History · X-Factor Notes
Ancient Art, Culture, and Literature revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
35 revision facts
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Cave Temples: Ellora and Elephanta | Ascribed to the Rashtrakutas. Ellora caves located in Aurangabad (Maharashtra). | UPPCS (Pre) 2009 |
| Ancient Monuments of Elephanta | Mostly Buddhist and Shaivite. | UPPCS (Mains) 2007 |
| Ajanta Cave Paintings | Excellent surviving examples of Indian art, masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, concentrating on the previous life of Buddha as a king (Jataka stories). | |
| Temple Architecture Style (Bhubaneswara and Puri) | Built in Nagara style. | UPPCS (Pre) 1997 |
| Gupta Temples and Location | Brick-built Temple (Bhitargaon); Dasavatara Temple (Deogarh); Shiva Temple (Bhumara); Vishnu Temple (Eran). | UPPCS (Pre) 2009; I.A.S. (Pre) 1997 |
| Khajuraho Temples | Proclaim rich art culture of Chandelas. Located in the Bundelkhand region. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2016 |
| Naimisharanya (pilgrimage) | Located in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. | UPPCS (Pre) 2002 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Brihadeeshwara Temple of Thanjavur | Built during the reign of Chola emperor Rajaraja-I. | UPPCS (Mains) 2008 |
| Chola Empire expansion area | Coromandel Coast and some region of Deccan. | |
| Empire famous for elaborated local self-government | Chola empire. | |
| Inscription detailing Chola village administration | Uttaramerur inscription. | I.A.S. (Pre) 1993 |
| Chalukyas Capital | Badami (Vatapi). | I.A.S. (Pre) 1997 |
| Pallava Capital | Kanchipuram. | |
| Ports famous in ancient South India | Korkai (Pandya port), Poompuhar (Chola capital/port), and Muchiri (Kerala port). | I.A.S. (Pre) 2023 |
| Roman settlement/trade evidence | Found at Arikamedu (Pondicherry); regarded as a "true Roman city" by Dubreuil. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009 |
| Amphora Jar | Tall double handle jar used in ancient Rome for wine or oil. | U.P.P.S.C. (R.I.) 2014 |
| Sage who Aryanised South India | Agastya. | |
| Yavanapriya | Sanskrit name for Indian black pepper (favourite of Greeks/Romans). |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Arthashastra | Kautilya/Vishnugupta/Chanakya. | UPPCS (Pre) 2002 |
| Mudrarakshasa | Written by Vishakhadatta. | UPPCS (Pre) 1992 |
| Panchasiddhantika | Written by Varahamihira; based on Greek astronomy. | |
| Brihat Samhita | Written by Varahamihira; encyclopedic in nature. | I.A.S. (Pre) 1993 |
| Panchatantra | Collection of Indian animal fables; attributed to Pandit Vishnu Sharma. | |
| Mahabhasya | Written by Patanjali; belonged to the Shunga period. | |
| Ashtadhyayi | Written by Panini. | U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Mains)-2017 |
| Milindapanho (Milinda-panha) | Buddhist text (Pali) - dialogue between monk Nagasena and Indo-Greek king Menander (Milinda). | I.A.S. (Pre) 2023 |
| Mattvilasaprahasan (humorous book) | Composed by Pallava ruler Mahendravarman-I. | |
| Rajatarangini | Metrical historical chronicle of Kashmir; written in Sanskrit by Kalhana. | |
| Malavikagnimitram (First play by Kalidasa) | Love story of King Agnimitra (Shunga dynasty) and Malavika. | |
| Buddhacharita | Poetic narrative of Buddha's life by Asvaghosha. | |
| Jaya | Original name of Mahabharata. | |
| Manusmriti (Manav Dharam Shastra) | Mainly related to the Social System (earliest metrical work on Brahminical Dharma). | |
| Development of 'Zero' | Discovered by an anonymous Indian; Arabs learned it from India and carried it to Europe. | |
| Chronology of Mahabharata related texts | Naishadhiyacharita (Sriharsha), Kiratarjuniyam, Sisupalavadha (Magha) are related to the Mahabharata theme. | |
| Acharya matched with Doctrine | Lakulisa (Pasupat); Nagarjuna (Sunyavada); Bhadrabahu (Jain); Gosala (Ajivaka). | U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017 |
