Contents of Study History Optionals for Civil Services Mains

Contents of Our Study Kit

Syllabus of History in Mains

(Paper-I)

1. Sources:

  • Archaeological sources:  Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments
  • Literary sources: Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature.
  • Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.

2. Pre-history and Proto-history:

  • Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (Paleolithic and Mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (Neolithic and Chalcolithic).

3. Indus Valley Civilization:

  • Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture.

4. Megalithic Cultures:

  • Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.

5. Aryans and Vedic Period:

  • Expansions of Aryans in India. 
  • Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; Political, social and economical life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system.

6. Period of Mahajanapadas:

  • Formation of States (Mahajanapada) : Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas.
  • Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.

7. Mauryan Empire:

  • Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration; Economy; Art, architecture and sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature.
  • Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.

8. Post - Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas):

  • Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.

9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India:

  • Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and architecture.

10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:

  • Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.

11. Regional States during Gupta Era:

  • The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and administration; Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity and Administration; local Government; Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society.

12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History:

  • Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.

13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

  • Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs
  • The Cholas: administration, village economy and society
  • “Indian Feudalism”
  • Agrarian economy and urban settlements
  • Trade and commerce
  • Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order
  • Condition of women
  • Indian science and technology

14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:

  • Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma Mimansa
  • Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India, Sufism
  • Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India
  • Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting

15. The Thirteenth Century:

  • Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success
  • Economic, social and cultural consequences
  • Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans
  • Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban

16. The Fourteenth Century:

  • “The Khalji Revolution”
  • Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures
  • Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq
  • Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account

17. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:

  • Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement
  • Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, literature in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture
  • Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce

18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Political Developments and Economy:

  • Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids
  • The Vijayanagra Empire
  • Lodis
  • Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun
  • The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration
  • Portuguese Colonial enterprise
  • Bhakti and Sufi Movements

19. The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture:

  • Regional cultural specificities
  • Literary traditions
  • Provincial architecture
  • Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.

20. Akbar:

  • Conquests and consolidation of the Empire
  • Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems
  • Rajput policy
  • Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy
  • Court patronage of art and technology

21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century:

  • Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
  • The Empire and the Zamindars
  • Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
  • Nature of the Mughal State
  • Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts
  • The Ahom Kingdom
  • Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.

22. Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries:

  • Population, agricultural production, craft production
  • Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies : a trade revolution
  • Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems
  • Condition of peasants, condition of women
  • Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth

23. Culture in the Mughal Empire:

  • Persian histories and other literature
  • Hindi and other religious literature
  • Mughal architecture
  • Mughal painting
  • Provincial architecture and painting
  • Classical music
  • Science and technology

24. The Eighteenth Century:

  • Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire
  • The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh
  • Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas
  • The Maratha fiscal and financial system
  • Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761
  • State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest

Paper-II

1. European Penetration into India:

The Early European Settlements; The Portuguese and the Dutch; The English and the French East India Companies; Their struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars; Bengal -The conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and the English; The Battle of Plassey; Significance of Plassey.

2. British Expansion in India:

Bengal – Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; The Battle of Buxar; Mysore; The Marathas; The three Anglo-Maratha Wars; The Punjab.

3. Early Structure of the British Raj:

The early administrative structure; From diarchy to direct control; The Regulating Act (1773); The Pitt’s India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833); The voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule; The English utilitarian and India.

4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule:

(a) Land revenue settlements in British India; The Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement; Mahalwari Settlement; Economic impact of the revenue arrangements; Commercialization of agriculture; Rise of landless agrarian labourers; Impoverishment of the rural society.
(b) Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce; De-industrialisation; Decline of traditional crafts; Drain of wealth; Economic transformation of India; Railroad and communication network including telegraph and postal services; Famine and poverty in the rural interior; European business enterprise and its limitations.

5. Social and Cultural Developments:

The state of indigenous education, its dislocation; Orientalist-Anglicist controversy, The introduction of western education in India; The rise of press, literature and public opinion; The rise of modern vernacular literature; Progress of science; Christian missionary activities in India.

6. Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas:

Ram Mohan Roy, The Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The Young Bengal Movement; Dayanada Saraswati; The social reform movements in India including Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.; The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India; Islamic revivalism – the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.

7. Indian Response to British Rule:

Peasant movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries including the Rangpur Dhing (1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841-1920), the Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Deccan Uprising (1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900); The Great Revolt of 1857 - Origin, character, causes of failure, the consequences; The shift in the character of peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period; the peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s.

8. Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism; Politics of Association;

The Foundation of the Indian National Congress; The Safety-valve thesis relating to the birth of the Congress; Programme and objectives of Early Congress; the social composition of early Congress leadership; the Moderates and Extremists; The Partition of Bengal (1905); The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; the economic and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement; The beginning of revolutionary extremism in India.

9. Rise of Gandhi; Character of Gandhian nationalism;

Gandhi’s popular appeal; Rowlatt Satyagraha; the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement; National politics from the end of the Non-cooperation movement to thebeginning of the Civil Disobedience movement; the two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru Report; the Round Table Conferences; Nationalism and the Peasant Movements; Nationalism and Working class movements; Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885-1947); the election of 1937 and the formation of ministries; Cripps Mission; the Quit India Movement; the Wavell Plan; The Cabinet Mission.

10. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935

11. Other strands in the National Movement The Revolutionaries:

Bengal, the Punjab, Maharashtra, U.P, the Madras Presidency, Outside India. The Left; The Left within the Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress Socialist Party; the Communist Party of India, other left parties.

12. Politics of Separatism; the Muslim League;

The Hindu Mahasabha; Communalism and the politics of partition; Transfer of power; Independence.

13. Consolidation as a Nation; Nehru’s Foreign Policy;

India and her neighbours (1947-1964); The linguistic reorganization of States (1935-1947); Regionalism and regional inequality; Integration of Princely States; Princes in electoral politics; the Question of National Language.

14. Caste and Ethnicity after 1947;

Backward castes and tribes in postcolonial electoral politics; Dalit movements.

15. Economic development and political change;

Land reforms; the politics of planning and rural reconstruction; Ecology and environmental policy in post - colonial India; Progress of science.

16. Enlightenment and Modern ideas:

  • Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau
  • Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies
  • Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism.

17. Origins of Modern Politics:

  • European States System.
  • American Revolution and the Constitution.
  • French revolution and aftermath, 1789-1815.
  • American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery.
  • British Democratic Politics, 1815-1850; Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists.

18. Industrialization:

  • English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society
  • Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan
  • Industrialization and Globalization.

19. Nation-State System:

  • Rise of Nationalism in 19th century
  • Nationalism: state-building in Germany and Italy
  • Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the world.

20. Imperialism and Colonialism:

  • South and South-East Asia
  • Latin America and South Africa
  • Australia
  • Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism.

21. Revolution and Counter-Revolution:

  • 19th Century European revolutions
  • The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921
  • Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany.
  • The Chinese Revolution of 1949\

22. World Wars:

  • 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications
  • World War I: Causes and consequences
  • World War II: Causes and consequence

23. The World after World War II:

  • Emergence of two power blocs
  • Emergence of Third World and non-alignment
  • UNO and the global disputes.

24. Liberation from Colonial Rule:

  • Latin America-Bolivar
  • Arab World-Egypt
  • Africa-Apartheid to Democracy
  • South-East Asia-Vietnam

25. Decolonization and Underdevelopment:

  • Factors constraining development: Latin America, Africa

26. Unification of Europe:

  • Post War Foundations: NATO and European Community
  • Consolidation and Expansion of European Community
  • European Union.

27. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World:

  • Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet communism and the Soviet Union, 1985-1991
  • Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001.
  • End of the cold war and US ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.

Contents of our study kit

Booklet-1

1. Sources:

  • Archaeological sources
  • Literary sources
  • Foreign accounts

2. Indus Valley Civilization:

  • Origin,
  • characteristics,
  • decline,
  • survival and significance,
  • art and architecture.

3. Aryans and Vedic Period:

  • Expansions of Aryans in India.
  • Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature,
  • Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period
  • Political, social and economical life
  • Significance of the Vedic Age

4. Period of Mahajanapadas:

  • Formation of States (Mahajanapada)
  • Republics and monarchies
  • Rise of urban centres;
  • Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage;
  • Spread of Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas.
  • Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.

5. Mauryan Empire:

  • Foundation of the Mauryan Empire,
  • Chandragupta,
  • Kautilya and Arthashastra,
  • Ashoka; Concept of Dharma
  • Edicts,
  • Polity, Administration,
  • Economy,
  • Art, architecture and sculpture,
  • External contacts
  • Religion; Spread of religion,
  • Literature,
  • Disintegration of the empire,
  • Sungas and Kanvas.

6. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:

  • Polity and administration,
  • Economic conditions,
  • Coinage of the Guptas,
  • Land grants,
  • Decline of urban centres,
  • Indian feudalism,
  • Caste system, Position of women,
  • Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi,
  • Literature, scientific literature,
  • art and architecture.

7. Regional States during Gupta Era:

  • The Kadambas,
  • Pallavas,
  • Chalukyas of Badami;
  • Polity and Administration,
  • Trade guilds,
  • Literature;
  • growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions.
  • Tamil Bhakti movement,
  • Shankaracharya;
  • Vedanta;
  • Institutions of temple and temple architecture;
  • Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras,
  • Polity and administration; Cultural aspects.
  • Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni,
  • The Chalukyas of Kalyana,
  • Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas;
  • Polity and Administration;
  • local Government;
  • Growth of art and architecture,
  • religious sects,
  • Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society.

8. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History:

  • Languages and texts,
  • major stages in the evolution of art and architecture,
  • major philosophical thinkers and schools,
  • ideas in Science and Mathematics.

9. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

  • Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs
  • The Cholas: administration, village economy and society
  • “Indian Feudalism”
  • Agrarian economy and urban settlements
  • Trade and commerce
  • Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order
  • Condition of women
  • Indian science and technology

10. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:

  • Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta,
  • Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita,
  • Madhva and Brahma Mimansa
  • Religion: Forms and features of religion,
  • Tamil devotional cult,
  • growth of Bhakti,
  • Islam and its arrival in India,
  • Sufism
  • Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India
  • Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting

Booklet-2

1. The Thirteenth Century:

  • The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success
  • Economic, social and cultural consequences
  • Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans
  • Iltutmish
  • Balban

2. The Fourteenth Century:

  • “The Khalji Revolution”
  • Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion,
  • Agrarian and economic measures
  • Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq
  • Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works,
  • Decline of the Sultanate,
  • Foreign contacts
  • Ibn Battuta’s account

3. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:

  • Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate,
  • Bhakti movement,
  • Sufi movement
  • Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, literature in the languages of South India,
  • Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture
  • Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce

4. The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture:

  • Regional cultural specificities
  • Literary traditions
  • Provincial architecture
  • Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.

5. Akbar:

  • Conquests and consolidation of the Empire
  • Jagir systems
  • Mansab systems
  • Rajput policy
  • Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy
  • Court patronage of art and technology

6. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century:

  • Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
  • The Empire and the Zamindars
  • Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
  • Nature of the Mughal State
  • Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts
  • The Ahom Kingdom
  • Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.

7. Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries:

  • Population, agricultural production, craft production
  • Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies : a trade revolution
  • Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems
  • Condition of peasants, condition of women
  • Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth

8. Culture in the Mughal Empire:

  • Persian histories and other literature
  • Hindi and other religious literature
  • Mughal architecture
  • Mughal painting
  • Provincial architecture and painting
  • Classical music
  • Science and technology

9. The Eighteenth Century:

  • Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire
  • The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan,
  • Bengal,
  • Awadh
  • Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas
  • The Maratha fiscal and financial system
  • Emergence of Afghan Power,
  • Battle of Panipat:1761
  • State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest

Booklet-3

1. European Penetration into India:

  • The Battle of Plassey; Significance of Plassey.

2. British Expansion in India:

  • Bengal – Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim;
  • The Battle of Buxar;
  • Mysore;
  • The Marathas; The three Anglo-Maratha Wars;
  • The Punjab.

3. Early Structure of the British Raj:

  • The early administrative structure; From diarchy to direct control;
  • The Regulating Act (1773);
  • The Pitt’s India Act (1784);
  • The Charter Act (1833);
  • The voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule;
  • The English utilitarian and India.

4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule:

  • The Permanent Settlement;
  • Ryotwari Settlement;
  • Mahalwari Settlement;
  • Economic impact of the revenue arrangements;
  • Commercialization of agriculture;
  • Rise of landless agrarian labourers;
  • Impoverishment of the rural society.
  • De-industrialisation;
  • Decline of traditional crafts;
  • Drain of wealth;
  • Economic transformation of India; Railroad and communication network including telegraph and postal services;
  • Famine and poverty in the rural interior;
  • European business enterprise and its limitations.

5. Social and Cultural Developments:

  • Orientalist-Anglicist controversy,
  • The introduction of western education in India;
  • The rise of press, literature and public opinion;
  • The rise of modern vernacular literature;
  • Progress of science;
  • Christian missionary activities in India.

6. Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas:

  • Ram Mohan Roy,
  • The Brahmo Movement;
  • Devendranath Tagore;
  • Iswarchandra Vidyasagar;
  • The Young Bengal Movement;
  • Dayanada Saraswati;
  • The social reform movements in India including Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.;
  • The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India;
  • The Feraizi Movements,
  • Wahabi Movements.

7. Indian Response to British Rule:

  • Peasant movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries including the Rangpur Dhing (1783),
  • the Kol Rebellion (1832),
  • the Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841-1920),
  • the Santal Hul (1855),
  • Indigo Rebellion (1859-60),
  • Deccan Uprising (1875) and
  • the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900);
  • The Great Revolt of 1857 - Origin, character,
  • causes of failure, the consequences;
  • The shift in the character of peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period;
  • the peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s.

8. The Foundation of the Indian National Congress;

  • The Safety-valve thesis relating to the birth of the Congress;
  • Programme and objectives of Early Congress;
  • the social composition of early Congress leadership;
  • the Moderates and Extremists;
  • The Partition of Bengal (1905);
  • The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; the economic and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement;
  • The beginning of revolutionary extremism in India.

9.Character of Gandhian nationalism;

  • Gandhi’s popular appeal;
  • Rowlatt Satyagraha;
  • the Khilafat Movement;
  • the Non-cooperation Movement;
  • National politics from the end of the Non-cooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement;
  • the two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement;
  • Simon Commission;
  • The Nehru Report;
  • the Round Table Conferences;
  • Nationalism and the Peasant Movements;
  • Nationalism and Working class movements;
  • Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885-1947);
  • the election of 1937 and the formation of ministries;
  • Cripps Mission;
  • the Quit India Movement;
  • the Wavell Plan;
  • The Cabinet Mission.

10. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935

11. Nehru’s Foreign Policy;

  • India and her neighbours (1947-1964);
  • The linguistic reorganization of States (1935-1947);
  • Regionalism and regional inequality;
  • Integration of Princely States;
  • Princes in electoral politics;
  • the Question of National Language.

12. Economic development and political change;

  • Land reforms;
  • the politics of planning and rural reconstruction;
  • Ecology and environmental policy in post - colonial India;
  • Progress of science.

Booklet - 4

1. Enlightenment and Modern ideas:

  • Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau
  • Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies
  • Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism.

2. Origins of Modern Politics:

  • European States System.
  • American Revolution and the Constitution.
  • French revolution and aftermath, 1789-1815.
  • American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery.
  • British Democratic Politics, 1815-1850; Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists.

3. Industrialization:

  • English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society
  • Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan
  • Industrialization and Globalization.

4. Revolution and Counter-Revolution:

  • 19th Century European revolutions
  • The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921
  • Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany.
  • The Chinese Revolution of 1949

5. World Wars:

  • 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications
  • World War I: Causes and consequences
  • World War II: Causes and consequence

6. The World after World War II:

  • Emergence of two power blocs
  • Emergence of Third World and non-alignment
  • UNO and the global disputes.

7. Liberation from Colonial Rule:

  • Latin America-Bolivar
  • Arab World-Egypt
  • Africa-Apartheid to Democracy
  • South-East Asia-Vietnam

8. Decolonization and Underdevelopment:

  • Factors constraining development: Latin America, Africa

9. Unification of Europe:

  • Post War Foundations: NATO and European Community
  • Consolidation and Expansion of European Community
  • European Union.

10. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World:

  • Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet communism and the Soviet Union, 1985-1991
  • Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001.
  • End of the cold war and US ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.

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