- Paperback: 608 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; New Ed edition (19 Mar 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006387845
- ISBN-13: 978-0006387848
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.4 x 4.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 225,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The history of what is now India stretches back thousands of years, further than that of nearly any other region on Earth. Yet, observes historian John Keay, most historical work on India concentrates on the period after the arrival of Europeans, with predictable biases, distortions and misapprehensions. One, for example, is the tendency to locate the source of social conflict in India's many religions--to which Keay retorts, "Historically, it was Europe, not India, which consistently made religion grounds for war".
Taking the longest possible view, Keay surveys what is both provable and invented in the historical record. His narrative begins in 3000 B.C. with the complex, and little understood, Harappan period, a time of state formation and the development of agriculture and trade networks. This period coincides with the arrival of Indo-European invaders, the so-called Aryans, whose name, of course, has been put to bad use at many points since. Keay traces the growth of subsequent states and kingdoms throughout antiquity and the medieval period, suggesting that the lack of unified government made the job of the European conquerors somewhat easier--but by no means inevitable. He continues to the modern day, his narrative ending with Indian-Pakistani conflicts in 1998.
Fluently told and well documented, Keay's narrative history is of much value to students and general readers with an interest in India's past and present. --Gregory McNamee --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
‘A delight… one of the best general studies of the subcontinent’
Andrew Lycett, Sunday Times
‘Ambitious, colourful and fascinating’
Lawrence James, The Times
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
IN HINDU TRADITION, as in Jewish and Christian tradition, history of a manageable antiquity is sometimes said to start with the Flood. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
IN HINDU TRADITION, as in Jewish and Christian tradition, history of a manageable antiquity is sometimes said to start with the Flood. Read the first page
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Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Being an Indian myself, I have gone through our history labouriously over the 10 years in primary schooling. This book covers it all exceedingly well and also relates too other civilizations / events around the world.
Nowhere did I find it wanting for details.
There were several eyeopeners as the history was narrated in stark impartial reality - so it was refreshing after being misled by the grandeurs depicted on some dramatised versions on Indian TV.
The only fallback is that the language is a bit complex and is not suited for continuous and smooth reading. I think this has been mentioned by one more reviewer. Some may also find it too detailed as it takes great pains to cover all events and dynasties, and justify the conclusions by stating archelogical evidences.
However, I do not regret buying it and will recommend to anyone who wishes to get an idea of Indian history.
Nowhere did I find it wanting for details.
There were several eyeopeners as the history was narrated in stark impartial reality - so it was refreshing after being misled by the grandeurs depicted on some dramatised versions on Indian TV.
The only fallback is that the language is a bit complex and is not suited for continuous and smooth reading. I think this has been mentioned by one more reviewer. Some may also find it too detailed as it takes great pains to cover all events and dynasties, and justify the conclusions by stating archelogical evidences.
However, I do not regret buying it and will recommend to anyone who wishes to get an idea of Indian history.
36 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Keay manages to compress thousands of years of history into 500 or so pages in this single-volume history. It is a very useful guide to the history of this fascinating nation and allows the reader to look right back to the classic Sanskrit literature and ancient civilisations, through to the modern wonders of the information technology boom of the nineties. India is a land of contrasts and Keay provides enough detail for the book to be useful, without getting mired in differing interpretations. If you want to understand modern India then it is essential to have some idea of where the nation developed from, this book is a great help.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you think that history books you read at your school in India were a bit boring you must read this book! John Keay has condensed more than 2000 years of the complex and intricate history of the subcontinent into a few hundred very interesting pages.
Yet a lot of intense research has gone into this book and that will make you rethink and question the assumptions you took for granted. Did the Aryans really sweep through the mountains and push the Indus valley people south, or was it a gradual process of assimilation? How did the religion of the Vedas gradually morph into the complex, diverse Hinduism we know today?
This book delves into the complex personalities and lives of Mughal rulers like Akbar and Aurangzeb rather than repeat the one-sided views popularized in school history books.
A wonderful introduction to the many dynasties and personalities of Indian history and a great starting point to explore specific regional or dynastic histories further.
Yet a lot of intense research has gone into this book and that will make you rethink and question the assumptions you took for granted. Did the Aryans really sweep through the mountains and push the Indus valley people south, or was it a gradual process of assimilation? How did the religion of the Vedas gradually morph into the complex, diverse Hinduism we know today?
This book delves into the complex personalities and lives of Mughal rulers like Akbar and Aurangzeb rather than repeat the one-sided views popularized in school history books.
A wonderful introduction to the many dynasties and personalities of Indian history and a great starting point to explore specific regional or dynastic histories further.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Clear, concise (and long), written with love, humour and exasperation
The book: an introduction to the history of the subcontinent, including much of Pakistan (but not Sri Lanka) and ranging from the mists of history (Harappa, 3000 BC) to 2010. Read more
Published 8 months ago by H. Beentje
A history of India
Excellent book, a very comprehensive overview of Indian history, very clear and concise, yet written with some gentle humour and irony.
Published 20 months ago by P. W. Kyte
A good overview
I had very little knowledge of the history of India when I bought this book, and was hoping I would gain an overview of the enitre history of India. The book delivered. Read more
Published on 14 April 2009 by Sarah Cashian
Very detailed but hard work
There is a staggering amount of detail in this book and the scope, in terms of time period and subject matter covered (e.g. religion, politics etc), is huge. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2007 by Overseas Reviewer
Excellent introduction
I had next to no knowledge of Indian history before reading this book, and I don't think I could have asked for a better tourguide around the Subcontinent's fascinating history... Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2006 by John Deighan
Superb introduction to the history of India
For a book that is over 500 pages long, it may seem strange for me to suggest this is an introduction to the history of India. Read more
Published on 11 April 2006 by Darren Simons
A pleasure to read.
This is the first history-book I've been highly reluctant to put away once I started reading! That really says a lot! Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2006 by Mats Nilson
Great for beginners as well!
Unlike a previous reviewer, I think this book's a brilliant introduction to the subject. I had no knowledge whatsoever of Indian History before I started reading. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2005 by Rachel
The best potted history of India
In my view, this is the best, up-to-date popular history of India available. If - like another reviewer, seemingly - you are looking for a 'Hindu nationalist' take on Indian... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2005
A review for someone not familiar with indian history
This book is definitely not for someone approaching the subject for thefirst time. The writing is very dull and assumes that you already knowsome about the subject. Read more
Published on 26 April 2004 by Adam "Reviewboy" Yorkie'bar
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