A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century

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Pearson Education India, 2008 - History - 677 pages
A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India is the most comprehensive textbook yet for undergraduate and postgraduate students. It introduces students to original sources such as ancient texts, artefacts, inscriptions and coins, illustrating how historians construct history on their basis. Its clear and balanced explanation of concepts and historical debates enables students to independently evaluate evidence, arguments and theories. This remarkable textbook allows the reader to visualize and understand the rich and varied remains of India s ancient past, transforming the process of discovering that past into an exciting experience.
 

Contents

Ideas of the Early Indian Past
2
Understanding Literary and Archaeological Sources
12
HunterGatherers of the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Ages
58
The Transition to Food Production Neolithic NeolithicChalcolithic and Chalcolithic Villages c 70002000 BCE
94
The Harappan Civilization c 26001900 BCE
132
Cultural Transitions Images from Texts and Archaeology c 2000600 BCE
182
Cities Kings and Renunciants North India c 600300 BCE
256
Power and Piety The Maurya Empire c 324187 BCE
320
Aesthetics and Empire c 300600 CE
472
Emerging Regional Configurations c 6001200 CE
546
A Note on Diacritics
644
Glossary
645
Further Readings
650
References
656
Index
667
Credits
676

Interaction and Innovation c 200 BCE300 CE
368

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