Master the chronological sequence of major periods, key personalities and their contributions, and the socio-economic factors that shaped historical change. Questions often test your ability to identify the correct dynasty-ruler-achievement combination or match reform movements with their leaders.
| Period/Event | Key Facts | |--------------|-----------| | Indus Valley Civilization | 2600–1900 BCE; Harappa, Mohenjo-daro; town planning, Great Bath, undeciphered script | | Vedic Period | 1500–600 BCE; Rigveda oldest; Later Vedic—four varnas, iron tools (Krishna Ayas) | | Mauryan Empire | 322–185 BCE; Chandragupta (founder), Ashoka (Dhamma); Arthashastra by Kautilya | | Gupta Empire | 320–550 CE; Samudragupta (Napoleon of India), Chandragupta II; Golden Age of India | | Chera Dynasty (Kerala) | Sangam Age (300 BCE–300 CE); Capital Vanji; trade with Rome; Cheran Senguttuvan | | Delhi Sultanate | 1206–1526 CE; Five dynasties—Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi | | Mughal Empire | 1526–1857 CE; Babur (founder), Akbar (Din-i-Ilahi, Mansabdari), Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal) | | Travancore Kingdom | Marthanda Varma (1729–1758); Battle of Colachel (1741)—defeated Dutch | | British Rule Begins | Battle of Plassey (1757); Battle of Buxar (1764); Diwani rights | | First War of Independence | 1857; Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tantia Tope | | INC Founded | 1885 at Bombay; A.O. Hume; W.C. Bonnerjee first president | | Kerala Renaissance Leaders | Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, Chattampi Swamikal, Vakkom Moulavi | | Gandhian Movements | Non-Cooperation (1920–22), Civil Disobedience (1930–34), Quit India (1942) | | Vaikom Satyagraha | 1924–25; temple road entry for lower castes; T.K. Madhavan led | | Independence and Partition | 15 August 1947; Mountbatten Plan; India and Pakistan created | | Kerala State Formation | 1 November 1956; merger of Travancore-Cochin and Malabar |
**Solution:** T.K. Madhavan initiated the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25) to secure the right of lower caste Hindus to use public roads around the Vaikom temple in Travancore. It was one of the earliest Gandhian-style satyagrahas in Kerala. Gandhi visited in 1925. The movement partially succeeded—three of four roads were opened.