List of Illustrations vii
List of Maps viii
Foreword ix
Introduction xi
1 The Land and Its Early History 1
2 Inroads of Armies and Ideas (500 B.C.E.–700 C.E.) 22
3 The Coming of Islam (700–1526) 41
4 The Mughal Period (1526–1748) 67
5 Trading Company Wars (1748–1858) 94
6 The Raj Era (1858–1909) 114
7 The Road to Independence (1909–1947) 138
8 The Challenges of Independence (1947–1958) 160
9 Military Rule (1958–1971) 183
10 Between East and West (1971–1988) 202
11 Civilian Rule Restored (1988–1999) 225
12 A Return to the World Stage (1999–2008) 253
Appendixes
1 Glossary 282
2 Basic Facts about Pakistan 286
3 Chronology 291
4 Bibliography 300
5 Suggested Reading 307
Index 312