Sources of Indian Tradition, Vol. 1: From the Beginning to 1800 (Introduction to Oriental Civilizations) [Paperback]

Ainslee T. Embree (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1988 | ISBN-10: 0231066511 | ISBN-13: 978-0231066518 | Edition: 2nd

Since 1958 Sources of Indian Tradition has been one of the most important and widely used texts on civilization in South Asia (now the nation-sates of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal). It has helped generations of students and lay readers understand how leading thinkers there have looked at life, the traditions of their ancestors, and the world they live in.

This second edition has been extensively revised, with much new material added. Introductory essays explain the particular settings in which these thinkers have expressed their ideas about religious, social, political, and economic questions. Brief summaries precede each passage from their writings or sayings.

The traditions represented include Brahmanism, Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. The book includes a chronology of Indian history from 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1858.

(Robert P. Goldman, University of California, Berkeley )

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a serious, careful, dependable book, broader and more varied even than the old Sources .... It is also easy to read, to look at, and to hear; the new translations are always sound, often charming, and occasionally quite brilliant. This is the primary study of Indian civilization." -- Wendy Doniger University of Chicago

"This reader constitutes the most complete and useful sourcebook on the intellectual history of India anywhere. The translations and the brief but pointed explanatory materials are of the highest quality and insure that this work will continue to be essential to any well-conceived introductory course on the civilizations of India and Asia." -- Robert P. Goldman University of California, Berkeley

For over thirty years, anyone seriously interested in India has always had to keep a copy of this classic within arm's reach. Sources of Indian Tradition is so useful,as a reference work, sourcebook, or textbook,that it has been indispensable to scholars all over the world. I welcome the 'return' of this important work to the marketplace. Better still, I am delighted to note that, in matters of fine-tuning, this is an improved and updated and revised edition. -- Robert Eric Frykenberg University of Wisonsin, Madison

Review

This is a serious, careful, dependable book, broader and more varied even than the old Sources.... It is also easy to read, to look at, and to hear; the new translations are always sound, often charming, and occasionally quite brilliant. This is the primary study of Indian civilization.

(Wendy Doniger, University of Chicago )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 547 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press; 2nd edition (April 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231066511
• ISBN-13: 978-0231066518
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > History > Asia > Pakistan

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference book on India, August 11, 2000

By 

Michael P. McGarry (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sources of Indian Tradition, Vol. 1: From the Beginning to 1800 (Introduction to Oriental Civilizations) (Paperback)

India has one of the richest and most intricate cultures in the world. Imagine a book that compiled all the ancient sources of this culture into a single volume. This book is as close to that ideal as possible. This volume covers India from pre-historic times until the mid 18th century. It includes selections from the Vedas and the Upanishads, foundational Hindu texts; selections from important Jain texts; and selections from early Theravadan and Mahayanan Buddhist texts. It them embarks on an elaborate discussion of Hinduism, organized on the four goals of life -- *dharma*, *artha*, *kama*, and *moksha* (the section on *moksha* contains selections from the *Bhagavad Gita*, other scriptures, and the writings of mystics & saints). The last section of the anthology is a detailed treatment of the Muslims period in India, from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Overall, this is an invaluable sourcebook for anyone who wants to know more about the history of India.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for anyone interested in India, June 29, 2009

By 

David Fowler (Santa Barbara, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sources of Indian Tradition, Vol. 1: From the Beginning to 1800 (Introduction to Oriental Civilizations) (Paperback)

This book is an essential part of one's study of India and her history (to the end of the Mughal dynasty). In fact, it might very well be the most often used "textbook" in college courses on the subject. Countless students of Indic civilization, including myself, have cut their teeth on it and there is good reason. Professor Embree, the father of South Asian Studies in the USA, and an array of other notable scholars have written introductions to, and translated excerpts from, some of the most important texts in Indic religious, political and social history. That said, however, the emphasis is on religious developments - with major chapters on Vedic, Upanishadic, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Hindu devotional and Islamic traditions (among other topics). In sum, this is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in India. A must have - period!

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable primary source for those interested in South Asian history, December 11, 2010

By 

Fay89 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sources of Indian Tradition, Vol. 1: From the Beginning to 1800 (Introduction to Oriental Civilizations) (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It is such an excellent source of information, especially since South Asian history always seemed so obscure to me in the past even though I'm Bangladehsi myself and have always been keen to learn about the history of my region.