Rethinking India's past / by R. S. Sharma

Includes index.

Introduction : Looking at ancient social formations -- Sources and review of early socio-economic history -- Exploiting history through archaeology -- Writings on early Indian polity -- Studies in ancient polity -- Early story of oriental despotism : a critique -- Writings on Sudras -- Historiography of the ancient social order -- Light on Sati system -- Some western views on the state and economy in early India -- Mode of production in ancient India -- Stages in ancient economy -- Transition from ancient to medieval -- Introducing early Medieval Indian society -- How feudal Was Indian Feudalism? -- Historical archaeology and Urban Decay -- Social changes in early medieval India (circa AD 500-1200) -- Need for an integrated approach -- Main trends in Indian history -- From kin to class -- Rahula Sankrityayana and social changes -- Rethinking the past