Introduction
Nature of Indian Historical Tradition
Sources of Indian History
The Puranas as Historical Records
The Genealogies of Kings
Chronology and Time Calculation in Ancient India
Dynasties and Lineages
The Itihasa-Purana Tradition
Myth and History: Differentiation and Overlap
Interpretation of Historical Material.

Ancient Indian Historical Tradition by F.E. Pargiter is a seminal work that examines the reliability, structure, and significance of India’s ancient historical writings, especially those found in the Puranas, epics, and other early texts. Pargiter argues that although these sources are often interwoven with myth and legend, they contain a core of historical truth that, when critically analyzed, can help reconstruct India’s early political and cultural history.
The book explores royal genealogies, dynastic lists, and chronological traditions, particularly those preserved in the Puranic literature, to trace the evolution of historical consciousness in ancient India. Pargiter attempts to place ancient Indian traditions into a historical framework by applying rigorous historical methods, challenging the prevailing notion at the time that Indians lacked a sense of history.