Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India

Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India

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Author: Ram Sharan Sharma
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 462
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8120808983

Description

A most original and meticulous piece of research, on the political theories of ancient Indians and some of the main political institutions.

This work discusses different views on the origin and the nature of the state in ancient India. It also deals with stages and processes of state formation and examines the relevance of caste and kin-based collectivities to the construction of polity. The Vedic assemblies are studied in some detail, and developments in political organizations are presented in relation to their changing social and economic background. The book also shows how religion and rituals were brought in the service of the ruling class.

EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS:

Competently surveys many interesting aspects of the political thought and practice of ancient India on fresh and sometimes strikingly original lines. The author has a thorough grasp of the relevant sources and uses them with telling effect. - K A Nilakanta Sastri in Journal of Indian History

This work is well researched and documented and is especially useful in terms of the historical development of ancient Indian politics. Dr. Sharma's book has a better balance between theory and practice than most books on the subject. There can be no question, however, that this is one of the major publications in the field which no serious student of ancient Indian politics can ignore. - J W Spellman, University of Windsor

The revised edition is clear in exposition, up-to-date in method, and displays remarkable power in handling masses of material. It is by far the best summary of the present state of our knowledge of ancient Indian thought and institutions which is now available. This is a first rate book, which is as interesting as it is scholarly. - Times Literary Supplement

Contents

Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Abbreviations
Roman equivalents of Nagari letters
Introduction

CHAPTER I
Historiography of Ancient Indian Polity up to 1930

CHAPTER II
Sources and Method

CHAPTER III
The Saptanga Theory of the State

CHAPTER IV
Theories of Property

CHAPTER V
The Contract Theory of the Origin of the State : An Historical Survey

CHAPTER VI
Theory of "Oriental Despotism" : A Socio-Economic Critique

CHAPTER VII
Vidatha : The Earliest Folk-Assembly of the Indo-Aryans

CHAPTER VIII
Sabha and Samiti

CHAPTER IX
The Vedic Gana and the Origin of the Post-Vedic Republics

CHAPTER X
The Early parisad

CHAPTER XI
Ratnahavimsi Ceremony

CHAPTER XII
Tribal and Primitive Aspects of the Later Vedic Polity

CHAPTER XIII
Kin-conflicts and Rise of Hierarchy in Later Vedic Times

CHAPTER XIV
From Gopati to Bhupati : Changing Position of the King

CHAPTER XV
Taxation and State Formation in Northern India in Pre-Maurya Times

CHAPTER XVI
Varna in Relation to Law and Politics (C.B.C. 600-A.D.500)

CHAPTER XVII
Religion and Politics in the Arthasastra of Kautilya

CHAPTER XVIII
The Satavahana Polity

CHAPTER XIX
The Kusana Polity

CHAPTER XX
Kusana Elements in the Gupta Polity

CHAPTER XXI
The Gupta Polity

CHAPTER XXII
Stages in Ancient Indian Polity : Vedic and Post-Vedic

CHAPTER XXIII
Stages in Ancient Indian Polity : Maurya and Later

CHAPTER XXIV
Recapitulation