Tag: history

The first metallic coin was used in the BIhar and Easter Uttar Pradesh region by the Indo-Greeks.

Inscriptions are written records engraved on the stones, pillars or walls of caves. The earliest deciphered epigraphic inscriptions of significant length are the Edicts of Ashoka of the 3rd century BCE, written in forms of Prakrit in the Brahmi script. The vast majority of Indian inscriptions are found in South India, written on plates of copper, the stone walls of temples, or stone monuments.

The iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi, is a remarkable example of the skill of Indian crafts persons. It is made of iron, 7.2 m high and weighs over 3 tonnes. It was made about 1500 years ago. It has a inscription which mentions the term "chandra". Therefore, there is a dispute ether it belongs to the Mauryan king Chandragupta or the Gupta king Chandragupta II.

Due to the absence of proper maintaining of records in the past, a single reliable source of information is not present. Therefore, to determine the reliability of the information, material sources, written sources and oral sources of history are collected and thoroughly examined.

Ashoka was born to Mauryan King Bindusara and his queen Devi Dharma in 304 B.C. Ashoka was the third ruler of the illustrious Maurya dynasty and was one of the most powerful kings of the Indian subcontinent in ancient times. His reign between 273 BC and 232 B.C. was one of the most prosperous periods in the history of India.

A famous Tamil epic, the Silappadikaram, was composed by a poet named Ilango, around 1800 years ago. It is the story of a merchant named Kovalan, who lived in Puhar and fell in love with a courtesan named Madhavi, neglecting his wife Kannagi

The study of written historical records is known as Epigraphy. Inscriptions can be seen on rocks, pillars, stones, slabs, walls, temples, coins and copper plates. Based on the written messages the Epigraphy experts divide them into various categories, like social, political and religious. Experts analyze the meaning after deciphering (reading) the script. The Asokan edicts, Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta, Aihole Inscription of Pulakesin II, etc. are some major inscriptions of India.   

The Vedas, Puranas, Kautilya's Arthashastra, and other literature besides foreign accounts together with the archaeological sources like epigraphic, numismatic and architectural remains besides archaeological explorations and excavations help in restructuring Ancient Indian History.

The Taxila and the Kalawan copper-plate inscriptions (c. 1st century CE or earlier) are among the earliest known instances of copper plates being used for writing in the Indian subcontinent.