This course offers a broad historical and cultural survey of the civilizations of the Indian subcontinent from the 12th century to Partition in 1947. Attention will be paid to the geography and ethnography of the region, its political history, and the religious, philosophical, literary, and artistic movements that have shaped it and contributed to its development as a unique, diverse, and fascinating world civilization. Lectures, readings, and class discussions will center on texts that have characterized major cultural, religious, and political formations from the medieval period to the 20th century. This course is open to all interested students and is required for those majoring or minoring in South Asian Studies.

The current population of South Asia is 1.975 billion (U.N.), making the region the most populated in the world. In many ways it also among the most diverse and complex regions, which accounts for its rich variety of cultures and traditions that continue to thrive. This course provides a broad introduction to the civilizations of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and in certain contexts Afghanistan, Burma, Maldives and Tibet). We will focus on major South Asian contributions to various fields of art, literature, politics, film, religion, and scholarship. We also will read about major religio-philosophical traditions of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Muslims, and Sikhs. In addition, we will explore political and social manifestations such as colonialism, nationalism, communalism, and the post-colonial nation state. Literature, art, philosophy, and film will be our primary points of entry into the region; this will also allow us to discuss the role these media play in South Asian societies in different epochs. The course is a journey from medieval to modern South Asia and I am happy to amend the temporal emphases of the course according to the interests of the class. No prior knowledge of the region or language is required. This course is open to all interested students and is required for those majoring or minoring in South Asian Studies.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills