Situating Medieval India: Polity, Society and Culture
By Surinder Singh
Boydell / Manohar Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-83765-125-2
Something of an overview of the history of India between the 11th and 18th centuries, this book examines a number of topics related to society and culture. The focus is often how the rulers of the region were often Muslims while the majority of its people were Hindu.
Excerpt:
Medieval India, for the purpose of this book, constitutes a span of six hundred years from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century. Bureaucrats of the colonial state took the lead in writing the history of this period. Since the medieval states thrived under a ruling class that was largely Muslim, the political institutions were designated in religious terms. This facile interpretation lost grounding owing to increased availability of Persian chronicles, emergence of a class of professional historians and progressive forces emanating from the anti-colonial movement. Though the historians kept their focus on ruling dynasties and important rulers, efforts were made to explore the impact of state policies on a predominantly agrarian society. Simultaneously, attention was drawn to the development of a cultural fusion, with reference to new spiritual currents and art forms. In the post-independence period, we come across a wider variety of sources and their more critical use.
Who is this book for?
While this book is probably too academic for a general audience, those interested in medieval India will find themselves learning much within its pages. It also offers a useful case study of how different religions co-existed in the pre-modern period.
The Author
Surinder Singh was formerly a professor at Panjab University and has authored several books and articles related to the history and medieval history of the Indian subcontinent.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
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