Dějiny Indie

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Author or Creator

Date

2008

Description

en This book represents a collaborative endeavor involving a team of respected Czech Indologists from the Oriental Institute and active at faculties of Charles University, under the leadership of Jaroslav Strnad. The group of scholars undertook a gargantuan task of presenting to readers the civilisation of Indian subcontinent tracing its history from the very beginnings, when the latest archaeological research pushes the dating of the first settlements ever deeper into the past. They focus on the period of the emergence of Buddhism, which currently arouses interest of people even in traditionally Christian countries to an unprecedented extent. The authors mapped the origins of first state formations, the fates of their powerful dynasties, note the emergence of the caste system and the impact of Islam. The book then turns to modern history, which is permanently marked by English colonization and the struggle of Indians against foreign domination, but also by the mutual rivalries between Indians themselves, the creation of the states of Pakistan and Bangladesh, accompanied by permanent conflicts. The individual parts were written by experts who deal with the given issue as part of their professional activities in the areas of research and education. The book soon became an authoritative reference of many pilgrims and travellers seeking knowledge, adventure or another way of life. This scholarly work has been awarded the 2003 Josef Hlávka Prize for the Humanities.

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