Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan

A landmark historical work, written at the cusp of modernity in the early nineteenth century, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan was Lieutenant Colonel James Tod’s classic tribute to this grand desert region of India. Tod, mesmerized by this region and its inhabitants the Rajpoots, dedicated himself to examining everything about Rajasthan through indigenous documentation, architectural relics, inscriptions, and medieval poetry. For twenty years, he delved deep into its long history, its legends and folklore, its social customs and its art. He also conducted geographical research and made the first accurate map of Rajasthan in 1815.

This pioneering book condenses the two thick volumes of Tod’s Annals and presents them in an accessible and comprehensive manner. While Tod’s original style has been preserved, some gaps and inaccuracies have been clarified by the author. A treasury of invaluable material for historians and general readers alike, the Annals cover the history of six important regions of Rajasthan—Mewar, Marwar, Jessulmer, Bikaner, Amber, and Haravati—and give an engaging account of Rajpoot life from the twelfth century onwards. Many of the surviving traditions of Rajpoots that have their roots in bloody battles, tribal conquests, or petty rivalries, and the Rajpoots’ inherent chivalry, loyalty, devotion and zeal have been perceptively discussed.