This concise history tellsIndia's unfolding story, fromthe ancient Hindu dynastiesto the coming of Islam, fromthe Mughal Empire to thepresent day, with a newpreface and postscript.
Throughout its long history, India has signified many things. To pilgrims from ancient China, India was the birthplace of the Buddha; to Alexander the Great it was a land of philosophers and indomitable, elephantine armies. At the height of the Mughal Empire in 1700, India meant wealth, boasting nearly 25 percent of the world economy, but then, under British rule, its economy declined.In the nineteenth century, India's identity continued to evolve, defined by stark contrasts of extravagant wealth and crippling poverty, symbolized by the Taj Mahal and devastating famines, maharajas, and untouchables. At the same time, the country was celebrated for its rich spirituality, from the many gods of Hinduism and Sufi saints to Buddhist philosophy, with towering figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore shaping its legacy.Andrew Robinson incisively distills Indias many incarnations, from the remarkably advanced cities of the early Indus Valley to the worlds largest democracy. Anyone curious about its past, present, or future will find this a fascinating introduction.
