The Kushan Civilization: Urban Developments and Material Culture

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. City and secular architecture. 3. Society and culture. 4. Crafts. 5. The economic activity. 6. Epilogue. Appendices. Bibliography. Index. The present work is aimed at an attempt to understand the diverse elements of life and culture in the times of a many-hued people-the Kushans. They came from the Central Asian steppes in the Oxus zone and brought with them its obscure traditions, leaving their indelible stamp on the history of civilization. Tracing the pattern of their ethos through the Cindrella of the Arts- Architecture-and classical literature, B.R. Mani offers an indepth study of the history and lifestyle of the Kushans. He has captured the earthly quintessence of the Kushan Age by delving into the numismatology, organization of government, industrial growth, intercontinental trade of the period. Involving a labour of ten years, the book was completed and published in 1987 and since then new discoveries and excavations have brought to light fresh material which the author has tried to include in this new edition. The book is well worth a perusal by students of archaeology and history for the sheer erudition and phraseology of the author. (jacket)