Social and Cultural History of the Punjab: Prehistoric, Ancient and Early Medieval

Description

A social and cultural history of Punjab from the prehistoric to the early medieval period. The "Punjab" of this book is a metaphor for the gepgraphical region surrounded by the Himalayas, the great India desert, the Aravali hills and the holy river Jamuna. Title Contents Preface Introduction 1. Rise and Decline of Civilization FOOD GATHERING AND HUNTING RISE OF AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES RISE OF THE HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION POLITICAL ECONOMY AND SOCIO-RELIGIOUS LIFE DECLINE AND DIFFUSION 2. The Rigvedic Culture THE INDO-ARYANS THE PEOPLE IN THE RIGVEDA RELIGIOUS IDEAS AND PRACTICES ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE POLITY 3. State Formation and Social Stratification (c. 1000 BC-200 BC) POLITY AND ADMINISTRATION TRADE AND URBANIZATION THE SOCIAL ORDER RELIGIOUS IDEAS AND PRACTICES LANGUAGES, LITERATURE AND ARTS 4: Socio-cultural Diversification (c. 200 BC-AD 400) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS TRADE, URBANIZATION AND URBAN LIFE BUDDHISM, SHAIVISM AND VAISHNAVISM LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE THE SOCIAL ORDER 5. The Proliferation of States, Agrarian Expansion and Socio-cultural Change (c. AD 400--1000) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS POLITICIO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE LITERATURE AND LANGUAGES ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE THE SOCIAL ORDER ASCENDANCY OF VAISHNAVISM, SHAIVISM AND SHAKTAISM Bibliography Index