Classical Civilization: India

Cunningham, Kevin.  Classical Civilization: India.    Morgan Reynolds  2013   112p  28.95 978-159935175-9   ms/hs  series: World History  History  VG-BNS     

This introduction to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and subsequent Indian eras, which puts all of them into the context of world history, is quite comprehensive, with colorful photographs and discussion of literature, archaeology, religion, language and trade.  The ancient cultures and their discoveries in modern times are thoroughly discussed, and many concepts such as monsoon, the caste system, and warring religious groups are introduced and explained.  The language is fairly easy to read for middle-school and high-school students.  The addition of more maps would have been most welcome, as, for example, when areas like the Punjab or Bengal are mentioned, and there is no map to illustrate to students where these areas are.  Even a map of modern-day India would have been helpful for these discussions.

The glossary and extensive list of resources, both print and web-based, is good.

One glaring mistake, however, appears on the verso of the “Contents” page, where a map of ancient India refers to a circled area thus: “Ancient Greece with the Indus River Valley area is highlighted.”  The first four words of that sentence should be deleted in future editions!  They are misleading. 

The series World History includes books on early river civilizations, the Americas before 1492, European colonizations of the Americas and Africa, and Greece and Rome, as well as this book on ancient India.     

Summary: This introduction to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and subsequent Indian eras, which puts them in the context of world history, is comprehensive, with colorful photographs and discussion of literature, archaeology, religion, language and trade.    

Ancient India                                         --Carol Kennedy