Chronology of Gujarat

Author(s): M R Majumdar
Publisher: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

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CHRONOLOGY OF GUJARAT
In this volume it is proposed to collect events and dates from the political, literary and cultural history of Gujarat, and tabulate them in chronological sequence, with their corresponding dates given in the margin. These dates represent the years B.C. or A.D. If only approximate, they are marked Circa'. Original dates of the local Eras that were current through the ages are given in the body of the text. In cases where sufficient chronological data for certain events are not available, the approximate period is given. This approximate dating will often help the reader to trace their contemporaneity with known events and objects.
(iii) Periods in Political History: The period covered by the present Volume is of a very wide range, spreading as it does, over more than a millenium. The Chronology of the Pre-historic and Proto-historic periods, is, by nature, vague and unsettled. Even for the historic period included in this volume, there still remain many lacunae and wide gaps, and opinions of scholars are widely divided over the chronology of a number of events during the extensive range from prehistory to history.
The dates and events in this work are, therefore, tabulated by dividing them into different “ Periods" or "Sections ", so as to bring the various dynasties of political history prominently before the readers. Each of these Periods' form, as it were, a Chapter with relation to the entire Volume of the Chronology. Each Period' is prefixed with an
Introductory Historical Note', before the Chronological Years, which are followed by a Note on Antiquities'. The 'Art-Plates' that follow, illustrate the 'Antiquities'. The division in 'Periods' is as follows:
Periods in Gujarat Chronology:
(From Early Times to 942 A.D.) Section :
Prelude to Gujarat History (Pre-and Proto-history). Pre-Mauryan Period:
(-Pre 322 B.C.). III Mauryan Period:
(C. 322 B.C.—185 B.C.). IV Indo-Greek Period:
(c. 185 B.C.—78 A.D.). Kşatrapa Period:
( 78 A.D.-397-8 A.D.). VI Gupta Period:
(C. 400 A.D.-470 A.D.). VII Maitraka-Gurjara Period: (c. 470 A.D.-745 A.D.). VIII Rāştrakūța-Pratihāra Period: (c. 745-942 A.D.).
(iv) Term Gujarat' defined: The term 'Gujarat' is used in two different senses: firstly, to denote the main land between the areas west of Mount Abu and south of Damangangā. It occupies an important part of the Western sea-board of India from Sindh to Bombay; and secondly, the much larger language field in which Gujarāti is spoken. On account of the political and cultural affinities of Gujarat with Rājasthān and Mālwā, during the period under review, it has been decided to incorporate certain historical data of these areas also, to give a comprehensive picture.
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