History of Bangladesh: Early Bengal in Regional Perspectives (up to C. 1200 CE) (Set of 2 Volumes): Vol. 1: Archaeology, Political History, Polity. Vol. 2: Society, Economy, Culture (Hardcover)

The first volume looks into the historical geography of the ancient region and its inhabitants by combining perspectives of historical geography and anthropology; it also pays meticulous attention to the pre-literate phase in the early history of Bengal. One of the salient features of this volume is the thrust on field archaeological aterials which offer the most reliable window to grasp the transition from the pre-literate to the early historic times (up to c. 300CE). Elaborate discussions on political history have been also accommodated as new epigraphic and numismatic sources have led to the considerable rewriting of the political history of the regions and sub-regions (especially of the Pala period and of Southeastern Bangladesh). The understanding of the polity and nature of the state forms another important aspect of discussion in the first volume. Volume 2 takes a close look at economic life, circulation of money and different media of exchange, social life (including the relevance of the varna-jati norms and the question of gender), everyday life, religious beliefs and practices (Brahmanical, Buddhist, Jaina and Ajivika), art activities (terracotta art, sculpture, iconography, painting and architecture) and language and literature. The last point is of crucial significance as the language Bangla is the quintessential marker of identity of the inhabitants of Bengal; it is from the ninth-tenth centuries that the earliest traces of the vernacular, Bangla, are traceable in historical sources. Each chapter combines the state of the art of the subject concerned with the specific researches of the contributor(s) who have meticulously highlighted the regional features and the subregional diversities. Rich in empirical details, the chapters offer critical analyses of available data in view of the current historiographical issues and debates. The two volumes are expected to fill a long-felt gap in the historiography of early Bengal and will