The Dancing Girl: A History of Early India

Front Cover
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011 - History - 313 pages

This book provides valuable insight on the history of India from ancient times to 1600 CE for Indians and non-Indians, and for the Indian Diaspora, which is estimated to be over 25 million, spreading across no less than 110 countries.  


The chapters cover many important aspects of history, from the ancient urban culture of the Indus Valley Civilization; Vedic Age's lasting legacy, Hinduism associated with the two great epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata; and the founding of Buddhism and Jainism; to the Muslim conquests and the resultant Indo-Islamic and Mughal heritage.
Indian influence travelled beyond its shores to Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Japan. The Angkor Wat, Borobudur and Prambanan temples reflect the cultural impact of the early Indian Diaspora. The famous Chinese monk Xuanzang who journeyed to Nalanda to study at that great University wrote extensively about India.  


This book will kindle interest in research on tracing the origins of the Indian Diaspora and the ancient ties that linked India to the rest of the world.

 

Contents

17 The Shadow of Allah
18 Thousand Dinar Kafur
19 Delhi Woes
20 The Bulwark
21 For Christians and Spices
22 Matchlocks and Cannons
23 The Afghan
24 The Last Maharajah of Delhi

5 The Science of Government
6 Remorse at Kalinga
7 Martyrdom at Mylapore
8 Valley of Blood
9 The Nine Gems
10 The Giver of Knowledge
11 Arab Storm
12 The Reformation
13 The Gates of Somnath
14 Beacon of Civilization
15 Sovereign Lord
16 A Slaves Slave
25 The Death of a City
26 The Divine Religion
27 The Book
28 The Light of the World
29 Splendour Amidst Misery
30 The Seizer of the Universe
Select Bibliography
Photo Credits
Index
About the Author
Copyright

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About the author (2011)

Balaji Sadasivan, the late Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

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