Rural Economy and Society of Ancient Orissa (C. A.D. 400-1000)

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Rural settlements. 3. Village landholding. 4. Agrarian system. 5. Rural social groups. 6. Rural arts, crafts and industries. 7. Rural economy. 8. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.

"This pioneering book is an honest effort to unravel the conditions of rural life and economy of ancient Orissa (c. A.D. 400-1000) based chiefly on epigraphic sources and thus, it is a comprehensive, critical and compact study on the subject.

"A major concern of the present work is to study and highlight every bit of information available from the epigraphic records with regard to the rural economy and society of ancient Orissa, from 4 century A.D. to 10 century A.D. in an objective way with scientific historical analysis.

"This work being the first major study in the field of rural life of ancient Orissa throws new light on rural settlements, village landholdings, agrarian system, rural social groups, arts, crafts and industries, and rural economy. The author has made a judicious use of epigraphic evidences to provide a fascinating overview and a detailed cogent analysis of various aspects of ancient Orissan rural society and economy. For the serious readers and research scholars, who are working on society and economy, this book will provide a new insight into the early Orissan history." (jacket)