The book is a generalizing work on the history and culture of ancient India. The authors used a variety of sources - materials of epigraphy, numismatics, monuments of literature. The work sets out political and social history, tells about the formation of mythological and religious ideas, philosophical ideas, about the art and science of the period under consideration. Particular attention is paid to the history of the three largest empires - Mauryev, Kushan, Gupt. The latest archaeological research made it possible to recreate the appearance of one of the oldest civilizations in the east - the Harappan.