Social and Cultural History of the Punjab

Social and Cultural History of the Punjab

Product ID: 14313

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Author: J S Grewal
Publisher: Manohar
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 185
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8173045658

Description

The Punjab of this book is a metaphor for the geographical region surrounded by the Himalayas, the Great Indian desert, the Aravali hills and the river Jamuna. During a period of about 4000 years up to A D 1000, the cultural boundaries of this region did not coincide with its geographical boundaries and there were sub-regional differences as well. There was a great deal of interaction with the outside world and between sub-regions. The socio-cultural dynamics of the region are well reflected in the different periods of its history.

Seen from the regional angle, the Harappan civilization and reveals sub-regional diversities and continuation in a rural setting. The Rigvedic culture appears to be a regional rather than an ethnic articulation. The formation of states within the region and its incorporation in empires set the stage for trade and urbanization, and for new socio-cultural formations. For the first time the great importance of Buddhism in the region gets underscored. Gradually, however, it was replaced by Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism.

Changes in religious history are related to the changing contexts of polity and economy in their bearing on the social order, languages, literature and the arts. This book should be of equal interest to the student, the professional historian and the general reader.

Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

RISE AND DECLINE OF CIVILIZATION
Food Gathering and Hunting
Rise of Agricultural Communities
Rise of the Harappan Civilization
Political Economy and Socio-Religious Life
Decline and Diffusion

THE RIGVEDIC CULTURE
The Into-Aryans
The People in the Rigveda
Religious Ideas and Practices
Economic and Social Life
Polity

STATE FORMATION AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION (C1000 BC-200 BC)
Polity and Administration
Trade and Urbanization
The social Order
Religious Ideas and Practices
Languages, Literature and Arts

SOCIO-CULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION (C 200 BC-AD 400)
Political Developments
Trade, Urbanization and Urban //life
Buddhism, Shaivism and Vaishnavism
Languages and Literature
The Social Order

THE PROLIFERATION OF STATES, AGRARIAN EXPANSION AND SOCIO-CULTURAL CHANGE (C A D 400-1000)
Political Developments
Politico-economic Structure
Literature and Languages
Architecture and Sculpture
The Social Order
Buddhism and its Decline
Ascendancy of Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktaism

Bibliography

Index