Hindu civilization is believed to have a long history spanning from the Vedic times until the Islamic conquest of India. This volume covers the roles and status of women during the Hindu period. The author examines various sources, such as Vedic texts, Epics, Buddhist and Jaina literature, Smriti, classical Sanskrit works, and foreign accounts, including missionary writings and modern feminist works, for his study. The author discusses the phases involved in women’s lives, such as childhood, marital life/divorce, widowhood, and public life, as well as their positions regarding religion, inheritance rights, and their relation­ship with modern feminist movements in Europe. About the Author A.S. Altekar (1889-1960) was an ancient Indian historian. He was the Head of Ancient History and Culture at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, and served at the K.P. Jayaswal Research Institute in Patna and Patna University. In 1947, he was appointed chairman of the Numis­matic Society of India. He authored several books, including Education in Ancient India; The Vakataka-Gupta Age; State and Government in Ancient India; Rashtrakutas and their Times and History of Benares.