A revised and updated historical analysis of modern India's expanding population, industry and economy, which also considers her future. The author evenly portrays the heights of Indian civilization, and the depths of its socio-sexual inequities, and economic and political corruption.

In this work, the author has condensed over 4000 years of continuity and development into a single digestable volume. It discusses modern India's rapidly growing population and even more rapidly expanding industry and economy within the context of the country's past, as well as considering the prospects for India's future. Throughout, Wolpert strives to record history fairly and truthfully, portraying with clarity and intensity both the brightest achievements of Indian civilization, and the darkest depths of its persistent socio-sexual inequities, and economic and political corruption. This edition has been revised and updated with a new preface and a new final chapter reflecting the significant social, political and economic issues which have occurred since 1997. This work is intended for students of Indian history.

Preface
List of Maps
1. The Ecological Setting
2. Indus Culture (ca. 2500-1600 B.C.)
3. The Aryan Age (ca. 1500-1000 B.C.)
4. North Indian Conquest and Unification (ca. 1000-450 B.C.)
5. India's First Imperial Unification (326-184 B.C.)
6. Political Fragmentation and Economic and Cultural Enrichment (ca. 184 B.C.-A.D. 320)
7. The Classical Age (A.D. 320-ca. 700)
8. The Impact of Islam (ca. 711-1556)
9. Mughal Imperial Unification (1556-1605)
10. Western Europe's Vanguard (1498-1669)
11. Great Mughal Glory (1605-1707)
12. Twilight of the Mughal Empire (1707-64)
13. John Company Raj (1765-93)
14. The New Mughals (1793-1848)
15. Unification, Modernization, and Revolt (1848-58)
16. Crown Rule--A New Order (1858-77)
17. Indian Nationalism--The First Movement (1885-1905)
18. The Machine Solidifies (1885-1905)
19. Revolt, Repression, and Reform (1905-12)
20. The Impact of World War One (1914-19)
21. Toward Independence (1920-39)
22. The Impact of World War Two (1939-46)
23. The Nehru Era (1947-64)
24. From Collective Leadership to Indira Raj (1964-77)
25. Shifting Coalition Sands
26. India Today
Bibliography
Glossary
Index