Historiography Of Medieval India

Research in Medieval Indian History has changed from theme to theme over last two hundred years. History of history writing in one of the recent areas which has attracted the attention of the historians. The present work tries to assess the writings on Medieval Indian History with particular reference to works of Professor Mohammad Habib. In an area of emerging nationalism and growing consciousness for religious identity, history played a major role in the construction of such ideas. Mohammad Habib stands out as a historian who took a holistic view of the past. His work on Mahmud of Ghaznain gave a new turn to the writing of Medieval Indian History. His exposition of the past using Marxist tools gave a new dimension to Indian Historiography. He proved to be the beginning from where many later historians have taken cue and started journey of history writing. His works need to be studied thoroughly and examined in relation with later writings, in order to have a correct picture of the past. The author has tried to bring forth those aspects of Medieval Indian History which need to be discussed at length. It would surely go a long way in raising questions in the minds of serious researchers in the discipline and benefit all those who want to have a correct picture of the Medieval past.

This Book Deals With The Medieval Period Of Indian History. Most Of The Historians Consider This Period As The Dark Period Of Indian History. According To Them, Ancient Period Was The Glorious Period Of Indian History. During This Period Foundation Of Indian Culture And Of Social Structure Was Laid; But During Medieval Period India Did Not Make Much Progress. In Spite Of Historians' Opinion, It Can Be Said That During Medieval Period Also Progress Was Made And Several Buildings Were Constructed During This Period. Great Development Was Made In Art, Painting And Literature. Hindi Literature Made Great Progress During This Period, As Such, Kabir, Tulsi, Surdas, Jayasi, Rahim And Raskhan Are Still Considered Among The Greatest Writers Of Hindi Literature.Urdu, Punjabi And Other Regional Literatures Made Great Progress During This Period. Sikh Religion, Bhakti Cult And Sufism Also Made Great Progress During This Period.This Book Deals With All Aspects Of Medieval Indian History In Detail To Meet The Requirements Of The Students And The Common Readers.The Book Is Divided Into Three Parts. First Part Covers Saltanat Period From 1206 To 1526. Second Part Deals With The Mughal Period From 1526 To 1760 A.D. In Detail. Third Part Covers Period Upto 1857 In Brief. Bhakti Movement, Society And Culture, Art And Architecture, And Economic Aspects Have Been Described In Details In A Very Simple And Lucid Style.

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The Present Work Starts With The Theme Of Decentring Of History And How, In The Context Of Decolonization And Goes On To Assess The Impact Of Central Asian Ideas And Institutions On Indian History During The 10Th To 14Th Centuries, And The Growing Concept Of Historiography In The Country. The Book Also Discusses The Concept And Evolution Of Different Types Of Islamic States In India-Orthodox, Moderate, Liberal And Secularist.

Description: The present work is based on an extensive and critical study of the historical literature of medieval India and provides fresh perspectives for its interpretation and analysis. The introductory chapter identifies different types of literature, political and non-political, available for reconstructing the history of medieval India. The author's views about historiographical concepts and conspectus of the medieval historians are original and thought-provoking. Holding the view that a study of the thought-process of a historian should precede the utilization of data supplied by him, the author has x-rayed the prejudices, predilections, motives, and objectives of Minhaj, Barani, Abul Fazl and others with remarkable insight and erudition. The author's psycho-historical method of analysis and interpretation makes the work extremely fascinating and informative. The author has drawn attention to the historical value of the table talks of the Sufi saints of medieval India, has highlighted the importance of historical literature produced during the reign of Akbar, has established the apocryphal nature of the so-called autobiography of Muhammad b. Tughluq, and has shown that the Futuhat-i-Firuz Shahi was an inscription and should not be taken as a complete exposition of the policies of Firoz Shah Tughluq. The work is a valuable addition to literature on medieval Indian Historiography.

Cultural History Of Medieval India Is A Part Of The Series, Readings In History. The Books In This Series Have Been Edited And Put Together By Eminent Historians For Their Students. This Anthology Of Readings Seeks To Explore Indian Culture In The Medieval Period Through Five Themes: Kingship Traditions, Social Processes Of Religious Devotion, Inter-Cultural Perception, Forms Of Identities, And Aesthetics. Written By Well-Known Scholars, The Eleven Essays In This Book Present Sub-Cultures In Diverse Regional Settings Of The Subcontinent. The Articles Suggest That Culture Does Not Exist As Fragments Of The Great And Little , Or Classic And Folk In Any Given Tradition. In Fact, Variants Within A Given Tradition Interact With One Another And Assimilate New Characteristics Over Time. These Interactions Also Take Place Across Boundaries Of Different Religious And Cultural Spheres, And In The Process, Give Meaning To The Notions Of The 'Self' And The 'Other'. In An Attempt To Define The 'Other' One Discovers The 'Self'. These Readings Introduce A New Way Of Understanding Medieval Indian History By Engaging With Interdisciplinary Methods Of Research On Issues That Are Significant To Everyday Existence In A Plural Society Like That Of India. This Book Will Be Of Great Value To Students Of History, As Well As To Other Readers Interested In The Culture Of The Medieval Period In India.

The book provides a comprehensive account of the social, religious and economic conditions and policies from the Sultanate to the Mughal period in early medieval India. It details the account of the three centuries known for its Islamic influence and rule and the presence of formidable dynasties. The book provides a sound understanding of the history of the period and also evinces the learnings of mutual quarrels and internecine war.

Presents a consolidated timeline of medieval India by taking into account the period that marked the end of ancient India, and focusing on the importance of the transitory centuries when Delhi had begun to surface as the new power center, triggering prominent trends in thought and institutions. This book analyzes the nature of social forces, complexity of causation and the interdependence of change and continuity in the light of the crucial transition from ancient to early medieval India, with the emergence of the Delhi Sultanate and the Vijayanagar-Bahmani kingdoms. Proceeding to detail the most effervescent period in Indian history - the era of the great Mughals - the text provides an insight into the ideological-philosophical basis of the times, focusing on the Sufi and Bhakti movements, and culminates with the rise of the Marathas, the advent of European companies, and the eventual establishment of the British in Bengal. keeping in mind that the history of medieval India has not moved in a linear fashion, and that much of the period saw phases of expansion and realignment of political attributes, this book contributes to a deeper understanding of the much misread period of Indian history with a view that takes into account the resultant interface between the political, social, economic, religious and cultural elements and devotes to this crucial period the attention it deserves.