Early India: A Concise History

The book presents a lucid survey of major developments in the ancient and early medieval periods of Indain history. It discusses issues like the antiquity and authorship of the Harappan civilization, the original home of the Aryans and the salient features of their life, the emergence of caste system and the process of state formation culminating in the establishment of the maurya empire. Challenging the stereotype of an `unchanging` India and the myth of the `golden age`, the book not only underlines the changes in its cocial structure over centuries but also devotes much space to India`s contact with the outside world leading to the enrichment of its culture. Moreover, it pays adequate attention to the transformation of India from pre-feudal to feudal society and to the discussion of the contours of feudal culture.