Ali Athar

Socio-Cultural and Technological Development in Medieval India Ali Athar

This volume contains well researched papers based on primary sources and archaeological explorations and presents new findings on medieval Indian administration, culture, science and technology. It also has a study of new literary sources, both Persian and Europeans, with a full section to literary sources. The section on state and administration highlights Central Asian and European influence on state craft and the army. Mysticism and its impact on medieval policy, architecture and the new genre of literature known as 'Shahr Ashob' helps in the reconstruction of the eighteenth-century history of Shah- Jahanabad. The chapter on science and technology studies the military technology of the Delhi Sultanate and the impact of metal technology of the later Mughal period on the state of Bikaner in the skill development of both urban and rural workers. This chapter also includes a study of water harvesting and agricultural produce. This volume covers a large canvas of medieval Indian history examining many unexplored aspects of the period.