The land and its early history -- Inroads of armies and ideas (500 B.C.E.-700 C.E.) -- The coming of Islam (711-1526) -- The Mughal Period (1526-1748) -- British inroads (1748-1858) -- The Raj Era (1858-1909) -- The road to independence (1909-1947) -- The challenges of independence (1947- 1958) -- A sate of transition (1958-1971) -- Between East and West (1971-1987) -- Search for stability (1987-1999) -- A place on the world stage