History of India - Part I

This book is primarily designed to meet the demands of the students of Law and to provide them with an appropriate historical background, political, socio-economic, law and legal institutions, judicial organisation for the study of Hindu and Muslim Law in a better or truer perspective.

The major topics discussed are history and its territory, polity, state & government, social organisation, status & position of women, economic structure, legal system and administration of justice in ancient India, medieval India and Indian society and law and legal institutions & judicial organisations.

A useful book for the students of law. The lucid treatment of the subject will create interest for the students. The book contains a subject index and chapter-wise bibliography for ready reference.

Reviews

The book under review is seen to be specially prepared for the first year students of the LL.B. Degree (Five year course). It is a project of the National Law School of India University in assocation with Bar Council of India Trust to meet the requirements of students for whom `History of India' is a prescribed subject for study. The students of law should be equipped with the awareness that present is the result of the past and the future has to be shaped based on the present. It could be seen that books on history follow the traditional method of presentation and cannot meet the needs of students of of law. In the book under review the author has adopted a particular method of treatment of the subject to meet the needs of law students.

On the whole the book is useful to students of law. The way of treatment of the subject in a lucid form should create interest for the student. The price fixed for the book is moderate. The book contains a subject index and chapterwise bibliography for ready reference.

PREFACE
INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I: HISTORY AND ITS TERRITORY
The Subject-matter of History
The Knowability of the Past
History and Antiquarianism
History as a Living Subject
Purpose of History
History and its Neighbours
History and Geography
History and Politics
History and Economics
History and Sociology
Other Disciplines
History and Law
Survey of Indian Historiography
Ancient Period
Forms of Historical Tradition
Medieval Period
Modern Period
Recent Trends

CHAPTER II: POLITY IN ANCIENT INDIA
State Formation in Ancient India
Early Experiments
The Tribal Polity in the Rig Veda
Tribal Assemblies
Vidatha
Sabha
Samiti
Later Vedic Development
Kingship
The Royal Function
Councillors and Officials
Oligarchies and Republics

CHAPTER III: STATE AND GOVERNMENT IN ANCIENT INDIA-A SURVEY
The Mauryan Polity
Polity in the post-Maurya period
The Satavahana Polity
The Kushana Polity
The Gupta Polity
Structure of Polity between 700-1200 A.D.
Quasi-Feudalism and Feudalism
Feudalism
Local Administration
Working of the Mahasabha

CHAPTER IV: SOCIAL ORGANISATION IN ANCIENT INDIA
The Varna System
Gotra and Pravara
Varna and Jati
The Untouchables (Panchamas)
The Family
The Asramas (the four stages of Life)
The System of Slavery

CHAPTER V: STATUS AND POSITION OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT INDIA
The Status of Women
Education
Marriage
Forms of marriage
Age of Marriage
Right of Property
Divorce
Prostitution
Widows

CHAPTER VI: ECONOMIC STRUCTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA
Pastoralism
Peasant Phase
The Village
Agriculture and Stockbreeding
Origin and Types of Property
Urban Centres
Guilds
Trade and Finance
Maritime Trade

CHAPTER VII: LEGAL SYSTEM IN ANCIENT INDIA
Legal Literature
Role of the Smritikaras
Manu
Brihaspati
Yajnavalkya
Narada
Katyayana
The Sources of Law
The Concept of Dharma
Law-making and Law-interpreting Process
Law and Custom
Human Law and Divine Law

CHAPTER VIII: ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN ANCIENT INDIA
Judicial Institutions
Types of Courts
Courts of the Guilds
Role of the Village Panchayats
Initiation of the Procedures
The Trial
Witnesses
Pleaders
Secret Agents
Concluding stage of the Judicial Procedure
Punishments
The Role of the Judges

CHAPTER IX: MEDIEVAL INDIA
The Rule of the Turko-Afghans and Mughals
The Government Set-up
Muslim Political Ideas
Administrative Apparatus
The Law of Succession
The Administrative Officers
Administrative Divisions
Reforms of Ala-ud-din Khilji
Market Regulations
Reforms of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
Departmental Administration under the Mughals
Administrative Divisions
The Mansabdari System
Akbar's Revenue Reforms

CHAPTER X: MEDIEVAL INDIAN SOCIETY
Social Transformation
The Bhakti Movement
Social Reforms of Akbar
Status and Position of Women
Hindu
Muslim

CHAPTER XI: LAW AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS AND JUDICIAL ORGANISATIONS
Sources and Character of Muslim Law
Muslim Law and Non-Muslims
Changes under Akbar
Criminal Law and Punishment
Salient Features of Islamic Criminal Law
Judicial Organisation
The Royal Court
The Chief Quazi
Secular Courts
Panchayats
Defects in the Judicial Administration
Punishments
Investigation Process

APPENDIX
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SUBJECT INDEX