gems, ancient history, India, Rome, Greece, Alexander the Great, archaeology, trade, South Asia

A single-volume study of Ancient Indian History delineating the various facets, both political and cultural, and incorporating the fruits of recent researches that have abundantly appeared since 1950, has not been attempted before. Author has tried to maintain a delicate balance between political history and social, economic and cultural history of ancient India. The book covers the pre-historic India, the Vedic age, the post-vedic civilization, North India in the sixth century B.C. It also explains new religious movements and their socio-economic background, Maurya age, political disintegration and foreign invasions. The Gupta empire, the prominence of North under Harshavardhana and its eclipse, Bengal under the Palas and the Senas, dynasties of North India, Arabs and Turks in India, Indias intercourse with the outside world, have been discussed in depth. History of Deccan and South India, hitherto not given due weightage and culture and civilization of ancient India in all its variegated hues, have received due attention. Some new topics like Espionage, Slavery, Guilds, Urbanisation, Feudalism and Science and Technology in Ancient India, have been incorporated to make the book as uptodate as possible.