Cultural History of India

Om Prakash

New Age International, 2005 - India - 628 pages

Cultural History Of India Has Been Divided Into Three Parts To Discuss Various Aspects Of Development Of Indian Culture. It Talks About How Religions Such As The Vedic Religion, Buddhism, Jainism, Saivism And Vaisnavism Aimed At Securing Social Harmony, Moral Upliftment, And Inculcated A Sense Of Duty In The Individual. The Development Of Indian Art And Architecture Was A Creative Effort To Project Symbols Of Divine Reality As Conceived And Understood By The Collective Consciousness Of The People As A Whole. The Book Also Focuses On Social Intuitions, Educational Systems And Economic Organisation In Ancient India. Finally, The Book Discusses The Dietary System Of Indians From Pre-Historic Times To C. 1200 A.D. The Basis For Inclusion Of Food And Drinks In The Book On Indian Culture Is That Ancient Indians Believed That Food Not Only Kept An Individual Healthy, But Was Also Responsible For His Mental Make Up.According To The Author, It Is Of Utmost Importance That The Present Generation Imbibe Those Elements Of Indian Culture Which Have Kept India Vital And Going Through Its Long And Continuous History .Cultural History Of India Is An Extremely Useful Journal On Indian History And Culture For All Readers, Both In India And Abroad. It Is Therefore A Must-Read For All Interested In Indias Proud Past, Which Forms The Eternal Bed-Rock Of Its Fateful Present And Glorious Future. It Is An Academic Book Very Useful For Student Of History Aspiring For I.A.S.

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Contents

• Geographical and Cultural Background: 3
• Unity in Diversity: 11
• Foundations of Indian Culture: 20
• Sanskrt Literature During the Gupta Age: 33
• Impact of Islám on Indian Culture: 39
• Kabir Nāmaka and Chaitanya: 48
• Renaissance in the Nineteenth CenturyRām Mohan Roy: 57
• British Impact and the Rise of Indian Nationalism: 65
• Economic Organization: 69
• The Composite Culture of India: 74
• SECTIONII: 81
• Religious Beliefs of the Harappan People: 89
• Buddhism: 104
• Saivism: 113
• Vaisnavism: 119
• Future of Religion: 127
• His Contribution to Buddhism Art and Culture 14: 140
• The Art of India: 147
• The Mauryan Art: 152
• Art in the PostMauryan Period: 157
• Gupta Art: 165
• Art in the Early Medieval Period: 173
• Art in the Sultanate Period: 194
• Art in the Mughal Period: 200
• Art in the Modern Period: 212
• SECTION I: 221
• Sources for the Study of Social Institutions: 223
• Dharma and Social Institutions: 226
• The Purusārthas: 231
• The Doctrine of Three Rnas: 233
• Aśramas: 234
• Origin and Development of Varna System: 243
• The Caste System and the Mixed Castes: 246
• Theories about the Orgin of the Caste System: 258
• Importance of Caste System in the Past: 260
• Slavery in Ancient India: 262
• Position of Women in Hindu Society: 269
• Family: 279
• Marriage: 290
• Samskāras in the Călukya Royal Families in the 12th Century A D: 302
• Mercantile Community in the Early Medieval Period: 307
• Social Conditions in Rajasthan and Western India in the Early Medieval Period: 313
• SECTION II: 321
• System of Education in Brahmanical Society: 323
• System of Education in the Buddhist Monasteries: 336
• Centres of Education: 338
• Agriculture Famines Irrigation Forestry Gardening and Animal Husbandry: 343
• The Land System: 354
• Revenue System: 366
• Crafts and Industries: 375
• Corporate Economic Life: 388
• Trade and Commerce: 398
• Currency Exchange and Moneylending: 414
• Economic Conditions of Delhi in the Fourteenth Century: 428
• PART THREE: 433
• Food and Drinks in Ancient India: 435
• Prehistoric and Protohistoric Age: 439
• Food and Drinks in the Vedic Period: 457
• Appendix A: 468
• Food and Drinks 800 B C to 300 B C: 470
• Food and Drinks 300 B C to 75 A D: 496
• Food and Drinks 75 A D to 300 A D: 514
• Food and Drinks c 300 A D to c 750 A D: 529
• Food and Drinks c 750 A D to c 1200 A D: 545
• Conclusion: 559
• Food and Drinks in the 16th century as gleaned from the works of Hindi Poets: 565
• Food in Indian Culture in the PreMaurya Period The Brahmanical View: 576
• Bibliography: 593
• Index: 621

Bibliographic information

• Title: Cultural History of India
• Author: Om Prakash
• Publisher: New Age International, 2005
• ISBN: 8122415873, 9788122415872
• Length: 628 pages