Revision: Introduction to Indian Society Sociology HSC Science (General) 12th Standard Board Exam Maharashtra State Board

Social practices are the common ways people in a society do things together, like celebrating festivals, greeting each other, or eating meals. These are repeated actions and habits that everyone recognizes and often follows as part of their daily life.

Anthropology is the scientific study of human beings, their societies, cultures, and physical traits, which began as a formal discipline in the 19th century.

The colonial period in India is when foreign powers, mainly the British, controlled the country, bringing new laws, schools, and ways of life that affected Indian society deeply.

Ancient India refers to the time when early civilizations and societies started in India, with people living in villages and cities, forming unique customs, beliefs, and traditions.

Medieval India describes the period when kingdoms, empires, and new cultures developed in India, leading to changes in religion, society, and ways of living through rule by various dynasties.

Post-Independence India is the phase after the country became self-governed, where the government works to create fair opportunities and progress for all people, guided by the Constitution’s values.

The Sangham Period (around 300 BCE to 300 CE) was a golden age of Tamil literature, poetry, and culture in South India, centered on academies called Sanghams.

The Schools of Indian Philosophy, known as Darśanas (meaning “ways of seeing” or “philosophical views”), are the major branches of thought that developed in ancient India to explain reality, knowledge, ethics, and liberation (moksha).

Anthropology is the scientific study of human beings, their societies, cultures, and physical traits, which began as a formal discipline in the 19th century.

The Vedic Period (about 1500 BCE to 500 BCE) was the era after the Harappan decline, marked by the composition of the Vedas and the rise of early Hindu beliefs and rituals in northern India.

The Harappan Period, also called the Indus Valley Civilization, was an urban Bronze Age civilization in northwest India and Pakistan, lasting from about 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, with its mature phase from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.

The Age of the Guptas was called the Golden Age of India because it was a period (around 320–550 CE) of great peace, prosperity, and outstanding progress in art, literature, science, mathematics, and culture, making it one of the most glorious times in ancient Indian history. 

Urbanisation is when more and more people move from villages to towns and cities, leading to the growth and expansion of urban areas where people live and work together in non-farming jobs.

First urbanisation in ancient India refers to the development of well-planned cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro during the Indus Valley Civilization, where people lived together with advanced facilities like grid streets and drainage systems.

Second urbanisation means the rise of new towns along the Ganga plains around 600 BCE, brought about by farming, trade, and the use of coins, leading to bigger kingdoms called Mahajanapadas.

Sociological imagination means being able to see how your personal experiences and problems are connected to larger social issues and the society you live in, instead of thinking they're just about you.

Social reform movements are organized efforts by groups of people who work together to remove social evils, promote equality, and improve society by changing unfair customs, beliefs, and practices into modern and just ones.

Social legislation is a set of laws made by the government to remove social evils and improve the living conditions of people—especially the weak and disadvantaged—in order to create a fair and just society.

Polity means the way a group, state, or country organizes itself to make decisions, run its government, and ensure everyone follows the rules.

The Constitution of India is the supreme law of our country that explains how the government works, what rights and duties citizens have, and ensures that everyone in India is treated equally, fairly, and freely.

Legislation means the rules and laws made by the government or parliament that everyone in the country must follow.