and the transition to early historic states through material remains.
The story of how Harappa was discovered and the role of Alexander Cunningham and John Marshall in defining Indian archaeology.
Detailed study of the Citadel, the Lower Town, and the sophisticated drainage systems of Mohenjo-daro.
Analysis of botanical and zoological remains to understand Harappan diet and farming techniques.
The manufacture of beads, seals, and weights, and the procurement of materials like lapis lazuli and carnelian.
Examining the nature of the undeciphered script and the function of seals in trade and administration.
Debates over the existence of a central authority, kingship, or a priest-king in Harappan society.
Theories regarding the decline: climatic change, deforestation, floods, or the Aryan invasion theory.
Political and Economic History of Early India
The rise of the Mahajanapadas and the consolidation of the Mauryan Empire.
The emergence of early states and the transition from tribal chiefdoms to territorial kingdoms.
The central, provincial, and local governance structures under Chandragupta and Ashoka.
The ethics and propagation of Dhamma through inscriptions and Dhamma Mahamattas.
The Kushanas and the Guptas: Divine kingship and the use of Prashastis (panegyrics).
The growth of towns like Pataliputra and Mathura and the rise of guilds (shrenis).
The evolution of coinage from punch-marked coins to the gold coins of the Guptas.
Social Histories: Caste, Class, and Gender
An analysis of social structures through the lens of early Sanskrit texts and legal codes.
The monumental project of V.S. Sukthankar and the complexities of textual transmission.
The Brahmanical theory of social order and the reality of occupational groups.
The concept of Stridhana and the restrictions on women's access to land and resources.
Instances of non-Kshatriya kings and the flexibility of the caste system in practice.
The forest dwellers, nomadic pastoralists, and the "untouchables" in the eyes of the state.
Cultural and Religious Developments
The philosophical churn of the mid-first millennium BCE and the evolution of art and architecture.
Speculations on the nature of the soul (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman).
The doctrine of Ahimsa, the five vows, and the spread of Jain philosophy.
The life of Gautama Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path.
A study of the structure of the Stupa and the narrative art of Sanchi.
The shift from the symbolic representation of Buddha to the worship of idols and Bodhisattvas.
The rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism and the construction of the first stone temples.
A comparative study of why Sanchi survived while Amaravati was lost to collectors.
Medieval Society through Travelers' Eyes
Understanding medieval India through the accounts of Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, and Francois Bernier.
A scholar's objective analysis of Indian religion, philosophy, and the caste system.
The Rihla and its descriptions of Indian cities, postal systems, and the coconut and paan.
A French physician's critique of Mughal India and the theory of private property.
Hidden voices in travelogues and the depiction of women in medieval accounts.
Bhakti-Sufi Traditions
The evolution of devotional movements and their impact on Indian social and religious life.
The pioneers of the Bhakti movement and their relationship with the Chola state.
Basavanna and the Lingayat movement's radical critique of caste and ritual.
The life at the Khanqah, the practice of Ziyarat, and the Qawwali.
The syncretic poetry of Kabir and his rejection of religious labels.
The message of Nirguna Bhakti and the institutionalization of the Sikh community.
A Rajput princess who defied patriarchal norms through her devotion to Krishna.
Imperial Capitals and Agrarian Relations
The architectural glory of Vijayanagara and the agrarian systems of the Mughal Empire.
The founding of the empire, the Hampi ruins, and the Raya-Gopurams.
Distinguishing between the religious and political spaces in Hampi.
The Ain-i-Akbari as a source for understanding rural life and revenue administration.
The unique Mughal military-civilian bureaucracy and the Zat and Sawar ranks.
The social organization of the medieval village and the "jajmani" system.
The expansion of agriculture and its impact on the "Zamin-i-Azad" (free land).
The production of manuscripts and the rituals of the Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas.
Colonialism, Resistance, and the Modern State
From the impact of Company rule to the making of the Indian Constitution.
The British attempt to create a class of loyal landlords and its devastating impact on ryots.
The resistance of the Santhals against the Dikus (outsiders) and the colonial state.
The immediate causes of the revolt and the role of collective belief in mobilizing the masses.
Gandhi's return from South Africa and his early experiments with Satyagraha in Champaran and Kheda.
The Dandi March as a symbolic challenge to British monopoly and the mobilization of women.
The mass uprising of 1942 and the shift towards the demand for total independence.
The violence of 1947, the displacement of millions, and the trauma of the borders.
The clash of ideas in the Constituent Assembly regarding federalism and minority rights.
The role of the Drafting Committee Chairman in ensuring social justice within the legal framework.