Ancient India

From the first agricultural settlement more than 7,000 years ago to the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great and the vast Maurya Empire, ancient India tells a story interweaved with captivating legends and cultural legacy.

Today's view of history cannot account for ancient anomalies, such as the Pyramids and advanced knowledge contained in India's Vedas. But in 1894, an Indian sage gave us an explanation not only for our hidden past but for the trends of today and for our future enlightenment - the 24,000-year yuga cycle.

Twenty-five years in the making, this anthology of centuries-old folk tales from the villages of South Asia recreate the oral traditions of old. Treat yourself to 27 old-fashioned short stories of kings, princesses, fools, wisemen, talking animals, treacherous villains, and unlikely heroes. Plucked and distilled from the anthropological literature, these tales hearken to a simpler time and faraway places, when old and young alike were entertained by fireside storytellers who wandered from village to village to ply their yarn-spinning trade.

In this landmark work, one of the world's most renowned Egyptologists tells the epic story of this great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its final absorption into the Roman Empire - 3,000 years of wild drama, bold spectacle, and unforgettable characters. Award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson captures not only the lavish pomp and artistic grandeur of this land of pyramids and pharaohs but for the first time reveals the constant propaganda and repression that were its foundations.

In The Golden Road, revered historian William Dalrymple corrects the record, telling the captivating story of ancient India’s ascent through a swift and breathtaking tour of the ideas and places Indians created. Treks into the sunless depths of cave monasteries illuminate the origins and spread of Buddhism. Far-flung archaeological expeditions—from the sand-blown Red Sea coast of Egypt, to Afghan mountain refuges, to verdant Cambodian jungles—reveal the impact of Indian commerce.

This is the first volume in a bold new series that tells the stories of all peoples, connecting historical events from Europe to the Middle East to the far coast of China, while still giving weight to the characteristics of each country. Susan Wise Bauer provides both sweeping scope and vivid attention to the individual lives that give flesh to abstract assertions about human history. This narrative history employs the methods of "history from beneath" - literature, epic traditions, private letters, and accounts - to connect kings and leaders with the lives of those they ruled.

Embark on a captivating journey into the heart of ancient wisdom with "The Emerald Tablets of Thoth: A Beginner's Guide." This illuminating book serves as your gateway to understanding the profound teachings of Thoth, the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom, writing, and magic, whose insights have fascinated scholars, seekers, and mystics for millennia. Discover the Mysteries of the Cosmos: Unlock the secrets of the universe as revealed by Thoth, guiding you through concepts of time, space, and the nature of reality itself. Transformative Wisdom at Your Fingertips: Learn how the Hermetic ...

From Graham Hancock, best-selling author of Fingerprints of the Gods, comes a mesmerizing book that takes us on a captivating underwater voyage to find the ruins of a lost civilization that's been hidden for thousands of years beneath the world's oceans. While Graham Hancock is no stranger to stirring up heated controversy among scientific experts, his books and television documentaries have intrigued millions of people around the world and influenced many to rethink their views about the origins of human civilization.

Roughly half the world's population speaks languages derived from a shared linguistic source known as Proto-Indo-European. But who were the early speakers of this ancient mother tongue, and how did they manage to spread it around the globe? The Horse, the Wheel, and Language solves a puzzle that has vexed scholars for two centuries and recovers a magnificent and influential civilization from the past.

Leo Tolstoy's classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky.

Whatever we may think of Alexander - whether Great or only lucky, a civilizer or a sociopath - most people do not regard him as a religious leader. And yet religion permeated all aspects of his career. When he used religion astutely, he and his army prospered. In Egypt, he performed the ceremonies needed to be pharaoh, and thus became a god as well as a priest. Babylon surrendered to him partly because he agreed to become a sacred king. When Alexander disregarded religion, he and his army suffered. In Iran, for instance, where he refused to be crowned and even destroyed a shrine, resistance against him mounted.

A report of a fascinating find in India: an ancient manuscript, large enough to fill a library, containing prophecies concerning the lives of millions of individuals yet unborn. A careful and unbiased account, this booklet might unsettle the confidence of a few listeners in the absoluteness of our modern understanding of reality. The Book of Bhrigu, its origins hidden in the mists of time, can predict events with uncanny accuracy. Swami Kriyananda explores the origins of this incredible manuscript, including his own adventures with Bhrigu readers in India.

Many stories have stood the test of time, but this selection have entranced audiences for thousands of years and remain as fresh today as they were when first told. A fascinating collection which gives vivid insights into lives in ancient times and the issues that occupied the people of the day.

The Mahabharata and the Ramayana, two of India's greatest epics and foundational texts for modern Hinduism, both center on the supreme deity Vishnu and his two most adored incarnations, Krishna and Rama. These Epic books include a richness of philosophy and religion, as well as instructions for living a moral and upright life, all of which are woven throughout the tales that make up its heart. This book provides the reader with an understanding of the main events that shape the narratives, and further analyzes the characters, messages, and lessons that may be inferred.

Get ready to embark on a legendary adventure through ancient India – where gods, warriors, and magical creatures await! From epic battles to mischievous monkey gods, ancient India is bursting with stories of bravery, wisdom, and adventure that have inspired people for thousands of years. Wave goodbye to those boring history books – this one is packed with tales that will make you giggle, gasp, and even cheer out loud!

In this compact yet comprehensive history of ancient Greece, Thomas R. Martin brings alive Greek civilization from its Stone Age roots to the fourth century BC. Focusing on the development of the Greek city-state and the society, culture, and architecture of Athens in its Golden Age, Martin integrates political, military, social, and cultural history in a book that will appeal to students and general audiences alike. Now in its second edition, this classic work now features updates throughout.

This comprehensive history sets yoga in its global cultural context for the first time. It leads us on a fascinating journey across the world, from arcane religious rituals and medieval body-magic, through muscular Christianity and the British Raj, to the Indian nationalist movement and the arrival of yoga in the 20th-century West. We discover how the practice reached its present-day ubiquity and how it became embedded in powerful social currents shaping the world's future.

These discourses are drawn from the sacred text of 'Agasthiyar Vazhipaadu' where Sage Agastya reveals the truth about Creation and walks us through 'time' itself, as he lovingly lays bare the world as it is now, and what must be done to change the way we live. In a series of practical down to earth explanations, Sage Agastya lays bare deeper meanings of different aspects of life. Questions such as, why is there an increase in population? Why some die at birth? Is rebirth necessary? What is that we must do to change ourselves, and thus, walk on the path to liberation? are all answered in ...

Kalidasa: The Great Poet and Playwright of Ancient India is a concise non-fiction book that explores the life and work of one of the most celebrated poets and playwrights in Indian history. Kalidasa's work is known for its beauty, insight, and enduring relevance. His plays and poems are still performed and studied today, and his influence can be seen in a wide range of fields, from literature and art to philosophy and religion. This book provides a comprehensive overview of Kalidasa's body of work, including his famous plays Abhijnanashakuntalam and Vikramōrvaśīyam, as well as his epic ...

Kashmir, Gujarat, and the Punjab: The Ancient and Modern History of India’s Politically Divided States on the Border with Pakistan examines the various regions, the different civilizations that lived there, and what took place there over the last 5,000 years. You will learn about Kashmir, Gujarat, and the Punjab like never before.