Below is an easy-to-browse gallery
of books that cater to those who are interested in visiting Pakistan or learning
more about its ancient past. The majority of descriptions below are by independent
editors. Feel free to purchase these books directly from Amazon.com!
A
Peaceful Realm : The Rise And Fall of the Indus Civilization:
An outstandingly vivid recreation of one of the world's great yet all-but-lost
ancient civilizations. Some 5000 years ago, civilized societies emerged in the
valleys of four great rivers: the Nile, the Euphrates, the Yellow, and the Indus.
Of these primary Old World civilizations, that of the Indus remains the least
known and the most enigmatic, though, paradoxically, it has left perhaps the most
lasting influence on the societies that followed it. In this lucid account - abundantly
illustrated with maps and photographs...
Jane McIntosh addresses what we
know about the rise and fall of the civilization of the Indus and Saraswati valleys,
what it might be reasonable to speculate, and what we still hope to learn. While
drawing on archaeological and linguistic evidence to create a portrait of the
civilization from the inside, McIntosh also carefully pieces together a wider
picture of the Indus civilization using evidence from its trading partners in
Mesopotamia, the Persian Gulf, the Indian subcontinent, and Southwest Asia. The
result is an outstandingly vivid recreation of one of the world's great but all-but-lost
ancient civilizations.
Finding Forgotten Cities: How the Indus
Civilization was Discovered :
"I could hardly put her book down. It is an enticingly well-written history
of the beginnings of Indian archaeology and the first biography of its kind of
the leading figure Sir John Marshall."--Asko Parpola, Times Higher Education
Supplement.
Ancient Buddhist Scrolls from Gandhara:
The British Library Kharosthi Fragments :
In 1994, the British Library received a collection of 29 birch bark scrolls from
Gandhara, an area in northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. Written in Kharosthi
script, the scrolls are believed to be the oldest Buddhist manuscripts as well
as the oldest Indian manuscripts known to exist, estimated at nearly 2000 years
old. Salomon (Asian languages and literature, Univ. of Washington), head of a
team of scholars from the University of Washington and the British Library, has
written this first volume in a projected series on the scrolls as an overview
of their general importance.
The introduction warns that some of the material
may be too technical or esoteric for the lay reader and thoughtfully points out
which chapters are more accessible. A great deal of information is carefully presented,
ranging from how the manuscripts were preserved through their general place in
early Gandharan and Buddhist culture and what they may reveal. For collections
in museum studies, archaeology, and ancient languages and linguistics, this is
an important source. For Buddhist studies collections, it is indispensable.AMark
Woodhouse, Elmira Coll., NY Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
A world-renowned photographer's spectacular tribute to the land and people of
this remote region. The Vale of Kashmir celebrates the people and landscape of
Kashmir and the unique way of life that has developed there. John Isaac set out
to create a work that would honor both the cultural complexity and the breathtaking
beauty of this exotic region.
In lush color, he captures the varied details
of daily life: canals crowded with houseboats and floating gardens on Dal Lake,
the ancient city of Srinagar, the harvesting of saffron, Hindu pilgrimages through
the mountains, shepherds on the Himalayan slopes, prayers at the mosque, and the
private realm of family life. Isaac writes: "There is something very magical
about this place." Here is historical Kashmir, not the country torn apart
by war. This is an enchanted and enchanting land seen in 160 magnificent color
images from a master photographer. 160 color photographs.
Pakistan & the Karakoram Highway (Country
Guide) :
Travel the Karakoram Highway along the route of the fabled Silk Road. Come face
to face with ancient Indus Valley civilizations at Moenjodaro. Answer the call
of a million-dollar mosque with rocketing minarets and tent-like design. Wind
along narrow roads from Peshawar to the legendary Khyber Pass...
Culture Shock! Pakistan: A Guide to Customs
and Etiquette :
You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another
country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll
learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit
to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit
from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious
practices and making friends.
There are tips on political traditions, building
business relationships, and the particular intricacies of setting up a home or
office. Great for the business traveler, the foreign exchange student, or the
tourist who makes a sincere attempt to cross the bridge into a new and exciting
culture.
An outstandingly vivid recreation of one of the world's great yet all-but-lost
ancient civilizations. Some 5000 years ago, civilized societies emerged in the
valleys of four great rivers: the Nile, the Euphrates, the Yellow, and the Indus.
Of these primary Old World civilizations, that of the Indus remains the least
known and the most enigmatic, though, paradoxically, it has left perhaps the most
lasting influence on the societies that followed it. In this lucid account - abundantly
illustrated with maps and photographs...
"I could hardly put her book down. It is an enticingly well-written history
of the beginnings of Indian archaeology and the first biography of its kind of
the leading figure Sir John Marshall."--Asko Parpola, Times Higher Education
Supplement.
In 1994, the British Library received a collection of 29 birch bark scrolls from
Gandhara, an area in northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. Written in Kharosthi
script, the scrolls are believed to be the oldest Buddhist manuscripts as well
as the oldest Indian manuscripts known to exist, estimated at nearly 2000 years
old. Salomon (Asian languages and literature, Univ. of Washington), head of a
team of scholars from the University of Washington and the British Library, has
written this first volume in a projected series on the scrolls as an overview
of their general importance. 
A world-renowned photographer's spectacular tribute to the land and people of
this remote region. The Vale of Kashmir celebrates the people and landscape of
Kashmir and the unique way of life that has developed there. John Isaac set out
to create a work that would honor both the cultural complexity and the breathtaking
beauty of this exotic region. 
Travel the Karakoram Highway along the route of the fabled Silk Road. Come face
to face with ancient Indus Valley civilizations at Moenjodaro. Answer the call
of a million-dollar mosque with rocketing minarets and tent-like design. Wind
along narrow roads from Peshawar to the legendary Khyber Pass...
You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another
country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll
learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit
to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit
from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious
practices and making friends. 
