A History of India Volume 1

by Thapar, Romila

• ISBN13: 9780140138351
• ISBN10: 0140138358
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1990-09-01
• Publisher: Penguin Books

Summary

A full account of Indian history from the establishment of Aryan culture to the coming of the Mughals in 1526 A.D.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	11	(2)
Preface	13	(2)
The Antecedents	15	(13)
The discovery of India -- Changing approaches to Indian history -- The archaeological background
The Impact of Aryan Culture	28	(22)
Sources of evidence -- The political organization of the Aryan tribes -- Caste and other social institutions -- Vedic religion
Republics and Kingdoms c. 600-321 B.C.	50	(20)
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
The Emergence of Empire 321-185 B.C.	70	(22)
The Mauryan kings -- Mauryan contacts with neighbouring states -- Society and economic activity -- Mauryan administration -- Ashoka and his policy of Dhamma -- The decline of the Mauryan empire
The Disintegration of Empire c. 200 B.C.--A.D. 300	92	(17)
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
The Rise of the Mercantile Community c. 200 B.C.--A.D. 300	109	(27)
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 Buddism -- Developments in Hinduism -- The coming of Christianity
The Evolution of the `Classical' Pattern c. A.D. 300--700	136	(31)
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
Conflict in the Southern Kingdoms c. A.D. 500--900	167	(27)
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
The South in the Ascendant c. A.D. 900--1300	194	(27)
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
The Beginnings of Regional States in Northern India c. A.D. 700--1200	221	(20)
Political struggle between the Rashtrakutas, Pratihars, 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
Feudalism in the Regional States c. A.D. 800--1200	241	(25)
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
The Re-alignment of Regional Kingdoms c. A.D. 1200--1526	266	(23)
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
Assimilation on Trial c. A.D. 1200--1526	289	(32)
Trends in the 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 languages and literatures -- Miniature painting -- Islamic architecture
The South Conforms c. A.D. 1300--1526	321	(16)
The rise of the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms in the Deccan -- Changes in the socio-economic background -- Trade -- Religion
Chronological Table	337	(4)
Glossary	341	(8)
References to Quotations	349	(4)
General Bibliography	353	(1)
Bibliographical Note on Sources	354	(17)
Index	371