Author: Romila Thapar
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2000
Language: English
Pages: 380
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0140138358
Description
Here is renowned historian Romila Thapar's vivid and detailed account of the culture of the Indo-Aryans. Interestingly woven within the chronological fabric spanning from 1000 B.C to the advent of the Mughals in 1526, Thapar has dexterously blended India's social and economic structure with the political and dynastic events during the era. The book gives a picturesque description of the varied manifestations of the Indian culture as evident in art, religion and literature.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Preface
CHAPTER 1
THE ANTECEDENTS
The discovery of India
Changing approaches to Indian history
The archaeological background
CHAPTER 2
THE IMPACT OF ARYAN CULTURE
Sources of evidence
The political organization of Aryan tribes
Caste and other social institutions
Vedic religion
CHAPTER 3
REPUBLICS AND KINGDOMS C. 600-321 B.C.
Evolving political patterns
The rise of the kingdom of Magadha
The rule of the Nandas
North-western India and contacts with Persia
The growth of towns
The rise of heterodox sects
Jainism and Buddhism
CHAPTER 4
THE EMERGENCE OF EMPIRE 321 - 185 B.C.
The Maryann kings
Mauryan contacts with neighboring states
Society and economic activity
Mauryan administration
Ashoka and his policy of Dhamma
The decline of the Mauryan empire
CHAPTER 5
THE DISINTEGRATION OF EMPIRE C. 200 B.C.-A.D. 300
The Political fragmentation of the sub-continent: The Shunga dynasty, King Kharavela of Kalinga, The Indo-Greek kings, The Shakas, The Kushanas, The Satavahana dynasty, South Indian kingdoms
Trade routes and communications
CHAPTER 6
THE RISE OF THE MERCANTILE COMMUNITY
C. 200 B.C. - A.D. 300
Guilds -Roman trade with South India
Interaction of Indian and Hellenic ideas in northern India
India's contacts with China and South-east Asia
Changes in Society
Education and Literature
Buddhist art and architecture
Mahayana Buddhism
Developments in Hinduism
The coming of Christianity
CHAPTER 7
THE EVOLUTION OF THE 'CLASSICAL' PATTERN
C. A.D. 300-700
The rule of the Guptas
Hun invasions
Some post-Gupta dynasties
The reign of Harsha
Changing agrarian relations
Trade The Pattern of living
Education and learning
Hindu art and architecture
Development in Buddhism
Changes in Hinduism
Philosophical schools
Indian contacts with China and south-east Asia
CHAPTER 8
CONFLICT IN THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM C.A. 500-900
The Chalukya, Pallava and Pandya conflicts
Political organization and administration
The agrarian system
The status of the brahman
The philosophy of Shankara
The growth of Tamil literature
The Tamil devotional cult
Mural painting in the Deccan
Temple architecture
CHAPTER 9
THE SOUTH IN THE ASCENDANT C. A.D. 900-1300
The rise of the Cholas
Chola administration
The village in the Chola economy
Trade
The role of the temple in Chola society
The development of the languages of the peninsula
Popular cults and sects
The philosophy of Ramanuja and Madhva
Architecture and sculpture
CHAPTER 10
THE BEGINNINGS OF REGIONAL STATES IN NORTHERN INDIA C. A.D. 700-1200
Political struggle between the Rashtrakutas
Pratiharas and Palas
The arrival of the Arabs in Sind
Rise of new kingdoms
Growth of Rajput power
Campaigns of Mahmud of Ghazni
The Afghan army
Muhammad Ghuri
CHAPTER 11
FEUDALISM IN THE REGIONAL STATES C.A.D. 800-1200
Beginnings of regional loyalty
Emerging pattern of agrarian relations
Social structure
Literature in Sanskrit and in the newly developing languages
Temples and sculpture
Changes in Hinduism, the devotional cult, and the Tantric sects
Decline of Buddhism
The arrival of the Sufis
CHAPTER 12
THE RE-ALIGNMENT OF REGIONAL KINGDOM C.A.D. 1200-1526
Source material on the Delhi Sultanate
The Slave dynasty and the Khalji dynasty
Political organization
The Tughluq dynasty
Relations between the rulers and the ruled
The Sayyid and Lodi dynasties
The kingdoms of Gujarat, Mewar, Marwar, and Bengal
CHAPTER 13
ASSIMILATION OF TRIAL C.A.D. 1200-1526
Trends in then impact of Islam on India
Balance of power between king and theologian
Administrative structure of the Sultanate
The economy
The social framework
Religious expression as seen in the Bhakti movement and the Sufis
New language and literature
Miniature painting
Islamic architecture
CHAPTER 14
THE SOUTH CONFORMS C.A.D. 1300-1526
The rise of the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms in the Deccan
Changes in the Socio
Economy background
Trade
Religon
Chronological Table
Glossary
References to Quotations
General Bibliography
Bibliographical Note on Sources
Index