[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [Ancient Indian Historical Tradition](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922) › c20.3 # Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c20.3 Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c20.3 - **Language:** English ### [c20.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c20.3) It is noteworthy that this theory of the four ages did not apply to the whole world. It is declared repeatedly that these ages prevailed in India (\*Bhārata varṣa\*),¹ and the descriptions of the other continents (\*varṣa\*) say nothing about the ages occurring there,² and portray conditions incompatible therewith. The four ages therefore concerned India only, and it is declared that they prevailed only in India.³ The position of these ages in the seventy-one four-age periods which made up a \*manvantara\*⁴ in the cosmological scheme was therefore a later elaboration. The early idea was that the four ages were a peculiarity of India alone, hence obviously the explanation of them must be sought in the conditions of ancient India. - [Previous: c20.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c20.2) - [Next: c20.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c20.4) - [Up: c20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c20) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c20.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c20.3) · Pramāṇa