Sources: South Asia: An Environmental History

Abstract

Ranging from prehistory to the present and encompassing the whole of South Asia, this new volume offers the first chronological history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka from the perspective of the crucial reciprocal relationship between humankind and the environment. South Asia: An Environmental History shows how the civilizations of this geographically diverse region were formed (physically, ethically, and culturally) by their interactions with the environment--a relationship with particularly strong social and spiritual dimensions because of the interdependence of the predominantly agrarian population and the land. Specific topics range from ancient irrigation techniques and peasant adaptation to the environment, to the impact of imperialism on nature, the effect of post-colonial technology on contemporary life, and the enduring influence of religion on the way South Asian societies address ecological issues. Preliminaries; CONTENTS; Series Foreword; Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1 THE ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING; 2 THE INDUS CIVILIZATION AND THE ARYAN IMPACT; 3 THE MAURYAN EMPIRE AND THE CLASSICAL AGE; 4 IMPERIAL INTERLUDE; 5 THE RISE AND FALL OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE; 6 COMPANY RULE; 7 IMPERIUM 1858 1947; 8 SRI LANKA AND NEPAL IN THE MODERN ERA; 9 INDEPENDENCE AND PARTITION; 10 SOUTH ASIA SINCE 1947; 11 CONCLUSION; 12 CASE STUDIES; Important People Events and Concepts; Chronology; Bibliographic Essay; Bibliography; Glossary; Index; About the Author.