CBSE Class 12 History Syllabus: Here, you will find detailed information about the topics and chapters included in the History course for Class 12 students. The History course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the past, with a focus on Indian history, culture, and civilization. It covers a wide range of topics from ancient to modern history, including the Mughal Empire, and the Indian National Movement.
CBSE Class 12 History Syllabus 2022-23
Code No. 027
Themes in Indian History – Part 1
BRICKS, BEADS AND BONES The Harappan Civilization:
- Broad overview: Early urb an centers
- Story of discovery: Harappan civilization
- Excerpt: Archaeological report on a major site
- Discussion: How it has been utilized by archaeologists/ historians
KINGS, FARMERS AND TOWNS:Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE-600 CE)
- Broad overview: Political and economic History from the Mauryan to the Gupta period
- Story of discovery: Inscriptions and the Decipherment of the script. Shifts in the Understanding of political and economic history.
- Excerpt: Ashokan inscription and Gupta period land grant
- Discussion: Interpretation of inscriptions by historians.
KINSHIP, CASTE AND CLASS Early Society Societies (C. 600 BCE-600 CE)
- Broad overview: Social Histories: Using the Mahabharata Issues in social history, including caste, class, kinship and gender
- Story of discovery: Transmission and publications of the Mahabharat
- Excerpt: from the Mahabharata, illustrating how it has been used by historians.
- Discussion: Other sources for reconstructing social history.
THINKERS, BELIEFS AND BUILDINGS Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE – 600 CE)
- Broad overview: A History of Buddhism: Sanchi Stupa
- A brief review of religious histories of Vedic religion, Jainism, Vaishnavism, Shaivism (Puranic Hinduism)
- Focus on Buddhism.
- Story of discovery: Sanchi stupa.
- Excerpt: Reproduction of sculptures from Sanchi.
- Discussion: Ways in which sculpture has been interpreted by historians, other sources for reconstructing the history of Buddhism.
Themes in Indian History – Part 1
THROUGH THE EYES OF TRAVELLERS Perceptions of Society (c. tenth to seventeenth century)
- Broad Overview: outlines of social and cultural life as they appear in traveller’s account.
- Story of their writings: A discussion of where they travelled, what they wrote and for whom they wrote.
- Excerpts: from Al Biruni, Ibn Battuta, Francois Bernier.
- Discussion: What these travel accounts can tell us and how they have been interpreted by historians.
BHAKTI –SUFI TRADITIONS: Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts (c. eighth to eighteenth centuries)
- Broad overview:
- Outline of religious developments during this period saints.
- Ideas and practices of the Bhakti-Sufi
- Story of Transmission: How Bhakti-Sufi compositions have been preserved.
- Excerpt: Extracts from selected Bhakti-Sufi works.
- Discussion: Ways in which these have been interpreted by historians.
AN IMPERIAL CAPITAL: VIJAYANAGARA (c. fourteenth to sixteenth centuries)
- Broad Over View: New
- Architecture: Hampi
- Outline of new buildings during Vijayanagar period-temples, forts, irrigation facilities.
- Relationship between architecture and the political system
- Story of Discovery: Account of how Hampi was found.
- Excerpt: Visuals of buildings at Hampi
- Discussion: Ways in which historians have analyzed and interpreted these structures.
PEASANTS, ZAMINDARS AND THE STATE: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (c. sixteenth-seventeenth centuries)
- Broad overview: The Aini-Akbari
- Structure of agrarian relations in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- Patterns of change over the period.
- Story of Discovery: Account of the compilation and translation of Ain I Akbari
- Excerpt: from the Ain-iAkbari.
- Discussion: Ways in which historians have used texts to reconstruct history.
Themes in Indian History – Part 1
COLONIALISM AND THE COUNTRYSIDE: Exploring Official Archives
- Broad overview: Colonialism and Rural Society: Evidence from Official Reports
- Life of zamindars, peasants and artisans in the late 18th century
- Permanent Settlement, Santhals and Paharias
- Story of official records: An account of why official Investigations in to rural societies were undertaken and the types of records and reports produced.
- Excerpts: From Fifth Report
- Discussion: What the official records tell and do not tell, and how they have been used by historians.
REBELS AND THE RAJ: 1857 Revolt and its Representations
- Broad overview:
- The eventsof1857-58.
- Vision of Unity
- How these events were recorded and narrated.
- Focus: Lucknow
- Excerpts: Pictures of 1857. Extracts from contemporary accounts.
- Discussion: How the pictures of 1857 shaped British opinion of what had happened.
MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT: Civil Disobedience and Beyond
- Broad overview:
- The Nationalist Movement 1918 -48.
- The nature of Gandhian politics and leadership.
- Focus: Mahatma Gandhi and the three movements and his last days as “finest hours”
- Excerpts: Reports from English and Indian language newspapers and other contemporary writings.
- Discussion: How newspapers can be a source of history.
FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION: The Beginning of a New Era
- Broad overview: The Making of the Constitution an overview:
- Independence and then new nation state.
- The making of the Constitution
- Focus: The Constituent Assembly Debates
- Excerpts: from the debates
- Discussion: What such debates reveal and how they can be analyzed.
FEW SUGGESTIVE TOPICS FOR CLASS XII PROJECTS
- The Indus Valley Civilization-Archeological Excavations and New Perspectives
- The History and Legacy of Mauryan Empire
- “Mahabharat”- The Great Epic of India
- The History and Culture of the Vedic period
- Buddha Charita
- A Comprehensive History of Jainism
- Bhakti Movement- Multiple interpretations and commentaries.
- “The Mystical Dimensions of Sufism
- Global legacy of Gandhian ideas
- The Architectural Culture of the Vijayanagar Empire
- Life of women in the Mughal rural society
- Comparative Analysis of the Land Revenue Systems introduced by the Britishers in India
- The Revolt of 1857- Causes; Planning & Coordination; Leadership, Vision of Unity
- The Philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev
- The Vision of Kabir
- An insight into the Indian Constitution
Projects are an imperative component in enhancing students learning with the related themes. In the
research project, students can go beyond the textbook and explore the world of knowledge. They can
conceptualize under the embedded themes. Forms of rubrics are a significant aspect and to be
discussed in the classroom itself for clear understanding of concept & for assessment.
Note: Kindly refer to the guidelines on project work for class XII. Please refer Circular No. Acad.16/2013 dated 17.04.2013 for complete guidelines
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