HIST 1111 - Culture & Power in South Asian Histories

Credit(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 4
Lecture Hours Schedule Type: Lecture

What is “South Asia”? How can the people of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal have anything in common? This course introduces students to the multiple cultures and conflicts that have shaped the shared history of these modern states. As a survey, this course introduces students to the ancient cultures of the Indus Valley Civilization, the Sanskrit texts of the Aryas, and the creation of massive empires in the name of Buddhism and Islam. Students will also learn about extractive colonialism of the East India Company and how it differs from settler colonialism, and finally will be introduced to the key figures of the South Asian freedom movements of the 20th century. Throughout the course we will consider key questions: what relates politics to culture? How does religious identity become political identity? Why is the history of language and multilingualism so central to understanding the politics of this region?

GNED Cluster 3 - Tier 2