Rajasthan, also known as Rajwarra, Raethan and Rajputana, is the land of the great Indian desert, of a hardy folk, a veritable treasure-trove of ancient lore, music, dance, ballads and myths. Present day Rajasthan came into being when nineteen princely states and the two chiefdoms of Rajputana were merged together between 1948 and 1950. Added to this, in 1956, were Ajmer, Merwar and several other zones. The region has a long history, that goes as far back as the pre-historic stone ages. A History of Rajasthan covers a broad spectrum, encompassing the political, socio-cultural and economic history of Rajasthan from its earliest beginnings till the middle of the twentieth century. Comprehensive yet easy-to-read, this text will be appreciated by scholars and general readers alike. A History of Rajasthan uses various archival, epigraphical, numerical, architectural, archaeological and aesthetical information as well as traditional narratives and oral and written chronicles, to provide a general overview of aspects like literature, religion, art and architecture, socio-economic conditions, science and technology, as well as the lives of ordinary people and the subaltern.