Upinder Singh is Professor in the Department of History, University of Delhi.

... a welcome addition ... it incorporates the latest developments of historiography [and] covers a great length of Indian history in a single volume in the form of an essential text that will be referred to by students for a considerably long time.
—Rupendra Kumar Chattopadhyay, University of Calcutta

This book draws on a range of literary and archaeological evidence, and weaves new research that one usually finds only in specialized academic journals into an invaluable single-volume work on early India. It will enable a wide audience to experience the excitement Professor Singh’s students at Delhi University have felt in piecing together the past.
—Naina Dayal, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi

... a monumental effort. The book clearly brings to bear much of the latest work in the field. ... [it] should greatly aid the students and teachers of ancient Indian history. The book pushes the limits of mainstream conventional treatments of the subject. Bound to provoke students’ interest in the subject.
—Shonaleeka Kaul, Miranda House, University of Delhi

Quite amazing ... this book is a standing testimony to the intellectual pursuit the author has attained in history. It will be a relevant addition to the latest scholarship in this discipline.
—T. Ramaswamy, Madurai Kamaraj University, Chennai

A very important contribution towards the understanding of ancient Indian history and will be invaluable to both students and teachers.... There has been a need for a book like this especially for undergraduate courses.... The book is sure to become a must-read for all students of ancient history.
—Jaya Tyagi, Sri Venkateshwara College, University of Delhi

The book is innovative and fills a major vacuum in the academic world. The author has systematically brought in the results of the most recent research and presented them in a manner accessible to the student. The illustrations, maps, boxed items, and excerpts from primary sources are all imaginatively done and will be extremely useful to the student and help her to cultivate an interest in the subject.
—Kesavan Veluthat, Mangalore University

Introduction: Ideas of the Early Indian Past

1. Understanding Literary and Archaeological Sources
   
2. Hunter-Gatherers of the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Ages
   
3. The Transition to Food Production: Neolithic, Neolithic–Chalcolithic, and Chalcolithic Villages, c. 7000–2000 BCE
   
4. The Harappan Civilization, c. 2600–1900 BCE
   
5. Cultural Transitions: Images from Texts and Archaeology, c. 2000–600 BCE
   
6. Cities, Kings, and Renunciants: North India, c. 600–300 BCE
   
7. Power and Piety: The Maurya Empire, c. 324–187 BCE
   
8. Interaction and Innovation, c. 200 BCE–300 CE
   
9. Aesthetics and Empire, c. 300–600 CE
   
10. Emerging Regional Configurations, c. 600–1200 CE

• Extensive use of visuals in full colour—over 350 photographs, maps, and sketches
  
• Pedagogically developed boxes on key concepts, primary sources, further discussion of specific issues, recent discoveries and new directions in research
  
• Extensive cross-referencing of themes and concepts
  
• A glossary of important terms
  
• Detailed references and lists of further readings