Life, Thought And Culture In India (Vol.1 Part 2)

by G.C.Pande Ed.

The first part of volume 1, The Dawn of Indian Civilization up to 600 BC, published earlier traces the development of civilization in India up to the end of the vedic age. The second part presented here begins with the epics the sutras formulating systems of philosophies the sciences and the heterodox movements and goes on to trace up to AD 300 the emergence of a new civic order in the ancient lands of Taxila and Pataliputra among others. This efflorescence is reflected in the new traditions of art beginning with the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the enrichment of material culture as evidenced in the Arthasastra in the expansion of oceanic trade eloquently described in the Periplus Maris Erythraei and in the new movements of universal salvation such as mahayana. G.C. Pande thinker, scholar, historian, regarded internationally as an authority on Buddhsim and ancient Indian culture joined the university of Allahabad his alma mater as lecturer in history after receiving his D.Phil in 1947. Later he became professor and head of the department of history at three universities-----Gorakhpur, Rajasthan and Allahabad.