A recognized visual history of one of the world's oldest and most vibrant cultures, drawing from South Asian art and artifacts from ancient times to the present. Narrated chronologically and richly illustrated with selected objects, this excellent new overview connects modern India with its past.

The opening chapters reveal prehistoric objects from 1.5 million years ago, examine artifacts from the Indian river civilization, and trace the emergence and dissemination of Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, and Sikhism, as well as incoming religions such as Zoroastrianism, Islam, and Christianity.

During the medieval period, skills related to temple construction and the production of stone and bronze sculptures developed. From this distant era to the present, pilgrimage has played a significant role in spreading social, political, and religious ideas.

With the rise of the Mughals, the last Muslim dynasty of India, India once again became a leading economic power. A distinct Muslim style can be traced in paintings, precious stones, and metallurgy. Following the arrival of Europeans in India during the early Mughal period, trade in spices, textiles, and other luxury goods expanded. Later, in the 19th century, under British rule, much of South Asia became part of a global trading network, with Indian goods exported worldwide.

Modernism and the political independence of the 20th century saw the vibrant expression of Indian culture through film, dance, and music. An outstanding range of history and culture is presented here, from the grandeur of dynastic empires to rural and caste life in the subcontinent. This is a captivating visual history of some of the world's oldest civilizations.

Pages: 320, Year of Publication: 1120, Dimensions: 17x17cm