Mughal India
HIST 258
Fall 2011 not offered
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| Certificates: South Asian Studies |
This course examines the history of South Asia in the early modern era, from the origins of Mughal (or "Timurid") rule in early 16th-century Kabul to the final demise of the empire in Delhi in 1858. We will examine the life of Akbar (r. 1556-1605) in particular detail, as well as the development of (and strains upon) the religiously hybrid Mughal political and military system under Akbar's successors in the 17th/18th centuries. The causes of 18th-century Mughal decentralization and decline will also be discussed, alongside the rising power of European trading companies. We will conclude with the trial of the Mughal emperor by the British in 1858. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Intercultural Literacy
In this course we examine the history and culture of South Asia during the early modern era. A major challenge for the Mughal polity was how to incorporate demographically dominant Hindus -- and militarily powerful Hindu warrior clans -- into what was, at least nominally, an Islamic empire. Thus students will learn not only about a time and place very different from their own, they will also learn about how people in that time and place managed, built upon, and profited from -- but sometimes also suppressed -- cultural, linguistic, and religious complexity.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (HIST-MN)(HIST) |
Major Readings:
Talbot and Asher, INDIA BEFORE EUROPE
Alam, THE LANGUAGES OF POLITICAL ISLAM
Dalrymple, THE LAST MUGHAL
Wink, AKBAR [only if available in paperback]
Selection of primary sources, including travel accounts, poetry, chronicles, journals, and memoir (available online)
Selection of scholarly articles (Olin Library)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Midterm exam, 2 short papers, 1 longer paper, team-led discussions |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Late work will be penalized at the rate of one full letter grade per day. Attendance and participation is mandatory. All scheduled readings must be completed in advance of class.
This course counts toward the South Asia Studies certificate as a "Historical Inquiry" course. |
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