This book describes the history and culture of Madhya Pradesh from the earliest times to 1305 A.D. This region is known as the heart of India on account of its central position. Its regional variations led to cultural diversities. This book deals with stone tools, fossils, rockshelters, pottery, coins, inscriptions, monuments and sculptures which help in reconstructing the history. An attempt has also been made to correlate the culture and traditions of literary works with the archaeological evidence. The contributions of Madhya Pradesh to Indian culture remained profound. Polity, religion, art, education, literature, sciences, economy and society of Madhya Pradesh have been discussed. The importance of this region during the Pradyota-Maurya period was next only to Magadha. The Sunga-Satavahana-Saka period was of great prosperity as known from the discovery of numerous coins. Buddhism became very popular. The problem of the historicity of Vikramaditya has also been discussed. During the Gupta-Aulikara period, new local dynasties rose to power in their respective regions and became prosperous. The Kingdom of South Kosala became powerful during the Post-Aulikara period. Politically and culturally, the early medieval period is of great importance. A large number of copper plate grants were issued to the Brahmanas for the preservation of Vedic culture and for enlightening the tribal areas. Saivism became the dominant religion of the masses, and Jainism appealed to the merchants. Several Sikhara temples were constructed and numerous images were placed in them. Old castes disappeared and new castes were formed. There was a revival of money economy because of great prosperity. This study written in lucid expressive style is appended with bibliography, eighteen maps and one hundred one illustrations and will be of great interest to the students and research scholars of history.
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