A comprehensive and accessible review of Indian history, from the earliest of civilizations through the founding of major religions to Ashoka, Chandra Gupta, Mahatma Gandhi, and the India of today. More than many other countries, India is often described in cliches. Foreigners may preserve old ideas of the exotic East, or they may reflect the preoccupations of the Western media and see in it a place of violence and disasters. Indians may think of their homeland as a modern industrial power, as the world's largest democracy, or as the country where an ancient civilization thrives alongside the latest computer technology. This accessible, narrative account follows the entire path of Indian history from the Harrapans to today. Along the way, readers will encounter the foundation of Buddhism, Hinduism, the Gupta dynasty, Muslim encounters in India, British rule, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and much more. A biographical section and an annotated bibliography also add reference value to this most up-to-date resource on the history of India.
Beginning with a chapter that places India geographically and describes its current government, John McLeod goes back to the earliest of Indian history detailing the rise and fall of ruling dynasties, the prominent belief systems, trade, colonization and decolonization, and the struggles of maintaining democracy in a land with a large population and many peoples. The History of India is the perfect starting point for students, researchers, and general readers who are interested in exploring the long fascinating story of the land and country of India.