Rethinking India’s Past

Covering a long time span–from the Vedic period to twelfth century AD– this book provides an incisive account of ancient social formations. It explores key aspects of early Indian history:

political ideas and institutions

economic patterns and developments

social structure and practices

themes like oriental despotism, position of the sudras, transition from ancient to medieval, feudalism, urban decay, and sati

Integrating a rich array of historical and archaeological sources as well as anthropological and ethnographic material, this book is essential reading for students and teachers of ancient Indian history.