Because of its natural wealth, India has long been a tempting prize for invaders, yet foreign forces such as the Mughal Empire and the British did not destroy India’s vibrant spirit. Rather, external influences often became absorbed into the mix of different peoples, languages, religions, and regional traditions, creating a lasting culture of great depth. This book recounts the history of India and much of present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as the factors that have contributed to India’s epic economic successes in recent times. Memorable images texture the narrative and vividly animate the story of this unique nation.

History Book

In the last few decades, professional historians have raised important questions regarding the theories, methods and practices of history extant since the earliest times. Oral and Visual History have assumed a new importance in our times. This book presents seven essays on history as it can be practised productively in India. It is pedagogically important to students and teachers of history in India. Meant primarily for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, it will also be appreciated by the lay public. Readers will certainly rethink their historical perspectives in response to the issues of theory raised critically in this book. This book is co-published with Aakar Books, New Delhi. Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the print versions of this book in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

In An Informal, Engaging Style, The Puffin History Of India For Children 3000 Bc To Ad 1947 Tells The Fascinating Story Of Our Land From The Indus Valley Civilization To Independence. Tracing The Social, Political, Cultural And Economic Development Of India, The Book Focuses On The High Points Of Indian History: The Vedic Age, The Mauryan Empire, The Gupta Period, The Battle Of Panipat, The Conquests Of Alauddin Khilji, Who Had The Largest Empire Since Ashoka, The Bahmani And Vijayanagara Kingdoms And Their Conflicts, The Rule Of Akbar, Shahjahan And Aurangzeb And The Building Of The Taj Mahal, The British Conquest, The 1857 Revolt, The Nationalist Movement And, Finally, The Triumph Of Independence. The Contribution Of The Important Personalities Who Shaped This History, From Mahavira, Buddha, Alexander, Ashoka, Harsha And Babur To Tipu Sultan, Ranjit Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose And Jawaharlal Nehru, Is Vividly Described In Fascinating Detail. Every Now And Then The Narrative Pauses To Dwell On The Social And Cultural Life Of The People, And The Political, Economic And Religious Changes That Have Been Wrought Over Centuries, Providing A Comprehensive Picture Of What Life Was Like In India At Various Points Of Time. The Colourful Description Of People, Events And Cultures, Complemented By A Host Of Illustrations And Maps, Brings History Dramatically To Life For The Reader.

From the end of the eighteenth century, two distinct global processes began to transform livelihoods and living conditions in the South Asia region. These were the rise of British colonial rule and globalization, that is, the integration of the region in the emerging world markets for goods, capital, and labour services. Two hundred years later, India was the home to many of the world's poorest people as well as one of the fastest growing market economies in the world. Does a study of the past help to explain the paradox of growth amidst poverty? The Economic History of India: 1857–2010 claims that the roots of this paradox go back to India's colonial past, when internal factors like geography and external forces like globalization and imperial rule created prosperity in some areas and poverty in others. Looking at the recent scholarship in this area, this revised edition covers new subjects like environment and princely states. The author sets out the key questions that a study of long-run economic change in India should begin with and shows how historians have answered these questions and where the gaps remain.