Ancient India: From the Earliest Times to the First Century, A. D.

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About Ancient India: From The Earliest Times To The First

India has one of the most fascinating ancient histories of the entire globe.The Indian subcontinent was first populated around 75,000 years ago.From this time until the 1st century A.D. this land proved to be fertile ground for the emergence of fascinating states with varying religions, technologies, languages and cultures.Many of these aspects of the ancient civilizations remain with us today, including the religions of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.E. J. Rapson, a scholar from the University of Cambridge, aimed to provide a history of this fascinating land that was not only informative but also accessible to all readers.Through the course of the book he discusses various aspects of this period and the civilizations that emerged, including during the Vedic period and that of the Upanishads, as well covering the lives of famous rulers such as Ashoka the Great who ruled the Maurya Empire.Rapson uncovers the impact that the various invasions of India had, from the Persians, the Parthians and Scythians, along with he famous invasion of the Macedonians under Alexander the Great.Particularly interesting is how there emerged a number of prominent and rival religions in ancient India that still remain with us today including Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.This book is essential for all readers who are fascinated by Indian culture and religion and who wish to find out more about this remarkable subcontinent’s history and origins.E. J. Rapson was professor of Sanskrit at the University of Cambridge. Rapson spent time on secondment from the College at the Department of Coins and Medals of the British Museum, where he was Assistant Keeper of Coins and Medals and was reckoned to have an uncanny ability to be able to identify ancient coins merely by feel. His work Ancient India was first published in 1914. Rapson passed away in 1937.