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Ancient India
This is a comprehensive, intelligible and interesting portrait of Ancient Indian History and Civilization from a national historical point of view. The work is divided into three broad divisions of the natural course of cultural development in Ancient (1) From the prehistoric age to 600 B.C., (2) From 600 B.C. to 300 A.D., (3) From 300 A.D. to 1200 A.D.
The work describes the political, economic, religious and cultural conditions of the country, the expansionist activities, the colonisation schemes of her rulers in the Far East. Political theories and administrative organizations are also discussed but more stress has been laid on the religious, literary and cultural aspects of Ancient India.
The book is of a more advanced type. It would meet the needs not only of general readers but also of earnest students who require a thorough grasp of the essential facts and features before taking up specialized study in any branch of the subject. It would also fulfil requirements of the candidates for competitive examinations in which Ancient Indian History and culture is a prescribed subject.
The work describes the political, economic, religious and cultural conditions of the country, the expansionist activities, the colonisation schemes of her rulers in the Far East. Political theories and administrative organizations are also discussed but more stress has been laid on the religious, literary and cultural aspects of Ancient India.
The book is of a more advanced type. It would meet the needs not only of general readers but also of earnest students who require a thorough grasp of the essential facts and features before taking up specialized study in any branch of the subject. It would also fulfil requirements of the candidates for competitive examinations in which Ancient Indian History and culture is a prescribed subject.
538 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1952
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1441 people want to read
About the author
R.C. Majumdar
83 books184 followersRamesh Chandra Majumdar (known as R. C. Majumdar; 4 December 1888 – 11 February 1980) was a historian and professor of Indian history.
Born at Khandarpara, in Faridpur District (now in Bangladesh) on 4 December 1888, to Haladhar Majumdar and Bidhumukhi, Majumdar passed his childhood in poverty. In 1905, he passed his Entrance Examination from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. In 1907, he passed F.A. with first class scholarship from Ripon College (now Surendranath College) and joined Presidency College, Calcutta. Graduating in B.A.(Honours) in 1909 and MA from Calcutta University in 1911, he won the Premchand Roychand scholarship from the University of Calcutta for his research work in 1913.
Majumdar started his teaching career as a lecturer at Dacca Government Training College. Since 1914, he spent seven years as a professor of history at the University of Calcutta. He got his doctorate for his thesis "Corporate Life in Ancient India".[3] In 1921 he joined the newly established University of Dacca as a professor of history. He also served, until he became its vice chancellor, as the head of the Department of History as well as the dean of the Faculty of Arts. Between 1924 and 1936 he was Provost of Jagannath Hall. Then he became the vice chancellor of that University, for five years from 1937 to 1942. From 1950, he was Principal of the College of Indology, Benares Hindu University. He was elected the general president of the Indian History Congress and also became the vice president of the International Commission set up by the UNESCO for the history of mankind.
Majumdar started his research on ancient India. After extensive travels to Southeast Asia and research, he wrote detailed histories of Champa (1927), Suvarnadvipa (1929) and Kambuja Desa. On the initiative of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, he took up the mantle of editing a multi-volume tome on Indian history. Starting in 1951, he toiled for twenty six long years to describe the history of the Indian people from the Vedic Period to the present day in eleven volumes. In 1955, Majumdar became the founder-principal of the College of Indology of Nagpur University. In 1958-59, he taught Indian history in the University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania. He was also the president of the Asiatic Society (1966–68) and the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad (1968–69). For some time he was also the Sheriff of Calcutta (1967–68).
When the final volume of "The History and Culture of the Indian People" was published in 1977, he had turned eighty-eight. He also edited the three-volume history of Bengal published by Dacca University. His last book was "Jivaner Smritidvipe".
When the Government of India set up an editorial Committee to author a history of the freedom struggle of India, he was its principal member. But, following a conflict with the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on the Sepoy Mutiny, he left the government job and published his own book. The Sepoy Mutiny & Revolt of 1857. According to him the origins of India's freedom struggle lie in the English-educated Indian middle-class and the freedom struggle started with the Banga Bhanga movement in 1905. His views on the freedom struggle are found in his book History of the Freedom Movement in India. He was an admirer of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
Born at Khandarpara, in Faridpur District (now in Bangladesh) on 4 December 1888, to Haladhar Majumdar and Bidhumukhi, Majumdar passed his childhood in poverty. In 1905, he passed his Entrance Examination from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. In 1907, he passed F.A. with first class scholarship from Ripon College (now Surendranath College) and joined Presidency College, Calcutta. Graduating in B.A.(Honours) in 1909 and MA from Calcutta University in 1911, he won the Premchand Roychand scholarship from the University of Calcutta for his research work in 1913.
Majumdar started his teaching career as a lecturer at Dacca Government Training College. Since 1914, he spent seven years as a professor of history at the University of Calcutta. He got his doctorate for his thesis "Corporate Life in Ancient India".[3] In 1921 he joined the newly established University of Dacca as a professor of history. He also served, until he became its vice chancellor, as the head of the Department of History as well as the dean of the Faculty of Arts. Between 1924 and 1936 he was Provost of Jagannath Hall. Then he became the vice chancellor of that University, for five years from 1937 to 1942. From 1950, he was Principal of the College of Indology, Benares Hindu University. He was elected the general president of the Indian History Congress and also became the vice president of the International Commission set up by the UNESCO for the history of mankind.
Majumdar started his research on ancient India. After extensive travels to Southeast Asia and research, he wrote detailed histories of Champa (1927), Suvarnadvipa (1929) and Kambuja Desa. On the initiative of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, he took up the mantle of editing a multi-volume tome on Indian history. Starting in 1951, he toiled for twenty six long years to describe the history of the Indian people from the Vedic Period to the present day in eleven volumes. In 1955, Majumdar became the founder-principal of the College of Indology of Nagpur University. In 1958-59, he taught Indian history in the University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania. He was also the president of the Asiatic Society (1966–68) and the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad (1968–69). For some time he was also the Sheriff of Calcutta (1967–68).
When the final volume of "The History and Culture of the Indian People" was published in 1977, he had turned eighty-eight. He also edited the three-volume history of Bengal published by Dacca University. His last book was "Jivaner Smritidvipe".
When the Government of India set up an editorial Committee to author a history of the freedom struggle of India, he was its principal member. But, following a conflict with the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on the Sepoy Mutiny, he left the government job and published his own book. The Sepoy Mutiny & Revolt of 1857. According to him the origins of India's freedom struggle lie in the English-educated Indian middle-class and the freedom struggle started with the Banga Bhanga movement in 1905. His views on the freedom struggle are found in his book History of the Freedom Movement in India. He was an admirer of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 17, 2015
This is a classic text book aimed at the student of history at Secondary level, before the pseudo-secular historiography pursued by institutions of Independent India completely altered the study of history in India. It strictly follows the pattern that had been norm before Marxists hijacked the study of history, but even in that shape it remains a treasure-trove of information about ancient India.
Obviously, since Koshambi and his cronies had come later, the ‘interpretative’ way of describing all events & activities through the distorted looking glass of dialectics is absent here. But if you are in search of a compact book containing information about the India of the past (including details about Bengal which the so-called modern historians eschew), then your journey can begin most assuredly with this book. However, the book requires serious editorial (& publishing) attention, so that:
a) Facts dealing with the Harappan Civilisation and Ashokan Edicts can be updated;
b) Font and lay-out can be changed to make it more pleasing for the eye;
c) More illustrations & maps, preferably in colour, can be incorporated.
Content-wise, the book is strongly recommended.
Obviously, since Koshambi and his cronies had come later, the ‘interpretative’ way of describing all events & activities through the distorted looking glass of dialectics is absent here. But if you are in search of a compact book containing information about the India of the past (including details about Bengal which the so-called modern historians eschew), then your journey can begin most assuredly with this book. However, the book requires serious editorial (& publishing) attention, so that:
a) Facts dealing with the Harappan Civilisation and Ashokan Edicts can be updated;
b) Font and lay-out can be changed to make it more pleasing for the eye;
c) More illustrations & maps, preferably in colour, can be incorporated.
Content-wise, the book is strongly recommended.
June 5, 2019
Quite a long book. Almost took me 1 and half month. I didn't read this book in sequence. To make it more interesting i read it in randomly. Educating, fun and unbiased.
And yes this book need to be updated and maybe later bring it back to mainstream. This book is still available in market that means readers still want to read it. I think that is good enough. I am giving 5 stars for amazing unbiased content only considering the book is not updated.
And yes this book need to be updated and maybe later bring it back to mainstream. This book is still available in market that means readers still want to read it. I think that is good enough. I am giving 5 stars for amazing unbiased content only considering the book is not updated.
September 14, 2020
Best book. Not updated because Acharya dr. RC Majumdar Ki passed away in 1980.
July 3, 2021
I have the book with the Orange cover. The print is way too bad. At times, it is barely readable. You can tell that it's mass produced for the students.
I wish there was a table listing each dynasty. It gets confusing after a while. But other than that, good book. You get to know about a lot of dynasties that are otherwise skipped.
Also, I got to know from the reviews that it's outdated. So I hope the future publications have an editor at least.
I wish there was a table listing each dynasty. It gets confusing after a while. But other than that, good book. You get to know about a lot of dynasties that are otherwise skipped.
Also, I got to know from the reviews that it's outdated. So I hope the future publications have an editor at least.
August 24, 2020
A few topics seem out of date. Especially related to AIT. Otherwise its a great book
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January 23, 2024This is a comprehensive, intelligible and interesting portrait of Ancient Indian History and Civilization from a national historical point of view. The work is divided into three broad divisions of the natural course of cultural development in Ancient India: (1) From the prehistoric age to 600 B.C., (2) From 600 B.C. to 300 A.D., (3) From 300 A.D. to 1200 A.D. The work describes the political, economic, religious and cultural conditions of the country, the expansionist activities, the colonisation schemes of her rulers in the Far East. Political theories and administrative organizations are also discussed but more stress has been laid on the religious, literary and cultural aspects of Ancient India. The book is of a more advanced type. It would meet the needs not only of general readers but also of earnest students who require a thorough grasp of the essential facts and features before taking up specialized study in any branch of the subject. It would also fulfil requirements of the candidates for competitive examinations in which Ancient Indian History and culture is a prescribed subject.
December 2, 2024
Decent historical narrative but could have been structured better. Feels.like a school text book than anything else. Too much focus on wars and showing masculinity than on history and exploring why things happened the way they did.
July 24, 2016
This edition was printed in India before the other printings listed on Goodreads. Thusly, it would be very interesting to see a comparison between this and the 2013 printing. The progression of archeological research over the past 80 years surely has supplied more information. This book is as comprehensive as the general review suggests, albeit more than is necessary for the casual reader. The portions of the book that are strictly about history and culture are well written and interesting. The rest, and majority of the book is really a list of who married whom, who birthed whom, who fought whom and who killed whom. It is immensely detailed for those interested in the haiography.
December 31, 2014
Difficult to read and analyse. Poor editing makes it almost impossible to see the wood for the trees! Not all the conclusions are explained properly and difficult to comprehend.
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September 26, 2012To read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews