Includes bibliographical references and index.

"This is the first sweeping one-volume overview of Indian history, from the beginning of the Indus Valley Civilization to the twenty-first century. Audrey Truschke weaves together military, social, religious, dynastic, and literary history to give the reader a sense of the many ways of comprehending "India," understood not only as the modern nation-state but also the pre-national connotations that encompassed greater South Asia. Truschke approaches the dizzying array of linguistic communities, religions, and cultures of the subcontinent through different voices, paying attention to those at the top of the political class as well as to female voices, untouchables, and non-dominant religious perspectives. A readable and ambitious history written for general readers and students, India: A History features relatively short, digestible chapters. Source material enlivens the historical storylines, and each chapter has a short list of suggested readings. Throughout the book, religious studies intertwines with archeology and paleography, anthropology mixes with political science, and art and literature meet historiography to paint an expansive portrait of India over four thousand years. Today in India and Pakistan, we are witness to violent impulses to purify the region of syncretism and traditions of conviviality. In turn, Truschke illustrates how imperative it is to view the historical truth about India with critical attention and an open mind to its diversity"--