Economic History of Ancient India

Contents: Preface. 1. The geological background of Indian history. 2. Indus Valley Civilization. 3. Economic life. 4. From sacrifice to self-awareness. 5. The response to Orthodoxy. 6. Arthashastra. 7. The classical age. 8. Minor states in North India during the Gupta empire. 9. Northern India after the break-up of the Gupta empire (sixth century AD). 10. Economic conditions. 11. Harsha-Vardhana and his time. 12. Colonial and cultural expansion in South-East Asia. Bibliography.

From the preface: "The book consists of twelve chapters. The first chapter deals with geological background of ancient Indian history. The second chapter makes a survey of the Indus Valley Civilization. From third chapter to eighth chapter, it is a discussion of the economic conditions of early Indian agriculture, peasants, taxation, system of land tenure, the method of cultivation and of irrigation are all dealt with comprehensively as well as the Arthashastra and the classic age. In last four chapters, life and condition of Indian people from Gupta period to Harsha has been discussed in detail. In the Gupta Period, the guilds regained their full autonomy, and became powerful and played a significant role in the socio-economic life of the country and it\'s expansion in South East Asia. The book will, it is earnestly hoped, be found to be helpful not only to the advanced students of our universities but also to the general reader."