SAA Rizvi’s The Wonder that was India–Volume II is a groundbreaking enquiry into the history of India during the period of Islamic political dominance in the subcontinent. Through meticulous research and painstaking study, Rizvi pieces together a comprehensive account of the five hundred years between the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries, detailing the political histories of the Arabs, Turks, Afghans and Mughals. From his exploration of the social and economic conditions, the state, religion and the fine arts, a vibrant picture emerges of a massive and fertile exchange that would influence the destiny of more than billion people. This volume, along with AL Basham’s classic The Wonder that was India, offers an extensive and engrossing view of the pre-colonial history of India. It is equally for the serious student and the interested reader.