ICSE History Class 7 Syllabus

The syllabus consists of six themes on The Medieval World - (i) Medieval Europe - Rise and Spread of Christianity, (ii) Rise and Spread of Islam, (iii) The Delhi Sultanate, (iv) The Vijayanagar and Bahamani Kingdoms, (v) The Mughal Empire, and (vi) Making of Composite Culture.

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Theme 1: Medieval Europe - Rise and Spread of Christianity

  • Meaning of the term ‘Medieval’, tracing the beginning of the Medieval period in the world and India on the basis of evidences.
  • Socio / political circumstances.
  • Birth of Christianity.
  • Roman conquest of Palestine.
  • Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
  • Main Teachings of Jesus.
  • Jesus’s opposition with Jewish leaders.
  • Crucifixion of Jesus.
  • Role of Emperor Constantine in spreading Christianity.
  • Emergence of Constantinople as a new Christian Capital.

Medieval Europe

  • Decline of the Ancient Roman Empire.
  • Barbarian Invasions by Goths, Vandals and Franks; its impact on Europe.
  • Byzantium: birth of a new empire.
  • Emergence of the Turks and the Crusades.
  • Monasteries and their impact.

Theme 2: Rise and Spread of Islam

  • Pre-Islamic times - conditions in Saudi Arabia
  • Birth of Prophet Mohammad
  • Early life teachings and five basic principles of Islam
  • Migration of Prophet Mohammad to Medina-Hizrat
  • Prophet Mohammad’s return to Mecca (Mecca and Medina - the two holy places for Muslims)
  • Death of Prophet Mohammad and the beginning of the Caliphate
  • Spread of Islam
  • The Abbasid and Umayyad Dynasties

Theme 3: The Delhi Sultanate

  • The Turkish invasions
  • The rule of the five dynasties of Delhi Sultanate
  • Time line exercise (expansion of empire, administration, significance of court, nobility and land control).
  • A case study of the Tughlaqs
  • A comparative study between the Tughlaqs and the Khaljis.
  • Art and architecture, sociocultural development during this period

Theme 4: The Vijayanagar and Bahamani Kingdoms

  • Disintegration of Tughlaq empire - causes
  • Rise of the Vijayanagar and the Bahamani Kingdoms
  • Case study of Krishandeva Raya
  • Mahamud Gawan - the founder of Bahamani Kingdom
  • Achievements, Administration, Art and Architecture - special mention of Hampi and Gol Gumbaz

Theme 5: The Mughal Empire

  • An overview of the Mughal Empire.
  • The first battle of Panipat and establishment of Mughal Empire.
  • Babur and Humayun
  • Sher Shah Suri - The great administrator.
  • A case study of Akbar and his times. (relation with other rulers, administration, revenue system, religious policy).
  • Jahangir and Nur Jahan.
  • Jahangir’s and Shah Jahan’s patronage of architecture.
  • Aurangzeb and his Deccan policy.
  • Decline of the Mughal Empire.

Theme 6: Making of Composite Culture

  • Bhakti and Sufi Movements (Causes, significant features, role of saints).
  • Teachings of Kabir, Guru Nanak Dev, Shankara, Jananeswara.
  • Alwars and Nayanars.
  • Sufi saints and their teachings.
  • Impacts on society.