First published in 2005 by Oxford University Press, India's Ancient Past is a comprehensive work that captures the historical strides from neolithic and chalcolithic times to Harappan civilization, Vedic times, rise of Mauryas, Gupta's. Satvahanas right up to the times of Harshavardhana.
Rise and fall of empires and reign of kings has been placed in the context of the ancient social milieu, the existing varna system, developments in science and technology, commerce and trade and the cultural legacy that shaped society.
The book takes the readers on a journey through time. Like his other books, this book too is very informative and the narrative is a compelling read. Students and those interested in knowing about India's past do get to learn learn about empires, dynasties and the varied cultures that evolved in different geographical backgrounds over the millennia.
There are separate sections that detail about Harappan and Vedic civilization, the age of Mauryas and the rise of Buddhism and Jainism.
At the end of the book you will find a note from the author on the transition from Ancient India to Medieval India. The main reason for its popularity is the fact that it is easy to read and the facts have been detailed in an easy to understand manner.
About the author
R.S Sharma was a well-known historian, who authored several books on ancient and medieval India. name in the field of history. He was born in Bihar in 1919, he taught at Patna and Delhi University, was a fellow at School of Oriental and African Studies at University of London. Sharma was also the President of Indian History Congress in 1975. Besides India's Ancient Past, he has also authored Aspects of Political Ideas, Indian Feudalism, Early Medieval Indian Society, Urban Decay in India and other books also. Sharma died in August, 2011.
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