I. Background : premodern historiography --
II. Modern western historiography --
III. Historiography in modern India --
IV. Critiques of mainstream historiography.

This book is primarily concerned with the emergence, growth, climax and partial decline of modernity in historical thoughts and writings, with particular reference to Europe and India. This is done by examining relatively more organized forms of historical thoughts and their expression in historical writings since the Renaissance in Europe and from the late eighteenth century in India. The pre-modern histories are discussed to underline the then prevailing diversity in the representation of past as well as to trace the line of descent to modern historiography. This book analytically takes into account a wide range of historiographical trends over a very long period of time. It is very broad ranging in its scope, arranged chronologically, written clearly and simply, and is comprehensive in its treatment of the prominent strands of historiography that a post graduate course would cover.