INDIA: THE ANCIENT PAST (A HISTORY OF THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT FROM C. 7000 BC TO AD 1200) (pb)2007

INDIA: THE ANCIENT PAST (A HISTORY OF THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT FROM C. 7000 BC TO AD 1200) (pb)2007 Author: AVARI ISBN: 0415356164 Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY (INDIA) Category: GENERAL INTEREST  >-- HISTORY  >-- HISTORY If you think any change in category please advise us Language: ENGLISH Pages: 284  price 20 $

ABOUT THE TITLE

This carefully crafted study presents the fascinating story of the development and establishment of India s culture and civilization from early pre-history through to the early second millennium. Encompassing topics such as Harappan Civilization the rise of Hindu culture the influx of Islam in the 8th and the 11th/12th centuries and key empires states and dynasties India: The Ancient Past engages with methodological and controversial issues. The features of this illustrated guide include: a range of new maps illustrating different temporal and geographical regions selected source extracts at the end of each chapter for review and reflection questions for discussion. This comprehensive coverage of the political spiritual cultural and geographical history of India presents a book that will be an enriching read for students of this period and a rewarding addition to the bookshelves of anyone with an interest in this captivating period of history. AUTHOR: Burjor Avari

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List Of Extracts List Of Illustrations Preface Four Major Eras Of Ancient Indian History: A Summary Of Key Themes INTRODUCTION Three Terms In Context: 'India', 'Ancient', 'Hindu' Why Study Ancient India? Time, Space And People Primary Sources And The Historians FROM AFRICA TO MEHRGARH: THE EARLY PRE-HISTORY OF INDIA Earliest Phases Of Human Settlement And Activity The Neolithic Revolution And The Rise Of Agriculture The Early Harappa Phase: Proto-Urban Settlements Of The Late Neolithic Period THE HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION Phases Of Progress In Harappan Archaeology Understanding The Mature Harappa Phase The Eclipse Of The Harappan Civilization THE INDO-ARYANS IN THE VEDIC AGE The Aryan Background The Aryan Expansion The Vedic World FORMATIVE CENTURIES OF THE PRE-MAURYAN ERA Politics And The Geography Of Power Two Foreign Intrusions Second Urbanisation And The Rise Of Heterodoxy Varieties Of Literature THE PARADOX OF MAURYAN IMPERIALISM Advising And Observing At The Court Of Chandragupta Maurya The Dhamma Of Ashoka The Mauryan World DIFFUSION AND DYNAMISM AFTER THE MAURYAS New Dynasties And New Centres Of Power The International Trade Of India New Trends In Indian Religions Secular Literature, Sciences And The Arts STABILITY AND CHANGE UNDER THE IMPERIAL GUPTAS The Empire And The Emperors Gupta Society: A World In Transition The 'Flowering' Of The Gupta Classical Culture THE POST-GUPTA ERA AND THE RISE OF THE SOUTH North India Fractured Chalukyas And Pallavas: Deccan And The Deep South Political And Economic Perspectives Cross-Currents Of Culture REGIONALISM AND FEUDALISM: RAJPUT, PALA AND RASHTRAKUTA KINGDOMS Three Regional Kingdoms Political Economy In The Feudal Era Cultural Highlights Of The Age CHOLA DOMINATION IN THE SOUTH AND TURCO-AFHAN PLUNDER IN THE NORTH State And Society Under The Cholas Turco-Afghan Incursions Into North India Fortunes Of Three Indic Religions Literature And Great Temples Afterword: India Post-AD1200 A Glossary Of Indic Terms A Glossary Of Select Ancient Indic Place-Names Classification Of Ancient Indian Texts By Subjects Bibliography Index