Prehistory

Prehistory is part of a larger project, a People’s History of India, but is also intended to stand alone as an independent monograph. In this book, as well as others in the series, the style is sought to be kept simple without making it ‘popular’, rhetorical or inexact.

The book is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 treats in brief the geological formation of India, and changes in its climate and natural environment in so far as these relate to an understanding of the country’s prehistory and history. Chapter 2 provides the story of man, first in the global context and then in India. Chapter 3 describes the coming of agriculture and the beginnings of exploitative relationships.

Technical or controversial matters that need special attention are dealt with in notes appended to each chapter. There are bibliographical notes, where the more important books and articles covering the subject of the chapter are listed with brief comments. There are also tables, maps and figures, which are useful aids in understanding the subject as well as interesting in themselves.