ABSTRACT

This is the first full-length history of early Kashmir locating it beyond its regional context, from pre-history to the thirteenth century. Drawing on a variety of sources—including conventional archaeological and literary sources, as well as non-conventional sources like philology, toponym and surnames—it presents a connected history of early Kashmir over the longue duree. It challenges tendencies towards nationalist historiographies of the region by situating it in the context of the shared histories of humanity. The volume will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of history, archaeology, anthropology and South Asian studies.

chapter 1|26 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|62 pages

A Mosaic of Plural Sources

Immigrations, Interactions and the Cultural Foundations of Kashmir

chapter 3|96 pages

A World Within a World

Encounters With Cosmopolitan Ecumenes and Transculturation (From Greeks to Huns)

chapter 4|84 pages

Empire at the Frontier

The Kashmir Empire and Cross-Cultural Networks (Karkotas to Loharas)

chapter 5|12 pages

Shared History

Kashmir and the Immediate Borderlands

chapter 6|8 pages

Conclusion