ICSE Syllabus for Class 7 History

The Class 7 History of 7th grade of the ICSE board mainly focuses on the mediaeval world as the students previously studied about the Ancient World history in their previous classes. The syllabus has 10 chapters. The mediaeval period was mainly the period from the 5th and to the late 15th centuries. The ICSE Class 7 History syllabus is structured in a way which will help students with in-depth knowledge about the rise of religion, learn about the ‘welfare of mankind’ as the basis of religion and how the incidents and occurrences in the past have shaped the present and the rich heritage of India. Thus, this will be an interesting subject to learn about the history of India and its rich history.

The syllabus consists of six themes on The Medieval World. These are (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.

Theme 1: Mediaeval Europe - Rise and Spread of Christianity

Medieval Europe - Rise and Spread of Christianity mainly focuses on providing the students with information about the transition of Europe from the Ancient Roman Empire to the Medieval Byzantium Empire. This unit will give an in-depth knowledge about the rise of religion.

Below are some of the main topics discussed in this unit.

• Meaning of the term ‘Mediaeval’, tracing the beginning of the Mediaeval period in the world and India based on evidence

• Socio-political circumstances

• Birth of Christianity  

• Roman conquest of Palestine

• Main teachings of Jesus

• Role of Emperor Constantine in spreading Christianity

• The emergence of Constantinople as a new Christian Capital

Mediaeval Europe

• The Decline of the Ancient Roman Empire

• Barbarian Invasions by Goths, Vandals, and Franks; its impact on Europe

• Byzantium: Birth of a new empire

• The Emergence of Turks and Crusades

• Monasteries and their impact

Theme 2: Rise and Spread of Islam

The Rise and Spread of Islam account for the emergence of a new faith that spread across many continents and affected many places’ politics, life, and culture.

Below are some of the main topics discussed in this unit.

• Pre-Islamic times - conditions in Saudi Arabia

• Birth of Prophet Mohammad

• Early life teachings 

• 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 Delhi Sultanate deals with the Sultanate period in Delhi. It discusses about the rule of the Sultanate period in Delhi, their capital, administration, achievements, and socio-cultural development and how Delhi emerged as a seat of power and will help the students understand how the past has shaped the present.

Below are some of the main topics discussed in this unit.

• The Turkish Invasions

• The rule of the five dynasties of the 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, socio-cultural development during this period

Theme 4: The Vijayanagar and Bahamani Kingdoms

‘The Vijayanagar and Bahamani Kingdoms’ discusses about the two kingdoms that existed in South India. The decline of the Tughlaq Empire paved the way for the rise of these kingdoms. It also explains about the development of art and architecture of the Vijayanagar and the Bahamani Kingdoms.

Below are some of the main topics discussed in this unit.

• Disintegration of Tughlaq empire - causes

• Rise of the Vijayanagar and the Bahamani Kingdoms

• Case study of Krishandeva Raya

• Mahamud Gawan - the founder of the Bahamani Kingdom

• Achievements, Administration, Art, and Architecture - special mention of Hampi and Gol Gumbaz

Theme 5: The Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire encompasses topics that will enable the students to understand how the Mughal Empire emerged and why it became the essential Empire of the Later Period of the Mediaeval Period. It also discusses Mughal Art and Architecture.

Below are some of the main topics discussed in this unit.

• An overview of the Mughal Empire

• The first battle of Panipat and the establishment of the 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 Decca policy 

• The Decline of the Mughal Empire

Theme 6: Making of Composite Culture

‘Making of Composite Culture’ discusses about the legacy of the Bhakti and Sufi movements that have evolved in India since the 18th century. The period after the thirteenth century saw a wave of the Bhakti movement when Brahmanical Hinduism, Sufism, Islam, and other different strands of Bhakti influenced each other.

Below are some of the main topics discussed in this unit.

• 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