This book deals with the history of ancient India from prehistoric times to about the eighth century.
An effort has been made in this book to highlight the forces and factors behind the rise and spread of civilization and culture in India rather than present details of dynastic history.
The growth and diffusion of various aspects of civilization such as social classes, state formation, and political institutions have been treated in depth. The book points out the significant changes and marks the main stages in the development of Indian society in ancient times.
Attention has been paid to the contribution of ancient Indians to polity, art, literature, philosophy, religion, and science and technology.
The Index of the book is as follows:
1. Importance of Ancient Indian History
2. The Construction of Ancient Indian History
3. The Geographical setting
4. The Stone Age
5. The Stone-Copper Phase
6. The Harappan Civilisation
7. Advent of the Aryans and the Age of the Rig Veda
8. Later Vedic Phase: Transition to State and Social Formation
9. Jainism and Buddhism
10. Territorial States and the First Magdhan Empire
11. Iraniam and Macedonian Invasions
12. State and Varna Society in the Age of the Buddha
13. The Age of the Mauryas
14. Significance of the Maurya Rule
15. Central Asian contacts and their Results
16. The Age of the Satavahanas
17. The Dawn of History in the Deep South
18. Crafts, Trade and Towns in the Post-Maurya Age
19. The Rise and Growth of the Gupta Empire
20. Life in the Gupta age
21. Spread of Civilisation in Eastern India
22. Harsha and his Times
23. Formation of New States and Rural Expansion in the Peninsula
24. India’s Cultural Contacts with the Asian countries
25. Transformation of the Ancient Phase
26. Sequence of Social Changes
27. Legacy in Science and Civilisation