The History of India, as Told by its Own Historians
The Muhammadan Period

This comprehensive eight-volume collection (1867–77) includes descriptions of the texts of Islamic history, translations of extracts, and background information.

Henry Miers Elliot (Author), John Dowson (Edited by)

9781108055833, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 March 2013

582 pages, 1 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3.3 cm, 0.73 kg

This extensive eight-volume work was first published between 1867 and 1877 by the linguist John Dowson (1820–81) from the manuscripts of the colonial administrator and scholar Sir Henry Miers Elliot (1808–53). Before his death, hoping to bolster British colonial ideology, Elliot had intended to evaluate scores of Arabic and Persian historians of India, believing that his translations would demonstrate the violence of the Muslim rulers and 'make our native subjects more sensible of the immense advantages accruing to them under the mildness and the equity of our rule'. Volume 1 contains introductory material and Elliot's original preface; early Arab geographers' chronicles, including Ibn Khordadbeh's ninth-century Book of Roads and Kingdoms and tenth-century works by Estakhri and Ibn Hawqal; histories of Sindh, including the Chach Nama; and extensive appendices giving further contextual information and ethnographic notes on India.

Preliminary note
Editor's preface
Original preface
Notice of Sir Henry M. Elliot
Part I. Early Arab Geographers: 1. The merchant Sulaiman and Abu Zaid
2. Ibn Khurdadba
3. A Masudi
4. Al Istakhri
5. Ibn Haukal
6. Suru-l Buldan
7. Rashidu-d Din, from Al Biruni
8. Al Idrisi
9. Al Kazwini
Part II. Historians of Sind: 1. Mujmalu-t Tawarikh
2. Futuhu-l Buldan
3. Chach-nama
4. Tarikhu-s Sind
5. Tarikh-i Tahiri
6. Beg-Lar-nama
7. Tarkhan-nama or Arghun-nama
8. Tuhfatu-l Kiram
Appendix A. Geographical
Appendix B. Historical
Appendix C. Ethnological
Appendix D. Miscellaneous.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]