Social & Culture History of the Punjab by J.S. Grewal

The ‘Punjab’ of this book is a metaphor for the geographical region sur­rounded by the Himalayas, the Great Indian Desert, the Aravali hills and the river Jamuna. During a period of about 4000 years up to ad 1000, the cultural boundaries of this region did not coincide with its geographical boundaries and there were sub-regional differences as well. There was a great deal of interaction with the outside world and between sub-regions. The socio-cultural dynamics of the region are well reflected in the different periods?of?its?history.

Seen from the regional angle, the Harappan civilization reveals sub-regional diversities and continuation in a rural setting. The Rigvedic culture appears to be a regional rather than an ethnic articulation. The formation of states within the region and its incorporation in empires set the stage for trade and urbanization, and for new socio-cultural formations. For the first time the great importance of Buddhism in the region gets under­scored. Gradually, however, it was replaced by Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism.

• Society & culture
• History
• Punjabi History
• Punjabi Language

ENG- English

• Hardcover