This book presents within a moderate compass a general survey of the history and culture of ancient India. It traces the outline of the historical changes through which India has passed from the earliest days, down to the beginning of the thirteenth century. It then goes on to sketch the conditions of the society as revealed by literature and then describes the monuments, the constitution, and the administration of the State, the chief religious rituals, the nature of the scientific knowledge possessed by the ancient Hindus, their systems of weight, measures and coinage, their writings and their achievements in architecture, sculpture, and painting.
T HE purpose of this book is to present within a moderate compass a general survey of the history and culture of ancient India. It therefore begins with an outline of the historical changes through which India has passed from the earliest days down to the beginning of the thirteenth century, and thence proceeds to sketch the conditions of society as revealed by literature and the monuments, the constitution and administration of the State, the chief religious rituals, the nature of the scientific knowledge possessed by the ancient Hindus, their systems of weights, measures, and coinage, their writing, and their achievements in architecture, sculpture, and painting. The scope of the work has made it impossible to attain completeness, and much has been omitted which should find a place in a perfect picture of Indian life. For example, private life, war, the arts of industry, the culture of the Dravidian and other non-Aryan races, the great religious movements, and much else have been barely touched. For this omission, as for many errors of commission, I crave the reader's indulgence. At least I have within these limits spared no pains in the attempt to hold up the mirror to this vast and wonderful culture, which is so manifold in its sources and yet so strangely original in its spirit. The record of Indian history is one of deepest fascination, and the utmost imaginations of romance palebeside it. Indeed, the civilisation of India may be fitly compared to its marvellous temples, in which every emotion of the soul is expressed in plastic form with thrilling intensity; and as often as I read it I remember the verse of Bhartrihari, the epitaph of its glories: "Alas, brother, the mighty king, the train of barons, the witty court at his side, the damsels with faces like 'the moon's orb, the haughty troop of princes, the minstrels, the tales-homage to Time, by whose will all this hath passed into mere memories!
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