WINNER OF THE KLUGE PRIZE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT 2008 Early India a complete rewrite of Romila Thapar s A History of India (Volume 1) brings to life thousands of years of India s precolonial history: its prehistoric beginnings; the great cities of the Indus civilization; the emergence of mighty dynasties such as the Mauryas, Guptas and Cholas; the teachings of the Buddha; the creation of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana; and the evolution of regional cultures. In exploring subjects as diverse as marriage, class, art, erotica and astronomy, Thapar provides an incomparably vivid and nuanced picture of India, creating a rich mosaic of diverse kingdoms, landscapes, languages and beliefs.