Ancient Indian History by RS Sharma (Old NCERT) is a widely recommended book for UPSC aspirants due to its comprehensive coverage of ancient Indian history, which forms a crucial part of the General Studies syllabus. This book provides an in-depth understanding of India’s historical past, starting from the prehistoric period to the post-Gupta era.
Key features of the book:
- Prehistoric Period: Insights into early human life, stone tools, and the development of early farming societies.
- Harappan Civilization: Detailed account of the Indus Valley Civilization, its urban planning, economy, and decline.
- Vedic Period: Analysis of the Rig Vedic and Later Vedic periods, Aryan migration, and social structures.
- Maurya and Gupta Empires: Descriptions of political, economic, and social life under the Mauryan and Gupta empires.
- Religions and Philosophical Movements: Growth of religions like Buddhism and Jainism, and the influence of various philosophical schools of thought.
- Post-Gupta Period: Decline of the Gupta Empire, regional kingdoms, and early medieval Indian history.
UPSC Study Hub is an online platform that provides a range of study materials for UPSC aspirants, including PDFs of old NCERT books like RS Sharma’s “Ancient Indian History.” It often curates essential books and study notes to make preparation easier.
For UPSC preparation, RS Sharma’s book is important for understanding the socio-economic and cultural changes in ancient India, and the factual knowledge it offers helps in both Prelims and Mains.
Make sure to revise key concepts and themes from each chapter to build a strong foundation for ancient Indian history.
