The Archaeology of Seafaring in Ancient South Asia

by Himanshu Prabha Ray

Overview

Himanshu Prabha Ray looks at the maritime orientation of communities of the Indian subcontinent prior to European expansion. She uses archaeological data to reveal the connections between the early history of peninsular South Asia and its Asian and Mediterranean partners in the Indian Ocean region. Differing from traditional works on the subject, the book discusses maritime history in the broader sense of ancient seafaring activity, religious travel and political economy rather than focusing specifically on maritime trade and shipping.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521804554
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/14/2003
Series:	Cambridge World Archaeology
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	7.13(w) x 10.08(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Himanshu Prabha Ray is Associate Professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Table of Contents

Part I. Historiography and the Maritime Landscape: 1. The perspective; 2. Historiography; 3. The maritime landscape; 4. Geographical knowledge of the Indian Ocean in antiquity: Part II. Fishing and Sailing Communities: Cross-Cultural Contacts; 5. Marine and coastal resources; 6. Maritime communities; 7. Boat nomads; 8. Piracy; 9. Fishing communities: the historical record; 10. Sailing communities: Part III. La Longue Durée: Transportation; Boat-Building Technology and Navigation: 11. Archaeology of the boat; 12. The stitched tradition; 13. Early European response; 14. The ethnographic evidence; 15. Boat-building centres; 16. Traditional navigation; 17. Ownership of vessels; 18. Organisation of shipping; 19. Organisation of shipping; 20. Innovation and change; 21. Repair and maintenance; 22. Chronology of disjunction: Part IV. Maritime Trade Networks: The Beginnings (third-second millenia BCE); 23. Mesopotamian contacts; 24. The Persian Gulf and early maritime networks; 25. The Harappan civilization; 26. The maritime regions of the Harappans; 27. Networks of trade: internal; 28. Transition and change: Part V. Regional Integration: (late second - first millennium BCE); 29. The Persian Gulf; 30. Socotra; 31. Peninsular India; 32. Sri Lanka; 33. Southeast Asia: Part VI. Consolidation of Political Structure: 34. The setting; 35. Political concepts in early Buddhism: theory and practice; 36. Satavahanas and their successors; 37. Alliance as political strategy; 38. The early policies in Sri Lanka; 39. Political developments in early Southeast Asia; 40. Royalty and ritual: Part VII. The Greeks: Adventurers, Traders and Travellers; 41. The explorers; 42. Hellenistic settlements; 43. The Nabataeans, Sabeans and Gerrhaeans; 44. The maritime network; 45. Christian communities: Part VIII. Merchant Lineage and the Guild; 46. Merchant communities and interaction with the state; 47. Organisation of inland trade; 48. The Indian Ocean network; 49. Foreigners and trade networks; 50. Money and the use of coins: Part IX. Multiple Meanings: Craft Production and Trade Networks: 51. The trading commodities; 52. The textiles; 53. Beads; 54. Ivory; 55. Metal artefacts; 56. Organisation of crafts: Part X Shared Faith: 57. Social base of early Buddhism; 58. The worship of the Stupa and the Relics; 59. Pilgrimage; 60. Ritual and ceremony; 61. Buddhism and maritime activity; 62. Archaeology of monastic sites; 63. Continuity and change: Part XI. Retrospect and Prospect: 64. In conclusion; 65. Future research strategy.

Editorial Reviews

"Finally, maritime historians will rejoice that we now have our first sea-focussed discussion of the early history of South Asia." International Journal of Maritime History

From the Publisher