[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [The Chronology of India, from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899) › c2 # The Chronology of India, from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century c2: Preface The Chronology of India, from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century c2 - **Language:** English ### Preface ### [c2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.1) THE plan of arrangement followed in the present work is generally that of Fynes Clinton's "Epitome of the Chronologies of Greece and Rome," with such modifications as the nature of the subject has made necessary. The book consists, therefore, of a table of events in chronological order. The marginal date represents the year B.C. or A.D. If only approximate it is printed in italics. Where a date for an event exists in a native era it is printed by the side of its equivalent marginal date, the source from which it is drawn, whether numismatic or epigraphical, being, as a rule, indicated. ### [c2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.2) As regards the classification of the entries, the work follows Clinton's method in giving first the civil and then the literary dates. When several events occur under the same date, they are roughly grouped according to their relative importance. Events in Northern India take precedence generally of those in Southern India. ### [c2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.3) Each entry is accompanied by references to the sources from which it is derived, save in the case of well-established and easily verifiable facts. To facilitate matters for those engaged in epigraphical research references to inscriptions are specially noted. If an inscription is quoted in the first line of an entry as authority for the marginal date, the first reference usually indicates the latest edition of that inscription. To avoid undue multiplication of references, the quotation of a work containing the bibliography of a subject has been taken as equivalent to enumerating the references it contains. ### [c2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.4) The aim of the book being to give, as far as possible, ascertained dates, such as can only be fixed very indefinitely are excluded. In the case of kings whose only reliable dates are drawn from epigraphical or numismatic sources, no attempt has been made, save in rare exceptions, to calculate the approximate length of their reigns. This method necessarily excludes from the Tables those members of a dynasty of whom no dated records exist. As, however, their names are supplied in the Dynastic Lists in the Appendix it will be quite easy to refer to them. In a work like this absolute consistency is hardly attainable. On the whole, however, the book will be found to follow the lines indicated, deviations being justified by some special circumstance. ### [c2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.5) With regard to the Muhammadan portion of the Chronology, the Persian histories edited by Sir Henry Elliot and Professor Dowson, supplemented by the British Museum Coin Catalogues and the works of Elphinstone, Briggs, Price, Clive Bayley, Blochmann, and others, have supplied a great deal of material. The work which has, however, yielded the most trustworthy data for the earlier period of Muhammadan rule in India and the countries on its North-Western frontier is Major Raverty's \*Ṭabaqāt-i-Nāṣirī\*, which with its minute examination of doubtful points, its numerous corrections of chronological errors, and its store of facts drawn from other contemporary writers, makes it invaluable for the purposes of a work like this. Unfortunately this history extends only to about the middle of the thirteenth century, and consequently for the succeeding period we are thrown back on much less trustworthy sources. In converting the Hijra dates into those of our era, pains have been taken to ensure their accuracy. ### [c2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.6) Any work on Indian Chronology must for the present be somewhat tentative. Though much has been done in the elucidation of problems, much still remains to be done. This present work can, therefore, lay no claim to finality, though it is hoped the attempt to organize some of the accumulated stores of information on the subject may make future research easier and the results of past research more generally available than they have hitherto been. ### [c2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.7) To those who have aided me in the work I am deeply grateful. Amongst others my thanks are due to the authorities at the India Office, the British Museum, and the Royal Asiatic Society for the courtesy and kindness with which they have facilitated my task. Amongst those who have rendered me very material help are Dr. J. McCrindle and Dr. M. A. Stein, the one having supplied me with the entries relating to Alexander's Indian campaigns, and the other with the whole series of historical events as chronicled in the \*Rājatarangiṇī\*. My thanks are also due to Mr. Fleet, who lent me the advance copy of his second edition of the \*Kanarese Dynasties\*, thus enabling me to supplement the material derived from the earlier edition. Professors Kielhorn and Bendall, Dr. Steingass, Major Raverty, and Mr. Rapson have shown me unvarying courtesy in answering the questions with which I have had from time to time to trouble them. Another whom it is now too late to thank, was the late Dr. Bühler, whose wide knowledge of all aspects of Indian chronology made his advice and help invaluable. To Professor Douglas of the British Museum and Mr. Watters I am indebted for help in the transliteration of Chinese names. In the arduous task of proof-reading I have had valuable aid from Miss C. M. Ridding and the Rev. Mr. Gwynne of Soho, both of whom I thank for the trouble taken on my behalf. Finally, I wish to thank Dr. James Burgess for the advice and help he has continually given me since I began the work. It is not too much to say that the book, in its present form, owes its existence to his careful and thoughtful planning. Nearly the whole of the MS. has been read through by him, and the advice he has given on details of arrangement and classification has been invaluable. I owe to him also much information from out-of-the-way sources, to which, without his aid, I should have had little opportunity of access. ### [c2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.8) C. M. DUFF. ### [c2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2.9) 5, \*Brunswick Gardens\*, \*Kensington, W.\* ## Linked texts (2) - [Rājataraṅgiṇī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.historical.kashmir.rajatarangini) — Kalhaṇa, Sanskrit - [Ṭabaqāt-i Nāṣirī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri) — Minhāj al-Dīn Jūzjānī --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.duff-1899.c2) · Pramāṇa