History is the knowledge of past events. It is thus a systematic account of the origin and progress of the world. It evaluates all the developments in science, in art, in politics, in war, in religion and in law. 

History should be studied because it is essential to individuals and to society, and because it harbors beauty. There are many ways to discuss the real functions of the subject, as there are many different historical talents and many different paths to historical meaning. 

All definitions of history’s utility, however, rely on two  fundamental facts. (1) History helps us understand people and societies and (2) History helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be. In the first place, history offers a storehouse of information about how people and societies behave. The second reason history is inescapable as a subject of serious study follows closely on the first. The past causes the present, and so the future.

History, then, provides the only extensive materials available to study the human condition. It also focuses attention on the complex processes of social change, including the factors that are causing change around us today. Here, at base, are the two related reasons many people become enthralled with the examination of the past and why our society requires and encourages the study of history as a major subject in the schools.

In this book we have broadly covered Indian History and Culture from the ancient time to modern times with constitutional development under the Company and British Crown including the development of social and economic life in the ancient India, the coming of Muslims and its impact on Indian society with their administrative policies and the advent of European and the impact of British rule. This book provides a short cut to the students of the 5 year law degree course to enable them to get a broad understanding of the topics that would be covered under the revised syllabus with effect from the academic year 2009-2010.