An Agrarian History of South Asia

This comprehensive study provides a vital reframing of South Asian history through the lens of agriculture, challenging the notion of a single civilization by mapping the diverse regional landscapes that have shaped the subcontinent's development. Ludden's long-term historical analysis begins with the first millennium's agricultural expansion, tracing how farming communities gradually displaced pastoral and tribal groups across varied ecological zones. The book meticulously documents how distinct agrarian regions developed their own social structures, cultural practices, and political dynamics over centuries. This regional approach reveals the complex patchwork of agricultural societies that collectively constitute South Asia's economic foundation.

What distinguishes this work is its commitment to regional specificity over civilizational generalization, offering readers a nuanced understanding of how local environmental conditions and farming practices influenced broader historical trajectories. Students of economic history and development studies will find particularly valuable insights into the enduring patterns of rural life and state formation. By connecting ancient agricultural transformations to modern political economies, the book illuminates continuity and change in South Asia's rural landscapes. This regional framework ultimately provides an essential tool for comprehending the deep historical roots of contemporary agrarian issues across the subcontinent.