History — Textbook & Study Material

Download the official textbook for History and see the full chapter list so you know exactly what to cover.

Official textbook download

History — official textbook — Free download from the official source.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones: The Harappan Civilisation
Chapter 2: Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE-600 CE)
Chapter 3: Kingship, Caste and Class: Early Societies (c. 600 BCE-600 CE)
Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE-600 CE)
Chapter 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers
Chapter 6: Perceptions of Society
Chapter 7: Bhakti–Sufi Traditions
Chapter 8: Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts (c. 8th–18th centuries)
Chapter 9: Vijayanagar: An Imperial Capital (c. 14th–16th centuries)
Chapter 10: Peasants, Zamindars and the States
Chapter 11: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (c. 16th–17th centuries)
Chapter 12: Colonialism and The Countryside
Chapter 13: Exploring Official Archives
Chapter 14: Rebels and Raj
Chapter 15: 1857 Revolt and its Representations
Chapter 16: Mahatma Gandhi and the National Movement
Chapter 17: Civil Disobedience and Beyond
Chapter 18: Framing of the Constitution
Chapter 19: The Beginning of a New Era

Frequently asked questions

Is the History textbook available for free?

Yes — the book linked above is a free download. We link to the source rather than re-hosting it, so you always get the current edition. Check the edition against the syllabus for your exam year.

Is the History textbook enough to score well, or do I need extra notes?

The official textbook is the core — most exam questions are set directly from it, so read it thoroughly first. Add concise notes and solved past papers for revision and exam practice rather than switching to unofficial books.

How should I study the History textbook chapter by chapter?

Cover the high-weightage chapters first (use the exam pattern as a guide), make a one-page summary per chapter, and immediately solve a few past-paper questions on it. Active recall beats passive re-reading.

How can I prepare for History faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for History — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused History study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.