Comprehensive Ancient History Glossary (UPSC)
This exhaustive compilation contains all the specific historical and administrative terms crucial for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, meticulously organized by chapter.
1. Advent of the Aryans/Early Rig Vedic Age
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Avesta | Oldest text in the Iranian Language. |
| Naditarna | Another name for River Saraswati, called the best of the rivers in the Rig Veda. |
| Dasa/Dasyus | Indigenous inhabitants of India during Aryan migration. |
| Panchjana | The five tribes into which the Aryans were divided. |
| Gavisthi | Term for war or search for cows in Rig Veda. |
| Ayas | Terms used for metals—copper/bronze in Rig Veda. |
| Samudra | Collection of water. |
| Rajan | A kind of chief during Rig Vedic age. |
| Samiti/Sabha/Vidatha/Gana | Tribal or clan based assemblies. |
| Purohita | Head priest. |
| Bali | Voluntary offerings by people to the tribal chief. |
| Prajapati | The officer who enjoyed authority over a large land or pasture ground. |
| Kula | Family. |
| Kulapas | Head of a family. |
| Gramanis | Head of the fighting hordes. |
| Vrajapati | Head of the village, identified with Gramini, when the units settled after wars. |
| Vrata/Gana/Grama/Sardha | Different tribal groups. |
| Jana | Tribe/the people. |
| Griha | Family. |
| Purandara/Indra | Breaker of forts/warlord. |
| Agni | Fire God. |
| Varuna | Water God. |
| Soma | God of plants. |
| Aditi, Usha | Deities, denoting dawn. |
| Kulapa | Head of the family. |
| Grama | Village. |
| Gramini | Head of the village. |
| Vis | The clan. |
| Vispati | Head of the clan. |
| Gopa/Gopati | Head of the Jana (tribe), protector of cows. |
| Rashtra | Territory/country. |
| Senani | Army chief. |
| Purcharishnu | Moving fort made for fighting a war. |
| Kshira-pakamodanam | Grain cooked with milk. |
| Aghanya | Used for cow, meaning ‘not to be killed’. |
| Sura and Soma | Alcoholic drinks. |
2. Later Vedic Phase
General Terms:
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Shyam/Krishna Ayas | Iron. |
| Shatapatha Brahman | Text that talks about the ploughing ritual. |
| Vrihi | Rice in Vedic texts. |
| Vis | Common people. |
| Rajasuya yajna | Sacrifice ritual meant to confer supreme power to the King. |
| Ashwamedha yajna | Unquestioned control over an area in which the royal horse ran uninterrupted. |
| Vis/Vaishya | Refractory people/common people. |
| Rajanyas | Close kinsmen of the King. |
| Upanayana | Investiture with the sacred thread for 3 varnas according to the Vedic Texts. |
| Rathakar | Chariot maker. |
| Gotra | Initially a cowpen; later meant descent from a common ancestor. |
| Goghna | Guest or someone who was fed on cattle. |
| Yajna | Sacrifice rituals. |
| Yajmana | One who performed Yajna. |
| Ganas | Corporations of merchants. |
| Sreshtins | Aldermen (of merchant corporations). |
Official Positions:
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Purohita | The priest. |
| Mahishi | The queen. |
| Yuvraja | Crown prince. |
| Suta/Sarathi | Charioteer. |
| Senani | General. |
| Gramani | Head of village. |
| Kshata | Gateman/chamberlain. |
| Sangrahitri | Treasurer/officer for collection of taxes and tributes. |
| Bhagadudha | Collector of taxes. |
| Akshavapa | Courier. |
| Palagala | Friend of king. |
| Govikarta | Head of forest department. |
3 & 4. Teritorial States, Magadha Empire, and Varna Society in the Age of Buddha
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Janapada | Territory to which one belonged. |
| Ekarat | Title of Mahapadma Nanda – the sole sovereign who destroyed all other ruling princes. |
| Jaladurga | Water fort (e.g., Pataliputra). |
| Vessas | Merchant streets. |
| Nishka/Satmana | Coins/prestige objects made of metals. |
| Bhojaka | Village headmen. |
| Gahaptis | Rich peasants/householders. |
| Mahamatras | Higher officials in the court. |
| Mantrin | Minister. |
| Senanayak | Commander. |
| Ayuktas | A class of officers in the kingdom. |
| Gramabhojaka/Gramani/Gramika | Different titles for village headmen. |
| Balisadhakas | Officers appointed to collect compulsory payments (evolved from voluntary Bali). |
| Shaulkika/Shulkadhyaksha | Toll officers who collected customs from traders. |
| Parishad | Small body similar to Samitis/Sabhas – consisting exclusively of Brahmins. |
| Bhandagarika | Treasurer. |
5. The Age of The Mauryas & Significance of the Mauryan Rule
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Bherighosha | Policy of physical occupation. |
| Dhammaghosha | Policy of cultural conquest (Ashoka’s Dharma). |
| Rajukas | Officers vested with authority to reward or punish people as per policy of Dharma. |
| Sangiti | Buddhist council. |
| Bhaga | Royal share of the produce. |
| Dhammamahamatra | Officer of Ashoka for propagating Dharma among social groups. |
| Dharmapravartaka | King/promulgator of the social order. |
| Tirthas | Important functionaries in the administration. |
| Pana | Silver coin equal to $3/4^{\text{th}}$ of a tola. |
| Adhyakshas | 27 superintendents mostly to regulate the economic activities of the state. |
| Samaharta | Highest officer in charge of the assessment of the taxation. |
| Sannidhata | Chief custodian of the state treasury and store house. |
| Dushtamatyas | Wicked bureaucrats. |
6. Central Asian Contacts and Their Results
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Doab | Land between two rivers. |
| Strategos | Military governors – system introduced by Greeks. |
| Avadanas | Texts composed during progress of Mahayana Buddhism. |
| Yavanika | Curtains borrowed from Greeks. |
| Yavana | Branch of Greeks known to ancient India. |
| Horashastra | Term for astrology/horoscope in Sanskrit. |
| Drachma | Greek word for Drama. |
| Osadhi | Plants. |
| Ausadhi | Medicines. |
7. The Age of the Satvahanas
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Gandhikas | Term for perfumer artisans, later came to connote all kinds of shopkeepers. |
| Ahara | Districts (Satvahana administration). |
| Amatyas/Mahamatras | Officials. |
| Gaulmika | Administrator of rural areas who was also the head of a military regiment. |
| Kataka and Skandhavaras | Military camps and settlements which served as administrative centres. |
| Raja | A king, first grade of feudatories (could issue coins). |
| Mahabhoja | Second grade of feudatories. |
| Senapati | Third grade of beneficiaries. |
| Chaityas | Sacred shrines/Buddhist temples. |
| Vihara | Monastery. |
| Gathasattasai/Gathasaptasati | A Prakrit text attributed to Satvahana King Hala. |
8 & 9. The Dawn of History in the Deep South & Post Maurya Trade
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Enadi | Title given to captains of the army in the Sangam age. |
| Vellalas | Rich peasants under Cholas and Pandyas who also held civil and military offices (formed the 4th caste). |
| Kadaisiyar | Lowest class which did agricultural operations. |
| Pariyars | Agricultural labourers who also worked in animal skins and used them as mats. |
| Murugan/Subramaniya | Chief local God worshipped by people of the hilly region. |
| Virarkal | Practice of raising hero stones. |
| Tolkkappiyam | Text dealing with grammar and poetics. |
| Shataka | Special type of cloth manufactured in Mathura. |
| Shrenis | Guilds into which artisans were organised. |
| Yavanpriya | Indian pepper—named so because it was liked by the westerners. |
| Uttarapatha | Route passing from Mathura to Taxila. |
10. Life in the Gupta Age
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Vishti | Forced labour for serving the royal army and officials. |
| Kumaramatyas | Most important officers in the Gupta empire. |
| Bhuktis | Administrative/provincial divisions in the empire. |
| Uparika | Person in charge of the Bhukti. |
| Vishayas | Districts into which a Bhukti was divided. |
| Vishayapati | Person in charge of Vishayas. |
| Vithis | Divisions in the Vishayas. |
| Dinaras | Gold coins. |
| Narada Smriti | Law book of Narada, 5th century A.D. work. |
| Bhagavat | Non-Vedic tribal God – later identified as Narayana. |
| Bhagavatas | Worshippers of Bhagavat. |
| Bhaga | Good fortune. |
11. Spread of Civilisation in Eastern India
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Agraharas | Endowments of land and income from villages meant for supporting Brahmins’ religious and educational activities. |
| Samanta maharajas | Local vassal princes. |
| Dinara | Gold coins. |
| Samatata | Deltaic portion of Bengal, acknowledged Samudragupta’s authority (covered South East Bengal). |
| Dandabhukti | Fiscal and administrative unit in border areas lying between Bengal and Odisha. |
| Agraharika | Officer looking after endowments (Agraharas). |
| Varman | Title adopted by Kamrupa kings, meaning armour and symbolizing a warrior. |
12 & 13. Harsha’s Times and New States in the Peninsula
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Skandhavaras | Military camps (Harsha’s time). |
| Pallava | Term means creeper (Sanskrit version of the Tamil word ‘Tondai’), also a synonym of robber in Tamil. |
| Tondainadu | Land of creepers. |
| Brahamadeya rights | Rights granted to Brahmans in numerous villages. |
| Shikhara | Very high square and storeyed tower in Temples. |
| Ur | Usual type of village inhabited by peasant castes who held their lands in common. |
| Sabha | Villages consisting of brahamadeya or Agrahara villages, granting individual rights in lands. |
| Nagaram | Village settled and dominated by combinations of traders and merchants. |
| Mahajanas | Village elders who managed rural affairs in Chalukya areas. |
14. Developments in Philosophy (Darshana)
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Artha | Economic resources (one of the four Purusharthas). |
| Dharma | Regulation of social order (one of the four Purusharthas). |
| Kama | Physical pleasures (one of the four Purusharthas). |
| Moksha | Salvation (one of the four Purusharthas). |
| Darshana | Philosophy. |
| Samkhya | Count (a school of philosophy). |
| Prakriti | Nature (in Samkhya philosophy). |
| Purusha | Spirit (in Samkhya philosophy). |
| Pratyaksha | Perception (means of knowledge). |
| Anumana | Inference (means of knowledge). |
| Shabda | Hearing (means of knowledge). |
| Asana | Postures in Yoga. |
| Pranayam | Breathing exercises in Yoga. |
| Dravya | Material elements (in Vaisheshika philosophy). |
| Nyaya | School of analysis. |
| Mimamsa | Art of reasoning and interpretation. |
| Vedanta | End of the Vedas. |
| Jnana | Knowledge. |
| Maya | Unreal. |
| Punarjanma | Rebirth. |
| Lokayata | Ideas derived from common people (Lok). |
| Dakshina | Gifts, presents. |
15-17. Cultural Contacts, Social Transformation, and Scientific Legacy
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Suvarnadvipa | Java island of Indonesia – called island of gold by ancient Indians. |
| Bahasa Indonesia | Language of Indonesia. |
| Varna Samkara | Intermixture of varnas and social classes. |
| Panchadeva | Five divinities (Brahma, Ganpati, Vishnu, Bhakti, Shiva). |
| Panchayatna | Temple style where the chief God is installed in the main temple, surrounded by four subsidiary shrines. |
| Lokapalas | Security guards. |
| Acharya | Higher rank officials in the monastic organisations. |
| Upadhyaya and Upasaka | Lower positioned officials in the monastic organisations. |
| Prasada | Favour of the God. |
| Gomat | A wealthy person having a large number of cattle. |
| Duhitr | Daughters (called so as they used to milk the cows). |
| Govala | Cow haired/buffalo. |
| Amsa or Bhaga | Small share of ordinary members of a tribe in produce/offerings etc. |
| Bala | Meaning force, used for peasantry in later Vedic times. |
| Danda | Coercive measures. |
| Wootz | Indian steel name in later times. |
| Hindsa | Arabs called their numerals Hindsa. |
| Dvarapandita | Scholar at the gate – official who conducted exams for admission to Nalanda University. |
