This book provides evidence that the ancient Vedic tradition that is presently centered in India was once a global culture that affected and influenced regions around the world.

Western scholars have argued that Indian civilization was the joint product of an invading Indo-European people--the "Indo-Aryans"--and indigenous non-Indo European peoples. Although Indian scholars reject this European reconstruction of their country's history, Western scholarship gives little heed to their argument. In this book, Edwin Bryant explores the nature and origins of this fascinating debate.

This book shows how the planet's earliest civilization lead the world in both material and spiritual progress. From the Vedic culture of ancient India thousands of years ago, we find the origins of such things as mathematics, especially algebra and geometry, as well as early astronomy and planetary observations, many instances of which can be read in the historical Vedic texts. Medicine in Ayurveda was also the first to prescribe herbs for the remedy of disease, surgical instruments for operations, and more. Other developments that were far superior and ahead of the rest of the world include:* Writing and language, especially the development of sophisticated Sanskrit;* Metallurgy and making the best known steel at the time;* Ship building and global maritime trade; * Textiles and the dying of fabric for which India was known all over the world;* Agricultural and botanical achievements;* Precise Vedic arts in painting, dance and music;* The educational systems and the most famous of the early universities, like Nalanda and Takshashila;* The source of individual freedom and fair government, and the character and actions of rulers; * Military and the earliest of martial arts;* Along with some of the most intricate, deep and profound of all philosophies and spiritual paths, which became the basis of many religions that followed later around the world. These and more are the developments that came from India, much of which has been forgotten, but should again be recognized as the heritage of the ancient Indian Vedic tradition that continues to inspire humanity.

The Vedic tradition of India is rooted in Sanatana Dharma, the eternal and universal truths that are beneficial to everyone. It includes many avenues of self-development that an increasing number of people from the West are starting to investigate and use, including: Yoga Meditation and spiritual practice Vedic astrology Ayurveda Vedic gemology Vastu or home arrangement Environmental awareness Vegetarianism Social cooperation Global peace And much more Vedic Culture shows the advantages of the Vedic paths of improvement and self-discovery that you can use in your own life to attain personal awareness, happiness, and fulfillment. It also provides a new view of what these avenues have to offer from some of the most prominent writers on Vedic culture in the West, who discovered how it has affected and benefited their own lives. For the benefit of individuals and for social progress, the Vedic system is as relevant today as it was in ancient times. Discover why there is a growing renaissance in what the Vedic tradition has to offer in Vedic Culture.

Ancient History of India's Vedic Culture Vedic culture has its own history, the tradition of which takes it back to the beginning of time. This book is not a typical review of the history of India, but explains what the pre-historic traditional Vedic background is, its basis, and how it developed and expanded through time. We also look at a number of artifacts that prove the ancient existence of some of the most important aspects of the Vedic customs, and how the tradition itself describes its developments. This book also helps show that the spiritual philosophy of Vedic culture seeded many of the other civilizations in their beliefs that evolved in various regions of the world. Some of the topics we view include: * Descriptions in the Vedic texts on the way the world was created. * The prehistoric date of Vedic beginnings. * How the Vedic knowledge was given to humanity. * The way the Vedic texts came from an ancient oral tradition and then was compiled by the sage Vyasadeva, and then disseminated to society. * The antiquity of Vedic culture and the Indus Valley civilization. * The times of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, and proof of Krishna's existence. * The real time line of Lord Buddha. * The first recorded migrations out of ancient India of tribes that formed other civilizations. * Astronomical dating of the Vedas and events recorded in the Mahabharata, and more.

Vedic civilization is rooted in the culture and traditions of the vedas. The vedas as we know, are the commandments of the God. Hence, Vedic civilization has survived the ravages of time, in spite of successive invasions of the alien civilizations. Limited aims of this book is to compile some of the unique perspectives of Vedic Civilization both at macro and micro levels.