According to the current trend of UPSC pre, they ask a few political, social, cultural, economical terms from ancient India which makes it an important area to cover in history. So Instead of reading whole syllabus of history remembering just a few terms can fetch you easy marks in history section.
History's syllabus is vast and one can never be sure about the questions which can be asked. Its better to focus on those areas which are frequently asked like terms from ancient India instead of covering everything blindly.
Here we are providing a list of such terms hope it will help the candidates. These are also helpful for the state psc and other govt. exams.
Before we start with glossary of ancient terms let's first see some terms from mauryan administration which are more frequently asked. One should atleast go through them if not through the whole list.
The various branches of mauryan administration were controlled and supervised by various high officials. These were Amatyas, Mahamatras and Adhyaksas.
Arthashstra has mentioned a list of 18 Tirthas or Senior Officers which are as follows:-
- Mantrin- Minister
- Purohita- Chief Priest
- Senapati- Commander-in-chief
- Yuvaraja- Crown Prince
- Dauvarika- Door Keeper
- Antarvasika- Officer-in-charge of Harem.
- Prasastri- Inspector General of prisons.
- Samharta- Collector General in District.
- Sannidhata- Incharge of treasury.
- Pradestri- Divisional Commissioner.
- Nayaka- City Constable.
- Pauravya-Vaharika- Officer in charge of transactions in city.
- Karmantika- officer-in-charge of mines.
- Mantri Parishadadhyaksa- President of Council of Minister.
- Dandapala- police chief.
- Durgapala- officer in charge of hone Defence.
- Antapala- Frontier Defence officer.
- Atavika- Officer in charge of administration of forest.
In addition to these Administrative heads there were other superitendents of 27 departments called Adhyaksas. These departments were -:
- Kosa- Treasury
- Akara- Mines
- Loha- Metal
- Laksana- Mint
- Lavana- Salt
- Suvarna- Gold
- Kosthagara- Storekeeper
- Panya - Royal trade.
- Kupya- Forest produce.
- Ayudhgara- Armoury.
- Pautava- Weights and measures.
- Mana- Measurement of space and time.
- Sulka- tolls.
- Sutra- Spinning and Weaving.
- Sita- Cultivation of Crown land.
- Sura- liquor.
- Suna- Slaughter house.
- Mudra- Passports.
- Vivita- Pastures.
- Dyuta- Gambling.
- Bandhangara- Jails.
- Gau- Cattles.
- Nau/Nava- Shipping.
- Pattana- Ports.
- Ganika- Courtesans.
- Trade- Samstha.
- Devta- religious institutions.
Departments within Mauryan Army.
- Patti- Infantry.
- Asva- Horse riders.
- Hasti- Elephant.
- Ratha- Chariots.
Now full glossary of terms from. Ancient India.
- Akrta- Waste land.
- Aksapatala- Depository of royal accounts.
- Mahaksapatalika- Superitendent of records.
- Agrahara- rent free land donated to brahmans.
- Agraharika- in charge of agraharas.
- Atyaya- A fine or Penalty.
- Adhipala- Registrar of pledges or mortgages.
- Adhiraja- A king with control over petty landlords.
- Ajivika- A sect of aethists living in forests/caves.
- Abhigamika - likeable virtues qualities of a king.
- Abhityakta- award of death sentance.
- Anartha-trivarga - three misfortunes ( Anartha-wealth loss, Adharma- lack of righteousness and Soka- Sorrow)
- Anikastha- Royal Elephant Trainer .
- Antahpura- Royal female guard.
- Apasarpa- Secret agent.
- Apsara- Secret Outlet.
- Apahara- Kind of corruption.
- Ap-Durga- Water fort.
- Sampat- Qualifications required.
- Avarodha- Siege of enemy fort.
- Ahita- A person who stands surety.
- Adhi- Mortgage of immovable property.
- Ayamukha- Chief Sources of Income of state.
- Ayukta- General officer/Commissioner.
- Asana- Firm Resistance to enemy charge.
- Utthana- Kings Quality of remaining over active.
- Udaya- A profit.
- Udasthita- Sky in the guise of A mendicant.
- Udranga- Land Tax.
- Upadha- test for loyality of royal officers.
- Upasthana- audience hall of a king.
- Ekrata- unrivalled ruler.
- Kara- revenue/Tax.
- Kamkara- Servant.
- Karmasachiva- Minister of execution.
- Kapatika- A spy in guise of student.
- Karvavatika- Administrative division of 200 villages.
- Kumaramatya- Senior administrative officer of the Gupta period.
- Kuta-Rupa- Counterfeit coins.
- Kupya- Valuable material for royal store for eg. Timber, bamboo, cane etc.
- Krta- duly cultivable land.
- Kosa Nirhara- Grains purchased with funds received from royal treasury.
- Ksatta- chamberlain.
- Gana- Republic govt.
- Gana Titha- A member who completes Quorum in gana assembly.
- Gananika- account officer.
- Gudhapurusa- Secret spy.
- Gulma- Section of armed guards.
- Gopa- Subordinate officer.
- Govikartana- Officer-in-charge of royal cattle heard.
- Gramini- Village headman.
- Mahattara- Village elders with administrative and judicial powers.
- Caturanta- World ruler who territories extend Four oceans.
- Taksa- Chief royal Carpenter.
- Dusya- sedition.
- Dharma- righteousness.
- Dharmastha- judicial Magistrate.
- Dhanika- creditor
- Dhi-Sachiva- Minister of Council.
- Nagrika- City Governor.
- Samharta- Governor of rural areas.
- Nayaka- Military officer.
- Niti sastra- Science of polity of General conduct.
- Parihara- Exemptions from paying taxes.
- Paramesthya- a type of Monarchy.
- palagala- Royal courtier Vidusaka.
- Parivrajka- A wandering saint.
- Purapala- City sanitation Governor.
- Pusta- Record book.
- Pradesika- Governor of a province.
- Bali- Tax earlier it was Voluntary.
- Brahmadeya- A free gift land to a brahman and his generation. No Tax.
- Bhrtaka- Servant on salary/ lives independently.
- Bhogakara - periodical supply of agriculture produce made to king.
- Mandala- a circular Army of troops also a territorial Unit.
- Mantra- Consultation.
- Maagadha- their job was to remember family history, lineage of dynasties.
- Mahaksa Patalika- Superitendent of legal Records.
- Yana- Military Expedition.
- Yukta- Small officer.
- Rajuka- Mauryan era officer who took care of Civil administration in a District.
- Ratnins- Court dignitaries.
- Rajniti- Science of statecraft.
- Rajsuya - Vedic ritual for coronation of king.
- Rastra - A Territorial state.
- Rastrika- Governor of a sub District.
- Rupa/Rupika- 8℅ surcharge.
- Vajpeya- ritual before kings consecration.
- Vastu- A pleasure Garden.
- Vidya - subject Curriculum of kings.
- Vivadapadas- Sources of the state law.
- Vis- no. of villages joined by tribal kinship.
- Vispati- chief of villages joined by kinship.
- Visaya- Administrative division.
- Visti- Services rendered by unpaid labour engaged as punishment.
- Vaiyapratyakara- A retail seller.
- Vyayasarira- head of expenditure of the state.
- Vyavhara- law laid down in arthashastra.
- Vyasana- A Vice or bad practice of evil habit.
- Vraja- one of source of royal Income.
- Sasna- King's writ or reasoning.
- Sulka- A toll or Custom duty.
- Sreni- A Guild or Company of Traders, artisans.
- Satri- Spy.
- Sabha- assembly of village elders.
- Samiti- mass gathering to elect king.
- Samudaya- Royal Income.
- Sandhivigrahika- Minister of War & Peace.
- Samrajya - rule with justice.
- Sahasa- Criminal act.
- Siddhi- success in foreign Diplomacy.
- Senani- leader of an Army.
- Skandhavara- A military camp.
- Sthanika- officer under Nagariko/Samharta.
- Svarat- president of svarajya type of Govt.
- Hiranya- Tax payable in cash.
That's all 🙏
For list of important terms from
Medieval India please Click here.
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