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