Rough Guide Chronicle: India

Description: To paraphrase a wise observation - we will only know where we are heading if we know where we have come from - is in part the inspiration for this series of national histories. In addition to that understanding, it was the conviction of series editor, Justin Wintle, that increasing globalization makes it ever more essential to understand our own history and the history of other nations, neighbouring or worlds away. This text provides a clear and concise overview of India's often tortuous political narrative, while providing in-depth information on the country's ancient and complex cultures. Covering the history of India from the Indus Valley Civilization to present day, its continuous time-line is complemented with sidebars on the Bhagvad Gita, Hinduism, the Taj Mahal, the Nehru-Gandhi famiy and a host of other topics.



Contents: Prehistory, the Indus Valley civilization and the Aryan colonization c.3000 BC- c.800 BC; the age of the epics, the birth of Buddhism and the rise of monarchy c.800-400 BC; the Nanda and Maurya dynasties c.370-180 BC; era of the Shakas and Kushans c.180Bc-250 AD; the Guptas, the Huns and Harsha Vadhana c.250-680;fragmented governance of the subcontinent and Muslim incursions 8th-12th centuries; the Delhi sultanates 1206-1526; the Mughals 1526-1806; the British Raj 1807-1947; independent India 1947-2002.



Author Biography: Dilip Hiro is a prolific and widely admired author of books about the Middle East and other topics.