Ancient India

Ancient Indian history has always been mystical; more so a virtual utopia for historians and researchers. This scholarly text narrates the ancient Indian history from the genesis of civilisations to the early middle ages. It examines the sources, chronology of civilisations and authoritatively details the facts, feats, triumphs and religious crusades of the period. It unveils the rich cultural, religious and social diversity that is uniquely and peculiarly Indian. The book is of immense use to students and scholars of history and for candidates preparing for civil services examinations.

• Introduction

• Sources

• The Pre-Historic People

• Pre-Historic Races and Cultures in India

• The Harappa Culture (The Indus Civilization)

• The Aryans

• The Vedic Literature

• Rigvedic India

• Later Vedic Civilization

• Age of the Sutras

• Epic Age

• The Age of Dharma Sastras

• The Caste System

• Jainism

• Buddhism

• Ancient Indian Polity

• Condition of Northern India (From 6th to 4th Century B.C.)

• The Rise of Magadha

• India and Persia

• Alexander's Invasion of India

• Chandragupta and Bindusara

• Asoka (273 B.C.-236 B.C.)

• The Mauryan Administration

• Culture and Civilisation During the Mauryan Age

• The Sungas and Kanvas

• Social, Religious, Economic and Cultural Conditions in Post-Mauryan Times (187 B.C. - 320 A.D.)

• The Satavahanas or Andhras

• The Bactrian Greeks in India

• The Sakas and the Pahlavas

• Rise and fall of the Kushana Empire

• India and the Western World

• The Nagas

• The Gupta Empire

• India during the Gupta Age

• Ajanta, Ellora, Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda

• The Vakatakas

• The Maitrakas and the Maukharis

• Harsha-vardhana and his Times

• Northern India after Harsha

• Social and Cultural Conditions of Northern India (650-1000 A.D.)

• The Rashtrakutas

• The Chalukyas

• The Pallavas

• The Cholas

• The Tripartite Struggle for Supremacy

• The Pandyas

• Greater India

• Buddhist Art

• The Sangam Age

• Contribution of South India to Indian Culture

• Republics in Ancient India