Questions tagged [ancient-india]
For questions relating to pre-Islamic India, spanning the earliest known human settlements in the area up to the 12th century.
56
questions
33
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Is there any evidence that Cleopatra and Caesarion considered fleeing to India to escape the Romans?
In a book, Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal, I saw a claim made by the author which says that Cleopatra and her son Caesarion wanted to flee to India to evade Roman arrest. Sanjeev Sanyal ...
- 1,350
16
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What is the current state of historical thought on the Aryan invasion/migration theory?
Recent findings in archaelogy and related fields have led some scholars to replace "invasion" with "migration" in the "Aryan invasion" theory. E.g. Romila Thapar in this edition of The Penguin History ...
- 497
16
votes
0
answers
438
views
Are there any references to entombed animals in ancient India?
The 13th century Hindu philosopher Arulnandi Shivacharya wrote a work called the Shiva Jnana Siddhiyar, which among other things contains a refutation of Buddhist philosophy. In this excerpt, various ...
- 2,579
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Where did the Roman money involved in the spice and luxury trade end up?
In the book "The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean" by McLaughlin, which is a very interesting read, he states that annual bullion going to buy luxuries in India was around 50-100 million sesterces ...
- 6,685
13
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Why didn't invaders of India ever cross into Myanmar and beyond (east)?
All the foreign invaders, coming from the west, that I know of which invaded India (i.e. Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Suri Empire, Ghurid Empire, Mamluk Dynasty, etc.) stopped around the Bengal area. ...
- 2,202
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Did the emperor Ashoka really build hospitals or is that a myth?
I've seen a lot of sources claiming that Emperor Ashoka (c. 268 to 232 BCE) of the Mauryan dynasty, the dynasty that ruled most of the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BC, was responsible for ...
- 693
8
votes
1
answer
279
views
Who was the real beginner of Lord Ganesha festival?
Introduction
Ganesha is one of the most well-known and loved gods in Hinduism and is admired by most members of a Hindu family. Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the most popular festivals in India brings ...
- 143
8
votes
0
answers
181
views
Why is there such a dramatic shift in Tamil script during the 3rd to 5th centuries AD?
I have already asked this question in Linguistics.SE but I didn't get any answers and the comments there spoke of historical reasons rather than Linguistics shifts so I'm asking here.
Recently, I was ...
- 195
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Did St Thomas really come to India?
St Thomas, the apostle is said to have visited India in 52 AD and died in 72 AD in India as per history books. But looks like this event has no proof before 16th century AD. So, my questions are:
Did ...
user25890
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why was Madagascar settled by far-flung Austronesian seafarers?
I have found that seafarers from Oceania were the first to inhabit Madagascar instead of the much closer Africans in what is today Mozambique. Why is this so?
- 1,350
6
votes
3
answers
660
views
Was there any urbanisation in ancient South India?
R.Champakalakshmi in her book Trade, ideology, and urbanization: South India 300 BC to AD 1300 describes two urbanisation phases in Tamil Nadu. One is during early period (which she believes was ...
- 163
6
votes
0
answers
835
views
What was the origin of the caste system in India and how did it proliferate? [closed]
What was the first society/civilisation which started caste system in India and when did they start, and why was it even introduced into the society? What was that benefit or advantage of this system ...
- 245
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Who were Dalits and Brahmins in ancient India before law of Manusmriti was imposed on Indian society?
From thousands of year Indian society was run by the law of "Manusmriti". Indian society is based on caste system in which Brahmins are at the top most position where dalits are at the least position ...
- 151
5
votes
0
answers
925
views
Navaratnas(9 Gems) of legendary emperor of ancient India Vikramaditya
Were there any criteria on which a person could become one of the Navratnas of Chandragupta Vikramaditya or Chandragupta-ll
I have found another source about the Navaratnas.
You can refer here
- 682
4
votes
2
answers
340
views
How were ancient Indian mathematical texts found to modern scholarship?
Unlike e.g. Greco-Roman or Chinese texts, which were written on relatively durable writing material, most ancient Indian literature was done on palm-leaf manuscripts, which typically don't survive ...
- 51
4
votes
1
answer
651
views
Oldest manuscript of Arthashastra
Wikipedia page for Arthashastra states that three manuscripts have been recovered in the modern era for Kautilya's Arthashastra. One in 1905 which was identified by R. Shamasastry, and the other two ...
- 141
4
votes
0
answers
255
views
What was the Indian nobility's reaction to the construction of Veeranam Eri (வீராணம் ஏரி)?
Background Information
In the South of Medieval India, there was a wealthy and powerful empire called the Chola Empire.
In between the years 907-955 AD, the king (or Raja) Parantaka the First (...
4
votes
0
answers
215
views
How did Indian diets change after arrival of Muslim kings?
I would like to know how did the diets of people changed due to the new kingdoms that came in and took over the Indian Subcontinent. Was it earlier more vegetarian due to religious reasons and shifted ...
user38443
4
votes
0
answers
158
views
Evidence of Iron Age migrations into India (1000-600)
I was reading a History of India by Michael Edwardes. It says that by 600 B.C., the northwest had been closed off to invaders. It made me wonder about migrations up to this period. I only know about ...
- 3,338
4
votes
0
answers
116
views
Birth date of Adi Śankaracharya
When was Sri Ādi Śankaracharya born exactly? In Wikipedia and elsewhere there have been controversial dates, one claiming a birth in the 5th century B.C. and another around A.D.730-780. Why is there ...
- 149
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Who introduced coins in India?
Which King or Kingdom first introduced the coins in India for trading (internal or external)?
- 411
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does the appearance of cremation support the Aryan Migration theory?
Aryan invasion theory supporters usually say that the practice of using cemetery appears in the late Harrappan period, i.e., in 1900 BC and before that many burials were found. The Vedic practice is ...
user25890
3
votes
2
answers
642
views
Why do many Indian Languages have different alphabets?
I see that German, English and French mostly share the same basic set of alphabet and these are languages are spoken by whole countries but if you go to India, there is a state with a new alphabet set ...
3
votes
1
answer
477
views
What was Mohenjo-Daro's "lower town"?
I was reading about Mohenjo-daro sites in current day Pakistan.
The text talked about something called "lower town". What is lower town in that context?
"Kalibangan is situated on the left bank of ...
- 133
3
votes
0
answers
308
views
Was it common in ancient India for kings to take care of midgets?
The 13th century Hindu philosopher Vedanta Desikan, in this excerpt from his work the Rahasyatraya Sara, describes how the god Vishnu in his incarnations pretends to be distressed out of playfulness ...
- 2,579
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
History of Moti Masjid
Who built the Moti Masjid?
Google says it's Sahjahan who built it, but Wikipedia says it was built by Jahangir.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moti_Masjid_(Red_Fort) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
- 23
2
votes
1
answer
140
views
Why is a temple to Hathor in India?
Many internet articles are saying that there is a temple of Deity Hathor (which is an Egyptian goddess) in Nuh district, Mewat city, Haryana state, India .
Exact Map's Location
This is a reliable ...
- 37
2
votes
1
answer
160
views
How was early Indian history re-constructed? [closed]
I heard that ancient Indian history was reconstructed from Iranian/Persian and Chinese texts that survived til today. Is this true? Also what were the other major sources used?
- 129
2
votes
1
answer
594
views
Does anyone have an example of the Tamil elephant symbol?
The elephant was the royal emblem of the Ay Dynasty and flag of their kingdom, and that the symbol was taken over by the Chera dynasty after their conquest of the Ay Kingdom.
Does anyone have an ...
- 1,319
2
votes
1
answer
251
views
Why did Prithvi Raj Chouhan allow Muhammad Ghori to flee? [closed]
Why did Prithvi Raj Chouhan allow Muiz Uddin Muhammad Ghori to flee back to Afghanistan when he was defeated and wounded after the first battle of Tarain?
Please note that Wikipedia doesn't say ...
user56109
2
votes
1
answer
819
views
How did ancient Dravidians tell the time?
Before the invention of clocks people used devices such as sundials, sandclock etc to know the time. Wikipedia gives you the measurements once used by south Indians (time,area, weight). My doubt is ...
- 123
2
votes
0
answers
157
views
Does the Rig Veda specifically mention any Central Asian places beyond modern Afghanistan?
On doing research on the Rig Veda, I found that the Bactria and the associated rivers were mentioned. But does the Rig Veda contain specific details of any Central Asian places beyond modern ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
56
views
Was religion in India a matter of choice for people during Mauryan empire?
The three most important kings of the Mauryan empire were followers of different religions, though there are disputes since there is not enough evidence to support the claims about Chandragupta & ...
- 245
2
votes
0
answers
145
views
What is the earliest evidence of vocation and birth based social stratification?
The caste system in India as practiced today has several layers of complexities, mostly undesirable ones. But it's a reality.
Now, it's commonly accepted that the Indus Valley civilization involved ...
- 124
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
What is the historical accuracy of birth of lord Sri Krishna [closed]
Online suggests that birth of lord Sri Krishna is 4th millineum BC at the below link
https://www.booksfact.com/history/sri-krishna-life-events-dates-born-18-june-3229-bce.html
but it is mentioned ...
- 137
1
vote
1
answer
538
views
From where did Aryans originate?
When one reads the Ancient Indian History and Ancient History as a whole, the much-discussed theory of Indo-European migration to India often comes up.
Ancient Indian History in introductory books is ...
- 119
1
vote
1
answer
279
views
Who has dated Mahabharata around 1800BC?
Dr. S. Balakrishna concluded a date of 2559 BCE using consecutive
lunar eclipses.
Prof. I.N. Iyengar concluded a date of 1478 BCE using double eclipses
and Saturn+Jupiter conjunctions.
Dr. B.N. Achar ...
user52548
1
vote
2
answers
716
views
What calendar did the Mauryan Empire use?
Research has brought up conflicting answers to this question and the answers I have gotten are generally confusing and poorly written.
I'm wondering what calendar the Mauryan Empire used and what ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
6k
views
What was the reason behind the death of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?
There are many novels about King Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Nobody knows the exact reason of his death. It has been written tentatively in those novels. Somebody says he died due to Tuberculosis, ...
- 143
1
vote
0
answers
135
views
Are there equivalents of the Seven Archangels of Zoroastrianism in Vedic Religion?
As I explore the possible relationship between archangels in Judaism and Proto-Indo-European religion here, here is a related more specific question.
Zoroastrianism and Early Vedic religion are very ...
user58967
1
vote
0
answers
109
views
Is there a source for this anecdote about Chandragupta Maurya, battle strategies and hot rice? [closed]
An anecdote (1) about Chandragupta Maurya indicates he learnt that attacking margins is a better battle strategy than attacking the center, and that this insight came from a hot dish (possibly hot ...
- 21
1
vote
0
answers
39
views
Where can I find historical data of changes in the population of Buddhist followers since Ancient India?
I need some sources regarding the changes in the size of Buddhist populations since the death of Gautama Buddha, e.g. the number of Buddhists in what is modern day India from 410 BC until now, or just ...
- 115
1
vote
3
answers
243
views
Where on today's map of India, was the confluence of the Baes and Sutlej rivers when Alexander was in the Punjab?
I am trying to understand where on today's map of the Punjab, Alexander and his armies returned after a mutiny. The historical accounts (Arrian, for example) suggest he reached the Beas River, which ...
- 111
0
votes
2
answers
332
views
How common are the following activities historically? [closed]
In present day India the ruling party has started to rename the cities by claiming to take them to their origins. It has been discussed here, here and here. Primarily the cities with Muslim Names for ...
user38443
0
votes
1
answer
850
views
What did ancient countries call themselves? [closed]
Especially non-European nations -- I'm under the impression that the names given to these countries, e.g. "the Maurya Dynasty", "the Qin Dynasty", "the Akkadian Empire", "the Old Kingdom of Egypt", ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
149
views
Why did the status of women in India decline?
If one looks at the present dynamic structure of Indian society one can see that though constantly changing, it still has in its heart many socio-cultural elements that can be traced by or said to ...
- 119
0
votes
0
answers
121
views
Why are there 10 days difference in Hijri and Gregorian calendar?
I came upon this book that has written dates in Hijri and Gregorian calendars side by side. However, when I converted the dates on online converters there was a difference of 10 days. why is that ?
in ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
189
views
How did Muhammed of Ghouri die?
Indians believe that Prithviraj Chauhan killed The Muhammed of Ghouri, but according to history Muhammed of Ghouri died after the death of Prithviraj Chauhan. Prithviraj's tomb is disrespected in ...
0
votes
1
answer
238
views
Did Emperor Pushyamitra Shunga persecute Buddhists?
Did Emperor Pushyamitra Shunga persecute Buddhists?
- 13
-1
votes
2
answers
964
views
Why did emperors of India and China have so many mistresses?
Some Indian and Chinese emperors had more than 50 mistresses. Wasn't it difficult to please so many women and maintain peace among them? What caused them to have so many women?
- 51