The Penguin History of Early India

BY THE WINNER OF THE KLUGE PRIZE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT 2008 A definitive account and ready reference of ancient Indian history The Penguin History of Early India –a complete rewrite of Romila Thapar’s A History of India (Vol. 1)–brings to life thousands of years of India’s precolonial history: its prehistoric beginnings; the great cities of the Indus civilization; the emergence of mighty dynasties such as the Mauryas, Guptas and Cholas; the teachings of the Buddha; the creation of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana; and the evolution of regional cultures. In exploring subjects as diverse as marriage, class, art, erotica and astronomy, Thapar provides an incomparably vivid and nuanced picture of India, creating a rich mosaic of diverse kingdoms, landscapes, languages and beliefs. As she explains how the interpretations of early Indian history have changed in the last half-century, Thapar offers fresh readings and raises new questions.