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Top Medieval History Books For UPSC Exam 2025
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Medieval History Books for UPSC are quite vital to study as the History portion is a part of both the Prelims and Mains stages in the UPSC exam. As the History in UPSC Civil Services exam already entails other portions like Ancient History, Modern Indian History and World History, candidates can get confused about where to start from. Thus, we have specifically come up with this list of Best Medieval History Books for UPSC preparation.
- First and foremost, the UPSC Medieval History portion is present in General Studies paper-1 of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus.
- In that paper, candidates will need to answer questions related to Early Medieval India, 750 A.D to 1200 A.D religious movements and culture, early 13th to 16th centuries dynasties like Delhi Sultanate, Khiljis & Tughlaqs, Spiritual & Monotheistic movements like Sikhism, Bhakti movement, and the start of Mughals to Marathas, etc.
- After choosing the best book for Medieval History for UPSC, you will also be able to easily attempt specific questions asked in UPSC Mains GS Paper-I.
- Around 5-6 questions are generally asked from Medieval History in UPSC Prelims and Mains papers.
- While preparing for this specific UPSC History portion, try to make handwritten notes on dates, events, and contexts of dynasties and movements as objective-type questions will be asked in Prelims.
Meanwhile, you can also check out our History Optional Coaching offerings by clicking on the attached link.
| Check Out Other History Books With The Below Links | ||
| World History Books | Ancient History Books | Bipan Chandra History Books |
Top 25 UPSC CSE 2024 Prelims Official PYQs with in-depth Solutions
Medieval History Books for UPSC
How can you rightly choose the best book for Medieval History for the UPSC exam? Before you choose the ideal Medieval History UPSC book, it’s imperative to know the UPSC History Syllabus. For all candidates, this portion is present in Prelims and Mains GS Paper-I first-hand. Then, if you are opting for UPSC History optional subject, you will have to deal with Medieval History UPSC questions in Paper-I mostly. While preparing for the exam, first understand the scope of the syllabus and then choose the appropriate Medieval History Book for UPSC from the list below.
List of Best Medieval History Books for UPSC
Medieval History is a very underrated and neglected History portion of the UPSC Syllabus. Candidates generally focus more on the Ancient, Modern, and World History portion due to their consistent weightage in both Prelims and Mains. However, UPSC is known for its changing exam pattern which makes the Medieval History portion important too. Thus, we have come up with this expert list to help you choose the best Medieval History book for UPSC Prelims and Mains below.
| Medieval History Booklist For UPSC | ||
| Book Name | Author/Publication | Book Highlights |
| History Of Medieval India (New Edition) | Satish Chandra | This book highlights every Medieval Indian history themes and events with old NCERT content with questions directly asked in previous UPSC Prelims papers. |
| Medieval India: From Sultanate to the Mughals (1526-1748) | Satish Chandra | This book traces the rise of the Slave dynasty to rise in power and fall of Mughal Dynasty till 1761 with questions on socio-political context of Indian medieval dynasties. |
| Ancient and Medieval India For UPSC and State Civil Services Examination | Poonam Dalal Dahiya | This book combines storytelling of early Ancient to Late Medieval history themes with historical analysis of each event, religious movements, and empires. |
| The Illustrated History of South India | KA Nilakanta Sastri | This classic edition primarily resources events from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar with an interdisciplinary approach to Medieval Indian history. |
| The Mughal Empire | John F. Richards | This text traces the medieval history of Mughal Dynasty from its foundation in 1526 to its end in 1720 with highlights on territorial expansion, land revenue, coinage and military organization, and changing relationship between the emperors and Islam |
| History Optional 2025 – Ancient & Medieval India – Previous Years’ UPSC Solved Papers (1979 – 2022) | Rashid Yasin | It covers chapter-wise exercises and previous solved question papers of the last 30+ years for revision of both Ancient and Medieval History questions asked in UPSC IAS exam. |
Recommended Medieval History Books For UPSC by Toppers
We have already covered the standard list to help you choose the best book for Medieval History for UPSC exam preparation above. However, aspirants might have already studied those books or want to try other UPSC Books for advanced preparation. Thus, we have additionally prepared a toppers’ recommended list of materials to help you choose the ideal Medieval History book for UPSC. This list also emphasizes NCERT Medieval History books for concise study.
| Book Name | Author/Publication | Book Highlights |
| Medieval India 1 – Essays in the History of India 1200-1750 | Irfan Habib | This book contains a volume of papers which cover aspects like political, social, economic and cultural history from 1200 to 1750 AD with focus on civil engineering, ruling-class and religion |
| Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India Vol 3 | J.L Mehta | This book traces the social, cultural, and religious aspects of Medieval History with focus on socio-religious movements and Sikhism. |
| Medieval India Old NCERT History Text Book | Satish Chandra | It is a concise and detailed version of Medieval India book by Satish Chandra with important maps on dynasties and empires as well as chapter-wise questions. |
| The Maratha Century | Uday S. Kulkarni | This text takes on the stirring saga of Marathas from their early quest for Swarajya in 1646 to fall in the early 19th century. |
| Indian Art and Culture | Nitin Singhania | It has a wide range of Indian art, paintings, music and architecture, supported with pictures, diagrams and chapter-wise questions on Medieval culture. |
| Themes in Indian History- II – class XII textbook | NCERT | This book covers chapter-wise themes and highlights of Ancient to Medieval History of India topics like Bhakti-Sufi traditions, Vijayanagar, peasants & state-agrarian society, etc. |
Check UPSC Mains Strategy by toppers to prepare History portion efficiently and fetch high marks.
Important Medieval History Topics for UPSC
Before choosing the best Medieval History book for UPSC IAS exam, it’s essential to know the specific syllabus in Prelims and Mains. These Medieval History Notes for UPSC are prepared by our expert faculty to bring out the best preparation in you. Now let’s go through the important Medieval History UPSC topics from where questions are asked in the General Studies papers of the Civil Services exam.
Get UPSC Exam Analysis by experts to know the weightage of the Ancient and Medieval History syllabus in exam stages.
We hope that this article could detail you on the best and top-suggested Medieval History books for UPSC IAS preparation. For more such informative study materials and IAS preparation resources, download the Testbook App for free now. Start your exam preparation by joining our UPSC Online Coaching program and get live classes, mock tests, PYPs and much more!
Medieval History Books for UPSC FAQs
What should I read in medieval history for UPSC?
Some of the important UPSC Medieval History topics are as follows - Early Medieval Period in India (Art & Culture, Heritage, Political invasions), Vijaynagar Empire, North & South Indian Kingdoms, Bhakti & Sufi Movements, Slave rulers of Delhi Sultanate , Reign and Fall of Mughal Dynasty to Maratha Rule, Arab & Turkish Invasions in India, etc.
What are some of the best Medieval History books for UPSC with previous solved questions and answers?
You can refer to Rashid Yasin’s Ancient & Medieval India - Previous Years' UPSC Solved Papers (1979 - 2022) for solving year-wise question papers with answers.
Is Medieval History asked in UPSC Mains exam?
Yes, candidates will be asked about the Medieval History portion in UPSC General Studies Paper-I of Mains exam along with Ancient and World History.
Which NCERT is best for UPSC Medieval History preparation?
Satish Chandra’s Old NCERT textbook on Medieval India is the best NCERT book for studying this portion in UPSC Prelims & Mains.
Where should I start in Medieval History for UPSC preparation?
After going through the UPSC Medieval History syllabus and notes, first begin with easier topics of Early Medieval India kingdom and dynasties, then move onto early religious movements, and you can end with 17th to 19th century ruling dynasties of Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Marathas and then Arab and Turkish political invasions in India.
Which is the best Medieval History book for UPSC?
We have covered an exhaustive list of best Medieval History UPSC books in this article. However, as per experts and toppers, Satish Chandra’s History of Medieval India is considered to be the best and most read Medieval history book for UPSC Prelims and Mains.
Which Medieval History books are recommended by toppers for UPSC preparation?
Some of the most topper-recommended Medieval History books for UPSC exam are listed below - History Of Medieval India by Satish Chandra, Medieval India 1 by Irfan Habib, NCERT Class-XII Themes in Indian History- II, The Illustrated History of South India by Nilakanta Sastri, Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania, The Mughal Empire by John F. Richards