A Textbook of Medieval Indian History

A Textbook of Medieval Indian History studies aspects of the political history of medieval India and examines the socio-economic changes, administrative innovations, and cultural ferments during this period with special reference to literature, religion and art and architecture. This handsomely illustrated textbook covers Indian history from the eighth to eighteenth centuries and analyses the development of Indian society and culture that led to the medieval mindset and in doing so locates the historiographical debates surrounding such an analysis. It provides a valuable introduction to topics such as the coming of the Turks, the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, the rise of the Vijayanagar and Bahamani kingdoms, the rule of the Mughals, the progress of Maratha power and the advent of the Europeans.

Written in a simple and lucid style, this textbook is designed specially for students of medieval India. To make this book really invaluable. The author has provided a detailed chronology of events, an exhaustive bibliography, interesting photographs and some maps to help students contextualize the location of historical places and events.

Sailendra Nath Sen, formerly Professor of History, University of Calcutta, is now an Honorary Professor of History, and Fellow, Asiatic Society. He has done pioneering works on the history of the Marathas and published several works on them, including Anglo-Maratha Relations during the Administration of Warren Hastings, 1772-1785 (1961, repr. 1994) and Anglo-Maratha Relations, 1785-1796 (1974, repr. 1994). He two-volume project on the history of the Marathas entitled Fall of the Maratha Empire, 1796-1818, is forthcoming.

Professor Sen’s other publications include Ancient Indian History and Civilization (2nd edn, 1999), History of the Freedom Movement in India (4th edn, 2009). A textbook of Indian History and Culture (2007), An Advanced History of Modern India (2010), Chandernagore: From Bondage to Freedom, 1900-1955 (2012).

The book deals with the medieval period of Indian history and is primarily meant for undergraduate and Senior Secondary students. It is a stupendous task to encompass about 1,000 years of Indian history in one single volume. However, the main landmarks of medieval Indian history including the social, economic and cultural developments of the medieval period have been incorporated. A plethora of recent researches on medieval Indian history has appeared in recent times and I have tried to garner the labours of historians in a harmonious way. Maps, chronological tables and select bibliography have been added to evoke curiosity of students for further studies.