0Step 1 - Divide your syllabus into three major parts, that is ancient, medieval and modern history.
Step 2 - Better to start with ancient Indian history, study chronologically, as it will provide you with the basic startup knowledge of Indian subcontinents history. Try to write down the important events, dates, names, e.g., the name of the king, his poets, authors of texts/manuscripts etc.
Step 3 - Study regularly according to your timetable, gaps in the regular study will result in confusion as this is history and syllabus is vast.
Step 4 - Try to study by following regular revision method, it means before you start your next topic give a quick revision to the last topic you already covered. This is a very good method, especially for history students.
Step 5 - Cover your syllabus from topic to topic, chapter to chapter. If you are jumping your chapter/topics then this will surely increase your confusion and will waste your time even more as events in history are linked to each other, names are also repeated. For example Chandragupta 1, Chandragupta 2 etc.
Important overview - ancient Indian history is all about sources of ancient history, authors, poets, kings, their work, ancient findings, coins, manuscripts, temples, temple arts etc.
Medieval history is all about administration, wars, Mughals, development in art and literature, religion and downfall of various Kingdoms.
Modern history is all about the downfall of Indian princes, Britishers, their treaties their wars their policies, Indian economy. New ideas of religion and politics and struggle for independence.
Important authors - for ancient Indian history RS Sharma is best.
For medieval history, Satish Chandra is best.
For modern history, Bipin Chandra and Mohammad Tareeq are best.
Along with these authors, you must follow special editions of Pratiyogita Darpan on ancient medieval and modern history. Krishna reddie's book is also good when it comes to question bank and chronological notes etc. but it's a big book.
So please study chronologically and regularly, have a nice day.
Tarlok Singh
MA History, MA Economics.
