UPSC History Optional - `

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INTRODUCTION

        History is one of the most important optional subject to score marks in UPSC mains exam. Taking optional as History requires more dedication that other optional subjects due to its vast portions. But this has many advantages as it could be an easy scoring subject for Prelims and General Studies. History optional syllabus is so vast that it requires constant daily preparation. Constant revision of previous year questions is more than enough to score good marks.

        In this article the syllabus, notes and references are provided such that the candidates can find easy. History optional contains 2 papers:

1.   Paper 1 - Ancient History and Medieval History

2.   Paper 2 - Modern History and World History

SYLLABUS

Paper 1

       In first paper question number 1 from Section A and question number 5 are compulsory. In this the 1st question will always be a map question. I have provided the list of map sites and I will provide the link for maps which are widely enough to cover all the sites. Completing the Map part is so useful which could boost us total 50 marks easily.

Link for referring sites: https://selfstudyhistory.com/map-history-optional/

Some of the sites marked as important by my mentor:

ANCIENT HISTORY

  1. Archaeological sources
  2. Pre-history and Proto-history such as Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (Palaeolithic and Mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (Neolithic and Chalcolithic).
  3. Indus Valley Civilization
  4. Megalithic Cultures
  5. Aryans and Vedic Period
  6. Period of Mahajanapadas
  7. Mauryan Empire
  8. Post-Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas)
  9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India
  10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas
  11. Regional States during Gupta Era
  12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History

MEDIVAL HISTORY
  1. Early Medieval India, 750-1200
  2. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:
  3. The Thirteenth Century
  4. The Fourteenth Century
  5. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
  6. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century
  7. The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century
  8. Akbar
  9. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century
  10. Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
  11. Culture in the Mughal Empire
  12. The Eighteenth Century

Paper 2

MODERN HISTORY

  1. European Penetration into India
  2. British Expansion in India
  3. Early Structure of the British Raj
  4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule
  5. Social and Cultural Developments
  6. Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas
  7. Indian Response to British Rule
  8. Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism
  9. Gandhian phase
  10. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935
  11. Other strands in the National Movement
  12. Politics of Separatism

WORLD HISTORY

  1. Enlightenment and Modern ideas
  2. Origins of Modern Politics
  3. Industrialization
  4. Nation-State System
  5. Imperialism and Colonialism
  6. Revolution and Counter-Revolution
  7. World Wars
  8. The World after World War II
  9. Liberation from Colonial Rule
  10. Decolonization and Underdevelopment
  11. Unification of Europe: Post War Foundations
  12. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World

REFRENCES

ANCIENT HISTORY

  1. NCERT
  2. A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century :
    1. Hard copy: https://www.amazon.in/History-Ancient-Early-Medieval-India/dp/8131716775/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=upinder+singh&qid=1563673784&s=books&sr=1-1
    2. Soft copy: https://archive.org/details/upinder-singh-history-of-ancient-and-early-medieval-india-from-the-stone-age-to-_202008/mode/2up

MEDIVAL HISTORY

  1. NCERT
  2. Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526)– 1: 1:
    1. Hard copy: https://www.amazon.in/Medieval-India-Sultanat-Mughals-Delhi-1206-1526/dp/8124112673/ref=sr_1_9?crid=26JFYHMFHKHAG&keywords=satish+chandra+a+history+of+medieval+india&qid=1563673187&s=books&sprefix=satish+chandra%2Cstripbooks%2C281&sr=1-9
    2. Sofft copy: https://knowledgevalley2017.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Satish-Chandra.pdf

  3. Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals- Mughal Empire (1526-1748) - 2 : 
    1. Hard copy: https://www.amazon.in/Medieval-India-Sultanat-Mughals-1526-1748/dp/812411269X/ref=sr_1_8?crid=26JFYHMFHKHAG&keywords=satish+chandra+a+history+of+medieval+india&qid=1563673187&s=books&sprefix=satish+chandra%2Cstripbooks%2C281&sr=1-8
    2. Soft copy: http://civilmentor.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Medieval-History-Satish-Chandra-1526-1748-Part-2.pdf

MODERN HISTORY

POST INDEPENDENCE

WORLD HISTORY

  1. NCERT
  2. Mastering Modern World History :
    1. Hard copy: https://www.amazon.in/Mastering-Modern-World-History-Norman/dp/1137483644/ref=sr_1_1?crid=F3SE7C170DTL&keywords=norman+lowe+world+history&qid=1563674086&s=books&sprefix=norman+lo%2Cstripbooks%2C286&sr=1-1
    2. Soft copy:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_DgpeRpdZwHzhuUQC0oVHv5ctpHH9JiS/view

  3. History Of The Modern World:
    1. Hard copy: https://www.amazon.in/History-Modern-World-Jain/dp/8187449306/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=jain+and+mathur&qid=1563674159&s=books&sr=1-1
    2. Soft copy: https://pdfread.link/download/history-of-modern-world-by-jain-and-mathur-pdf?__cf_chl_managed_tk__=d7639ec0d2b4bf38fa6c383982047a544ee78fb5-1624973110-0-AROY_AbKHULUexkLhv39dIzBDFcTN4pkLlk8pBV0vj7p5Z9A-t7cgacvvGShAIBhN_IRV43mLOf_DIw0e5lMshzzDWb1_XZs-mF-lDa9PllLqNF2XiyjoLFe11eticqz9VILJaqUND4oA92_ff9wVeVH-IuQGl2NxpQzUKI02RExND5ec3I7DPNBnYCb0pWZzAjA7eVGQEZlxjRjcqOekfu5uN1DWSbesVIGMdZXlDFSrGb9PJ66SCMmBudFQCbnj7jAeeP2Xt7eqsohdFBYF7YJ2BQSx61N1slyxoZwF2M3X0BRyJVogw_zCuAsjf4nRM83b53qWjFESZ2-dxqPqKqhdO_xj5qQliIrCjFppY97g3FkAkWUnfzRdo9jPRbMu1L0rbGDo66pRpUFuc9GRRc76HK8hoGRB9T9GwFs544ipPC8IOh-480KSmjpPpQnOEQtlg_iOEkx0pneRPfm2PriKGLU7mYekzxKEIP1X7uviNaytiDlf0VOSrKcZG10iqjMghz0j97JUK9YNV_dVexABRJqsTLKYAHOjg9AWKI3VcvB6XqS7M6uqCfmwk5NEQFiNK5X_Kb7onBToC1sULDQgv_BGiBtyIKiXI8haNuCPm17G-rVXzo-1TKHzBe9gdTJn7COylQxacve1INHy8stuQkYYsC-9bt-YV4RHNjcff648HyfXMtcF0y3rVPOiw


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