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PRELUDE
The present region of Gujarat has preserved sumptuous dated material in the form of inscriptions coins and manuscripts. This material furnishes a valuable source evidence for the political and cultural history. Some of the records throw interesting light on various facets of the history of the country.
From the time of the Mauryas to the Solanki Period, a large number of dated inscriptions and coins are known in Gujarat. Thanks to the efforts of several distinguished scholars, these have been deciphered and published. As regards the dated manuscripts, not all have seen light of the day. A large number of them are preserved in museums, temples and public & private collections. It will take sufficient time to salvage some of these valuable documents.
In this country the idea of genealogy and chronology goes back to hoary antiquity. There are references in the Rgveda and other Vedic texts indicating that the idea of days, lunar months and the luni-solar year was known to the Vedic Aryans. The mathematical accounts in the Vedic literature contain useful material in this regard.
The knowledge of chronological recording developed in course of time. It became more precise in nature with the advancement in other branches of learning, such as geography and astronomy and in multifarious human activities.
From the Mauryan period to the Medieval times, the documentary history of Gujarat is available in an authentic form. During this long period, Gujarat (including Suråștra) witnessed various political ups and downs. In spite of it, the cultural development was not adversely affected in this region. Gujarat played a significant role in the economic stability of the country through the media
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