How Is History Constructed?
🧱 What is “Construction of History”?
Writing history is not simply telling stories from the past. It’s like being a detective and a judge at the same time — examining scattered pieces of evidence, analysing them critically, and reconstructing a picture of the past.
In the context of Ancient Indian History, this process is particularly complex because:
- We have diverse types of sources — texts, inscriptions, coins, archaeological sites, and even mythologies.
- Many of these sources conflict or overlap.
- There are gaps, biases, and missing links — so the historian must interpret carefully.
Thus, history is not “read” from the past; it is “built” from evidence.
📚 The Traditional Over-Reliance on Texts
Historically, Indian historians have depended heavily on literary sources:
- Religious texts: Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata
- Secular texts: Arthashastra, biographies, dramas
- Foreign accounts: Megasthenes, Fa Xian, Xuan Zang
These are rich in detail, but come with challenges:
- They are often idealised, poetic, or mythological
- Many are not datable with certainty
- They may exclude marginalised voices
Archaeological evidence — excavated cities, inscriptions, coins, pottery, burials — has often taken a backseat.
🧠 The result? A history that’s beautiful and grand, but sometimes less grounded in material reality.
⚒️ Why We Need Archaeology in History Writing
Historians today recognise that literary sources must be correlated with archaeology. Let’s understand this with 3 brilliant examples:
(1) Vedic Age & Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
- Textual Source: Rigveda and later Vedic texts mention settlements, rituals, and lifestyle.
- Archaeological Link: PGW pottery found in areas like Hastinapur matches the chronology and cultural pattern of Later Vedic society.
➡️ Combining the two helps confirm the geographical spread and social developments of the Vedic period.
(2) Pali Buddhist Texts & Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW)
- Textual Source: Early Buddhist literature mentions urban centres, trade guilds, and monastic life.
- Archaeological Link: Sites like Rajgir, Sarnath, and Vaishali show urbanisation with NBPW pottery and brick structures.
➡️ Together, they paint a clear picture of early historic India, c. 600 BCE to 200 BCE.
(3) Sangam Literature & Megalithic Archaeology
- Textual Source: Sangam poems describe heroism, trade, love, and chieftain politics in ancient Tamilakam.
- Archaeological Link: Megalithic burials with grave goods and Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions show the material culture and social stratification.
➡️ Literature and material remains complement each other to build a more realistic early South Indian history.
⚖️ The Problem with Blind Faith in Puranas & Epics
Let’s take two sensitive examples:
Rama in Ayodhya (Ramayana, Puranas)
- Puranas date Rama to around 2000 BCE.
- But archaeological evidence at Ayodhya does not confirm urban settlements from that era.
Krishna in Mathura (Mahabharata)
- Krishna is a central figure in the epic.
- However, the earliest material remains at Mathura date from 200 BCE to 300 CE.
➡️ These examples don’t “disprove” the existence of these figures but remind us: Mythology is not always history.
To write scientific history, we must prioritise archaeology over genealogical lists and legendary dates.
🪙 Re-Evaluating Inscriptions & Coins
🧾 Inscriptions:
- Often dismissed as “dry” or “political”, but they’re the most reliable tools for:
- Dating rulers (e.g., Satavahanas via Naneghat inscription)
- Recording donations, land grants, royal achievements
➡️ Unlike myths, inscriptions are datable and physical.
💰 Coins:
- Help identify rulers (Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas)
- Show economic trends, trade routes, religious symbols
- Coin hoards provide chronological anchors for dynasties
For example:
- Kanishka’s coins show Greek, Iranian, and Indian deities — revealing religio-political syncretism
- Gupta coins highlight the flourishing economy and art
🏛️ The Way Forward: Interdisciplinary History
To construct reliable ancient Indian history, we must:
- Use archaeology, inscriptions, coins, and texts together
- Understand the limitations and biases of each
- Focus on material realities, not just literary imagination
📌 Final Summary: How to Construct Ancient Indian History
Component | Traditional Use | Needed Approach |
Texts | Primary source, poetic lens | Use with caution, verify with archaeology |
Inscriptions | Underused | Crucial for dating and objectivity |
Coins | Royal identity only | Also used for trade and economy |
Archaeology | Neglected earlier | Must be central to historical narrative |