IASNOVA
Ancient History Terms
UPSC has been focusing on terms from Ancient Indian History in recent years Prelims examinations. Here is the compilation of all such terms from NCERT specifically and other sources in general.
We have given chapter wise as per old NCERT so that aspirants get the idea about the time period when these terms were prevalent,one must do it even if one has studied from new NCERT books because terms remain the same.
Advent of the Aryans/Early Rig Vedic Age
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- Aryans were divided into 5 tribes called Panchjana
Gavisthi – Term for war/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– when the units settled after wars, the Gramini became head of the village,with course of time he came to be identified as Vrajapati.
Vrata/Gana/Grama/Sardha– Different tribal groups
Jana– tribe
Griha– family
Kula– family
Purandara/Indra– breaker of forts/ warlord
Agni– Fire God
Varuna– Water God
Soma – God of plants
Aditi,Usha– deities,denoting dawn.
Kula – family
Kulapa– head of the family
Grama– village
Gramini- head of the village
Vis– the clan
Vispati– head of the clan
Jana– the people
Gopa/Gopati– head of the Jana
Rashtra– territory/country
Rajan– head of the rashtra
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
Later Vedic Phase
Shyam/Krishna Ayas– Iron
Shatapatha Brahman- text talks about 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
Sangrihitri – officer for collection of taxes and tributes
Vis/Vaishya– refractory people/common people
Rajanyas– close kinsmen of the King
Upanayana– investiture with the scared thread of 3 varnas according to the Vedic Texts
Rathakar– chariot maker
Gotra– cowpen/place where cattle belonging to the whole clan are ekpt.Later it meant descent from a common ancestor
Goghna– guest or someone who was fed on cattle.
Yajna– sacrifice rituals
Yajmana– one who performed Yajna
Official Positions in Later Vedic age
Purohita– the priest
Mahishi – the queen
Yuvraja– crown prince
Suta/Sarathi– charioteer
Senani– General
Gramani– head of village
Kshata– gateman/chamberlain
Sangrahitri– treasurer
Bhagadudha – collector of taxes
Akshavapa– courier
Palagala- friend of king – mnemonics- Kings Pal
Govikarta – head of forest department
Ganas– corporations of merchants
Sreshtins– aldermen
Teritorial States and the First Magadha Empire
Janapada– territory to which one belonged
Ekarat– title of Mahapadma Nanda- the sole soveregin who destroyed all other ruling princes
Jaladurga– water fort- Pataliputra in this case.
State and Varna Society in the Age of Buddha
Vessas– merchant streets
Nishka/Satmana– coins/prestige objects made of metals
Bhojaka– village headmen
Gahaptis– rich peasants
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- earlier voluntary payments were called Bali.
Shaulkika/Shulkadhyaksha– toll officers who collected customs from traders
Parishad- small body similar to Samitis/sabhas – consisting exclusively of Brahmins
Bhandagarika– treasurer
The Age of The Mauryas
Bherighosha– policy of physical occupation
Dhammaghosha– policy of cultural conquest
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
Significance of the Mauryan Rule
Dharmapravartaka – King/ promulgator of the social order
Tirthas– important functionaries in the administration
Pana – silver coin equal to 3/4 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
Central Asian Contacts and Their Results
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
The Age of the Satvahanas
Gandhikas– term for perfumer artisans,later came to connote all kinds of shopkeepers- Gandhi word originated from here.
Ahara– districts
Amatyas– officials
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 so long as the king was there.
Raja– a king,first grade of feudatories- could issue coins
Mahabhoja– 2nd grade of feudatories
Senapati– 3rd grade of beneficiaries
Chaityas– sacred shrines.Buddhist temples
Vihara– monastery
Gathasattasai/Gathasaptasati – a Prakrit text attributed to Satvahana King Hala.
The Dawn of History in the Deep South
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 – test dealing with grammar and poetics.
