The Culture and Civilisation of Ancient India in Historical Outline

The book is organized into seven main chapters. The first chapter establishes Kosambi’s historical method and examines the Indian scene, the modern ruling class, the limitations facing historians, the importance of rural and tribal society, and the village as a key unit of historical analysis. The second chapter discusses primitive life and prehistory, including the myth of the Golden Age, prehistoric man in India, and survivals of primitive social and religious forms. The third chapter studies the first cities, especially the Indus Civilization, its production system, urban features, and social structure. The fourth chapter turns to the Aryans, their way of life, post-Rigvedic development, urban revival, and epic period. The fifth chapter analyzes the transition from tribe to society, with sections on new religions, the Middle Way, the Buddha and his society, the Yadus, Kosala, and Magadha. The sixth chapter studies state and religion in Greater Magadha, including Magadhan conquest, statecraft, land administration, commodity production, and Aśoka. The final chapter examines the movement toward feudalism through changes in priesthood, Buddhism, politics, economy, and Sanskrit literary culture.