The Making of Early Medieval India

The Making of Early Medieval India is a collection of essays which together seek to explore the processes and nature of change in Indian society over a period of about six hundred years, approximately between the seventh and the thirteenth centuries. The notion of change articulated in these essays marks a radical departure from what exists in the current historiography of the period. Change here is shown as being represented by processes of progressive transformation, and not - as in the available visions of the period - by the breakdown of an earlier social order. Laying methodological stress on identifying and analysing major historical processes at a pan-Indian level, as well as in relation to different territorial segments, the essays thus provide an alternative perspective on the making of early medieval society in India. The empirical material which is examined in depth in these essays relates to diverse themes: irrigation; urbanization; the formation of a dominant ruling caste and political processes; and the structure of polity in general. The Introductory essay provides an overview of historiography, as well as of the major directions of its change. It makes cross-regional references in order to underline the fact that comparable processes of change were in operation in all parts of the country.