Chronology of Gujarat

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

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PRELUDE TO HISTORY
The history of man enters on a very crucial phase with the invention of writing, which enabled him to record his intellectual heritage to posterity. But, let it be noted, that this so-called era of civilization is a minute fraction of the total span of time when man emerged on this planet of ours, nearly a million years ago. The existence of these literary records enable the historian to reconstruct a more complete story of our civilization in space, and more important thing, in time.
In this volume dealing with Chronology, naturally, the chronological history is being presented. Hence following the general definition of Pre-history-as the story of man before the advent of writing--the Pre-historic as well as the legendary periods are being treated as a Prelude to the Chronological History'.
Gujarat, like most of the outlying provinces of India begins its history-or historical chronology-with the advent of the Mauryan rule in Western India with Girinagara or Junagadh as the headquarters of a Vice-royalty. The other well-known phase of Indian culture is the civilization which spread from the Indus basin to the peninsula of Saurāṣtra across the seas.
This Chalcolithic culture had a system of alphabets or script, which has not been satisfactorily deciphered yet. Hence this phase, like the one revealed by the Purāṇas and other Sanskrit literature, will be treated as ' Proto-history.' Yet, this too is, in a sense, a prelude to the chronological history of Gujarat.'
Pre-history of Gujarat :
The geologists call the age of man the 'Pleistocene'. This period was characterized by violent fluctuations of climate affecting the land-surfaces, sea-levels and the rivers, which are very sensitive instruments for recording these changes in environment. Besides, the rivers provided the water which attracted man and his prey, the animals whom he hunted and eked out a livelihood.
The Early Man of this period was not very different from the animals which surrounded him. Since he lived on the banks of these rivers, their history gives us an idea of the various vicissitudes through which man passed. Hence the rivers speak of the history of man that lived on their banks.
Gujarat can be divided into two large natural divisions--the plain of Gujarat from the south of the Aravallis upto Daman and the peninsula of Saurāṣtra. Gujarat is drained by the rivers-(north to south ) Sabarmati, Mahi, Narmadā and Tāpi, besides a number