The Making of Early Kashmir Intercultural Networks and Identity Formation

This is the first full-length history of early Kashmir locating it beyond its regional context, from pre-history to the thirteenth century. Drawing on a variety of sources—including conventional archaeological and literary sources, as well as non-conventional sources like philology, toponym and surnames—it presents a connected history of early Kashmir over the longue duree. It challenges tendencies towards nationalist historiographies of the region by situating it in the context of the shared histories of humanity. The volume will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of history, archaeology, anthropology and South Asian studies.

List of figures Preface 1 Introduction 2 A Mosaic of Plural Sources: Immigrations, Interactions and the Cultural Foundations of Kashmir 3 A World Within a World: Encounters With Cosmopolitan Ecumenes and Transculturation (From Greeks to Huns) 4 Empire at the Frontier: The Kashmir Empire and Cross-Cultural Networks (Karkotas to Loharas) 5 Shared History: Kashmir and the Immediate Borderlands 6 Conclusion Bibliography Index

Muhammad Ashraf Wani is former Professor and Head, Department of History, Dean, Social Sciences and Dean, Academic Affairs at the University of Kashmir. He has also served as Sectional President of the Indian History Congress and as a member of the Indian Council of Historical Research. He is the author of Islam in Kashmir and the co-author of Prehistory of Kashmir. For many years now, he has developed interest in early history of Kashmir and the present work is the outcome of this academic preoccupation of the author. Aman Ashraf Wani is Senior lecturer in the School Education Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. He has done PhD in ancient history of Kashmir and is the co-author of Prehistory of Kashmir.