Robinson, Andrew, 1957-
India : a short history / Andrew Robinson - 248 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Preface --
Introduction --
The Indus Valley Civilization --
Vedas, Aryans and the Origins of Hinduism --
Buddha, Alexander and Asoka --
Hindu Dynasties --
The Coming of Islam --
The Mughal Empire --
European Incursions and East India Companies --
End of Empire --
The World's Largest Democracy --
Postscript
India has always been a land of great contradictions. To Alexander the Great, the country was a place of clever naked philosophers and massive armies mounted on elephants--which eventually forced his army to retreat. To ancient Rome, it was a source of luxuries, mainly spices and textiles, paid for in gold--hence the enormous numbers of Roman gold coins excavated in India. At the height of the Mughal empire in 1700, India boasted 24 percent of the world economy--a share virtually equal to Europe's 25 percent. But then its economy declined. Colonial India was known for its extremes of wealth and poverty, epitomized by the Taj Mahal and famines, maharajas and untouchables, and also for its spirituality: many-armed Hindu gods and Buddhist philosophy, Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. India: A Short History places as much emphasis on individuals, ideas and cultures as on the rise and fall of kingdoms, political parties and economies.
9780500251997
India--History.
India.
954
India : a short history / Andrew Robinson - 248 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Preface --
Introduction --
The Indus Valley Civilization --
Vedas, Aryans and the Origins of Hinduism --
Buddha, Alexander and Asoka --
Hindu Dynasties --
The Coming of Islam --
The Mughal Empire --
European Incursions and East India Companies --
End of Empire --
The World's Largest Democracy --
Postscript
India has always been a land of great contradictions. To Alexander the Great, the country was a place of clever naked philosophers and massive armies mounted on elephants--which eventually forced his army to retreat. To ancient Rome, it was a source of luxuries, mainly spices and textiles, paid for in gold--hence the enormous numbers of Roman gold coins excavated in India. At the height of the Mughal empire in 1700, India boasted 24 percent of the world economy--a share virtually equal to Europe's 25 percent. But then its economy declined. Colonial India was known for its extremes of wealth and poverty, epitomized by the Taj Mahal and famines, maharajas and untouchables, and also for its spirituality: many-armed Hindu gods and Buddhist philosophy, Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. India: A Short History places as much emphasis on individuals, ideas and cultures as on the rise and fall of kingdoms, political parties and economies.
9780500251997
India--History.
India.
954