Author: Irfan Habib
Publisher: Tulika
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 76
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8185229449
Description
In this prehistory, now also available in paperback edition, Irfan Habib describes the earliest ages of human life in India long before the existence of written record.
It is part of a larger project, a people's History of India, but is also intended to stand alone as an independent monograph. In this monograph, as well as others in the series which will be published successively, the style is sought to be kept simple without making it 'popular', rhetorical or inexact. Use of technical terms is kept to minimum, and an effort is made to prove a workable explanation of each term at first use. So too, abbreviations are avoided it these would mean nothing to the lay reader.
The monograph is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 treats in brief the geological formation of India, and changes in its climate and natural environment in so far as these relate to an understanding of our prehistory and history. Chapter 2 provides the story of man, first in the global context, and then within India. Chapter 3 describes the coming of agriculture and the beginning of exploitative relationships.
Technical or controversial matters that need special attention are dealt with in notes appended to each chapter. There are bibliographical notes, where the more important books and articles covering the subject of the chapter are listed with brief comments. There are also tables, maps and figures, which are useful aids in understanding the subject as well as interesting in themselves.
Contents
Preface
CHAPTER 1
THE FORMATION OF INDIA'S PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
The Geological Formation of India
Physical India since the Coming of Man
Climate
Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
Note 1.1 : Geological Ages
Note 1.2 : Bibliographical Note
CHAPTER 2
OUR EARLY ANCESTORS
The Evolution of the Human Species
Early Man in India
The Anatomically Modern Man
The Modern Human in India
Mesolithic Cultures
Note 2.1 : Dating Methods for Prehistory
Note 2.2 : Bibliographical Note
CHAPTER 3
THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION : THE COMING OF AGRICULTURE AND DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS
Meaning of 'The Neolithic Revolution'
The First Agricultural Communities of the Western Borderland, c. 7000-4000 BC
Towards the Bronze Age in the Indus Basin, c. 4000-3200 BC
Rice Cultivation and Neolithic Cultures of Central and Eastern India, after 3000 BC
The Northern and Early Southern Neolithic Cultures, after c.3000 BC
Note 3.1 : The 'Lost River' of the Desert
Note 3.2 : Bibliographical Note
Index