Description
An overview of the history of South Asia from the earliest civilizations until the 20th century. A particular emphasis will be given to describing the development of unique societies and cultures in South Asia. The course will focus primarily upon the peoples and cultures of modern India and Pakistan, but attention will also be given to Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan.
Grading Basis
Graded
Course Learning Outcomes
Core Topics
- Geography and Prehistoric Cultures
- Indus River Valley Civilization
- Indo-Aryan Invasions
- Vedic culture and religion
- The Upanishads and Buddhism
- The Mauryan Empire
- Collapse of the Mauryan World
- Classical Hinduism
- Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
- The Gupta Empire
- Arrival of Islam
- The Delhi Sultanate
- Sikhism
- The Mughal Empire
- The British East India Company
- European Rivalry for India
- British East India Company Rule
- The Sepoy Rebellion (The Great Rebellion)
- The British Raj
- Life under the British Raj
- Nationalism and the Indian National Congress
- Protesting Colonialism
- Mohandas Gandhi, Mohammad Jinnah, and Jawaharal Nehru
- Independence and its implications
- Modern India
- Modern Pakistan
- Cold War and Foreign Interventions
- Caste and Gender issues in Modern India