CONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1 1.1 Predominant factors that have shaped the Culture of northwestern India. 1.1.1 Geographical isolation a cause for characteristic evolution of common ideas, symbols and diversity of Indian culture (Unity of Indian tradition) 1.1.2 Two climatic zones represent two types of civilizations intertwined through socio-regional opportunities 1.1.3 Influx and Incubation of foreign peoples, cultures and ideas due to an isolated yet accessible Geographical situation 1.2 Social development and structures 1.2.1 From family groupings to the first kingdoms 1.2.2 Vedic period in the Indian subcontinent ? religious ideologies? embracing a way of life 1.2.3 The turning point ? dissolution of the empire and formation of the city states 1.2.4 Mediaeval Hindu Civilization - settling of the socio - political cloud of contesting city states, c. 770-1200 1.3 Ideas associated to the Development of the state system in the Indian subcontinent 1.3.1 Rg Vedic society of the pastoralists - leadership to lineage and the underlying system of comodities redistribution in pre-state situation 1.4 Rajput states - rise of a feudalist martial society 1.4.1 The socio - political order 1.4.2 Chain of mutual authority and subordination - forming the network for the redistributive system of the Rajput society 1.5 Ideas related to the built form of the palace 1.5.1 Rajput palaces as culmination of evolved ideas of state sovereignty 1.5.2 Built form as a continuum in space - end note clarifying and revisiting intent of research Chapter 2 2.1 Ethnic understanding of the Rajputs 2.1.1 Fall out of the Gupta empire and the emergence of the Rajput ruling class 2.1.2 Rajaputra - origin and evolution 2.1.3 Origin marked by the fire pit legend ? Anhulcoond at the summit of Mount 2.2 Rajput state society 2.2.1 Clans and their territorial influence 2.2.2 Expansion and growth of the ruling clans of Rajputana 2.3 Political system of the Rajput states - a brief description 2.3.1 Right to governing authority, Exercise of jurisdiction, claim to clan dominion and Privileged status or separate jurisdiction to rulers 2.3.2 The Chain of mutual authority and subordination 2.4 A general introduction to the cases 2.4.1 Amber 2.4.2 Bundi 2.4.3 Bundela a. Orchha b. Datia c. Tikamgarh d. Seondha 2.4.4 Bhainsrorgarh 2.4.5 Indergarh 2.5 Forts and palaces - Massing and organizational ideas Chapter 3 - Case studies 3.1 Amber 3.1.1 Historical background, Religious influence and Socio-Economic Background 3.1.2 Development of palace form with a linear growth pattern - Amber 3.1.3 Self evolving language of the linearly developing form 3.2 Orchha and Datia 3.2.1 Historical (political) background, Religious influence and Socio-Economic Background 3.2.2 Modifications of an applied religious diagram / Evolution of the sqaure plan based Bundela palaces of orchha and Datia 3.3 Indergarh 3.3.1 Introduction to the history of Indergarh 3.3.2 Development of an organic whole culminating in the creation of a majestic facade Conclusion 4 Indergarh Measured Drawings Bibliography Illustration credits Acknowledgments