'Ancient geography' refers here to India's Buddhist period up to the seventh century CE, during which time Buddhism was the subcontinent's dominant religion. First published in 1871, this detailed study covering this period was written by Sir Alexander Cunningham (1814–93), who served as an officer in the East India Company and then went on to found and direct the Archaeological Survey of India. He had become an expert on the country's ancient geography owing to his experience as a surveyor. In this work he draws on material ranging from the campaigns of Alexander the Great to the travels of the seventh-century Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang, who recorded much about India's geographical, political, religious and cultural landscape. Although this book was published as Part I, a subsequent volume on the Muslim period was never completed.