While delving into the medieval history of Nepal, I discovered Medieval History of Nepal by Professor Luciano Petech, a work that stands out as an invaluable resource for both students and researchers interested in Nepal’s rich and complex history. Petech’s meticulous research and clear organization of historical timelines make the book particularly helpful for anyone seeking to understand the intricate developments of Nepal during the medieval period. His scholarly approach brings depth and clarity, shedding light on key events, figures, and cultural dynamics, while also providing a historical framework that enhances the reader’s understanding of Nepal’s historical progression.
Luciano Petech (1914–2010) was a prominent Italian scholar specializing in Himalayan history, particularly the interactions between Tibet, Nepal, and Italy. A student of Giuseppe Tucci, Petech served as the Chair of History of Eastern Asia at the University of Rome from 1955 to 1984. Known for his linguistic expertise in Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Sanskrit, Arabic, and several European languages, he engaged with diverse primary sources to deepen our understanding of the region. Petech’s work, including Medieval History of Nepal, remains a key resource for studying Nepal’s medieval period and its historical connections. His scholarly contributions continue to influence the field of Asian studies.Petech’s career began in 1938, when he taught Italian at the University of Allahabad, and his early scholarly work focused on the Italian playwright Luigi Pirandello. During World War II, Petech was interned in a British camp but used this time to study Tibetan literature. After the war, he returned to Europe, held temporary teaching positions, and published over 30 articles on Asia.
From 1955 to 1984, Petech became a prominent academic figure, publishing 14 books and over 80 articles. His work was known for its objective and critical approach to historical sources, especially in his studies of Ladakh, Nepal, and Tibet. Notably, his seven-volume I MissionariItalianinel Tibet e nel Nepal made missionary accounts accessible as primary sources. His works aimed to integrate Himalayan history into global history, with a notable shift in his later years toward more nuanced interpretations, as seen in his revised views on Ladakh’s decline.
Petech's last major work, Central Tibet and the Mongols, became a key source for understanding Yuan-Tibetan relations. His scholarship left a lasting impact, with students like Elena De Rossi Filibeck continuing his work in Tibetan studies. Petech passed away in 2010.
Professor Petech’s bibliography of the book was something which I had been searching for a longtime. In his book Medieval History of Nepal, Luciano Petech extensively drew upon a wide range of sources, both primary and secondary, that span diverse journals, catalogues, and collections, reflecting his comprehensive approach to the study of Nepal's medieval past. His bibliography demonstrates a meticulous selection of texts that provide a broad spectrum of information on Nepal's historical, cultural, and religious developments during the medieval period.
Among the major scholarly journals, Petech frequently cited Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Bulletin de l'EcoleFranraised'Extreme Orient, and Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. These journals are renowned for their contributions to the study of South Asian history, culture, and languages, offering invaluable insights into the socio-political and religious contexts of Nepal. Furthermore, Petech also referred to journals such as the Central Asiatic Journal, Contributions to Nepalese Studies (published by the Research Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, Tribhuvan University), and Indian Historical Quarterly, which are pivotal for understanding the historical trajectory of the region.
Key works on Nepalese manuscripts played a significant role in Petech's research. These include the catalogues compiled by C. Bendall, notably Catalogue of the Buddhist Sanskrit Manuscripts in the University Library, Cambridge (1883), Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts in the British Museum (1902), and Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office (1935). These catalogues offered critical references to the vast corpus of ancient texts that shed light on Nepal's literary and religious traditions.
Petech also referenced important compilations on Nepalese inscriptions, such as R. Gnoli’sNepalese Inscriptions in Gupta Characters (1956), which was crucial for understanding the epigraphic history of Nepal, and works by H.P. Shastri, particularly his Catalogue of Palm-leaf and Selected Paper Manuscripts Belonging to the Durbar Library, Nepal (1905 and 1916), which detailed the manuscripts held in Nepal’s royal library.
Another key resource in Petech's research was the AbhilekhSaligraha, a collection of primary source documents edited by Ramji Tevari and others, which spans several volumes and was published between 2018 and 2020. This modern compilation provided a critical base for exploring various archival materials from Nepal’s medieval history.
Petech’s research also benefited from earlier pioneering works by scholars such as C. Bendall, who not only wrote a comprehensive History of Nepal and Surrounding Kingdoms (1903) but also conducted significant journeys and surveys, which were later documented in works like A Journey to Nepal and Northern India (1886). His contributions are crucial for tracing the historical and cultural contours of Nepal during the medieval period.
In addition to these specific resources, Petech consulted various periodicals such as the Journal Asiatique, the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, the Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society, and the Journal of Indian History, all of which offered articles and papers relevant to the historical study of South Asia and its connections with Nepal.
Through these diverse and scholarly sources, Luciano Petech constructed a nuanced understanding of Nepal's medieval history, highlighting its intellectual, cultural, and political dimensions while situating it within the broader context of South Asian and Buddhist studies. His work remains a foundational resource for scholars seeking to explore the rich historical tapestry of Nepal during the medieval era.