History and Civilization in South Asia

This course is an exploration of South Asia’s pre-modern past, from 50,000 BCE through the Mughal Empire, 1650 CE, prior to British rule in India. We will examine the dynamic and complex histories of dynasties, kingdoms, and empires that emerged from one of the world’s earliest civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization; the making of Sanskrit epics; the creation of regional and linguistic cultures; the development of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the early encounter of Islam. Students develop writen and visual communication skills by mapping their research and embedding their written research into an online Geographic Information System.

This ​ ​course ​ ​will ​ ​be ​ ​of ​ ​interest ​ ​to ​ ​the ​ ​students ​ ​majoring ​ ​or ​ ​minoring ​ ​in ​ ​history, ​ digital humanities, sociology, anthropology, ​ ​gender ​ ​and ​ ​women’s ​ ​studies, ​ ​political ​ ​science ​ ​and ​ ​other ​ ​humanities ​ ​and ​ ​social sciences ​ ​departments.