A History of India

Description

This fresh and up-to-date interpretation of India's rich and extraordinary history, written by a leading authority in the field, explores themes in ancient, medieval and especially modern India. Peter Robb's accessible study analyses India's civilizations, empires and regions through the ages, and now also evaluates present-day developments and opportunities. A History of India, Second Edition * examines the relationships between politics, religious belief, social order, environment and economic change * assesses, from c. 1860, British colonialism, Indian nationalism and nation-building, popular protest movements, religious revivals, and re-inventions of caste, community and gender * discusses long-term economic development, the impact of global trade, and the origins of rural poverty * has been revised in the light of the latest scholarship, and now features a Chronology as well as a fully reworked final chapter which brings the story up to the present day and carefully considers India's prospects and new roles in the world. Centred around clearly expressed and well argued topics, issues and explanations, A History of India remains the ideal introduction for all those who wish to understand the drama and vitality of India's past, its present situation and its future challenges.

PETER ROBB is Research Professor in the History of India at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, UK. He has published widely on the history of India and South Asia.

Praise for the first edition: '... his book is accessible in new ways for even the lay Indian reader.' - The Hindu (Indian) 'This is a rich and seriously intelligent set of discussions on India which is marked throughout by excellent judgement.' - Francis Robinson, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society '...masterfully surveys the trends, issues, and movements that have resulted in modern India...Highly recommended.' - D. C. Johnson, Choice 'A superbly written history of India since ancient times...which achieves the rare feat of addressing social and economic issues, ignored in other surveys, in a style which is detailed and erudite yet consistently accessible. A considerable achievement.' - Crispin Bates, University of Edinburgh, UK Praise for the second edition: 'I welcome this new edition of Peter Robb's rich and thoughtful A History of India. Its new final chapter is a beautifully measured piece of writing which, while acknowledging India's remarkable economic transition over the past two decades, does sound important notes of caution - the continuing problems of infrastructure, but much more importantly the continuing problems of inequality. An essential introduction.' - Francis Robinson CBE, Royal Holloway University of London, UK 'An excellent history from one of the most respected historians of India. The revisions and the new chapter clearly improve the book by providing additional assessment and bringing the treatment of Indian history up to the present.' - Ian Barrow, Middlebury College, USA