Instructor: Sanjay Joshi Office: LA 206
Phone: 523-6216 Office Hours: MWF 11:25- 12:25
E-mail: Sanjay.Joshi@nau.eduWeb Page: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~sj6
A LIBERAL STUDIES COURSE IN THE
CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING BLOCKCourse Description
This course examines the history of India from c. 2500 B.C.E. to c. 1750 C. E. While roughly organized around developments in political history, the course emphasizes the rich diversity of human experience in the form of important economic, social, and cultural developments of this period. Thus not only will the course cover the rise and fall of civilizations, kingdoms and dynasties, but also the ecological, economic, social, and cultural factors that accompanied and contributed to such changes. One textbook, some scholarly articles, as well as many "primary sources" -- the writings of people actually living in the periods of history we examine -- will help us to better understand the factors that have shaped a relatively unique civilization in South Asia. Even as we seek to understand the past in its own terms, this course will seek to highlight the extent to which even "ancient" histories are products of contemporary times. To this end, we will spend a part of our time in seeking to understand the ways in which more contemporary developments impact on the understanding of the past. This course will thus highlight competing interpretations of Indian history, and encourage students to examine these interpretations, and evaluate them on the basis on what they have learnt about historical events, personalities, and processes occurring in pre-modern India. Therefore, along with familiarizing students with some of the details of an unfamiliar history, the objective of this course is to encourage discussion, debate, and reasoned argumentation supported by evidence.
Course Structure/Approach
The format of the
course consists of lectures and informal discussions. Students are encouraged
to raise questions and make comments throughout the course. Please
note: This course requires extensive use of internet resources.
Course
Readings
2. The
Mahabharata. Translated by Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan.
Revised Edition. Columbia University Press, 1997. REQUIRED
3.
A set of REQUIRED readings available on the World Wide Web (WWW) AND
on Electronic Reserve available via the Cline Library Web Page.
4.
A set of RECOMMENDED readings available on the WWW.
If
necessary I may put other recommended or required readings on reserve at
the Cline library.
Assessment of Outcomes
1.
Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund.
History of India. 3rd Edition. Routledge, 1998. REQUIRED.
The course uses primarily two types of instruments to assess your achievement of the learning objectives listed above: two examinations ( 25% and 30% of the total points for the course), and two short papers (20% of the total points for the course, each). The examinations may consist of short answer, essay, and/or map questions to test your breadth of factual details and interpretive insights into Indian history. The papers are designed to test your ability to critically read and think creatively about the material on Indian history, and to be able to present it effectively in appropriate prose.
Assignments and Exams
I. Term Papers: You will write two short papers between 5 and 7 pages in length in response to specific questions. The first paper will ask you to use the Mahabharata as a primary source for understanding the history of Ancient India. The second paper will ask you to analyze the way in this history has been interpreted and re-interpreted in recent times to suit contemporary political purposes. The second paper will most certainly involve extensive, guided, research using internet resources. Each paper will count for 20% of the total points for the course.
II.Mid-Term and Final Exams: There will be one final and one mid term exam. The mid term will consist of a map quiz and a number of short answer questions. A list of map locations and topics for short answer questions will be provided in advance of the exam. The mid term will count towards 25% of the total course grade. In addition to the components of the mid-term, the final exam may also involve writing out longer essay-type answers to questions. A list of map locations, short answer topics, and essay themes will, again, be handed out in advance of the exam. The final will count towards 30% of the course grade.
Grading System
Grades for the course will be determined according to the following criteria:
Paper One 20%
Paper Two 20%
Mid-Term Exam 25%
Final Exam 30%
Participation 5%
TOTAL FOR COURSE 100%
The grading scale
for the course will be as follows:
90%+ = A;
80 - 89%= B;
70-79%= C;
60-69%= D;
below 60%= F.
Course Policies
ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE IN CLASS.
PLEASE NOTE: I do not give extensions, incompletes, or make-up exams, except in cases allowed for by University Policy.
Plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any of the assignments, and will result in failing the course. Please consult the section on "Academic Integrity" in the NAU Policy Statements appended to this syllabus for further details. IT IS THE STUDENTS' RESPONSIBILITY TO FAMILIARIZE HERSELF/HIMSELF WITH THESE MATTERS AS DEFINED BY THE UNIVERSITY.
Attendance and Punctuality
Frequent and repeated absence and/or lack of punctuality will be penalized at my discretion. Whatever your reasons for arriving late or missing a class, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to arrange to meet or call a classmate and find out what happened in that class. I encourage you to form small "study groups" or at least make a "class buddy" you can contact for information about classes missed, study with for the exams, or more generally discuss the proceedings of the class.
In General
I expect you to come to class having done all the required reading and prepared to engage in discussion. I also expect you to be motivated to learn about the subject and to improve your skills as a historian. There is only so much a teacher can do to assist students in the learning process. I will do my best to help you understand more about the subject. What you make of this course however, is ultimately entirely up to you.
PROVISIONAL COURSE OUTLINE (subject to modification)
All readings not evidently from the textbook or listed as electronic reserves are to be found on the internet. URLs listed below.
You may have problems accessing some of the readings marked with an asterix (*) below. If this problem persists, alternative URLs will be provided for the readings REQUIRED for this course.
August 26 COURSE INTRODUCTION
August 28 AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIA
Reading: Kulke and Rothermund, Introduction.
August 30 - September 4MYSTERIES OF THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
Readings: 1. Kulke and Rothermund, pp. 16-29.
2. Selections from The web-site on Harappa http://www.harappa.com
September 6-16 COMING OF THE ARYAS
Readings: 1. Kulke and Rothermund, pp. 29-43.
2. Selections from the site on the VEDAS http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/rig_veda.html
3. and UPANISHADS http://members.aol.com/Heraklit1/upanish.htm
4. Madhav Gadgill and Ramachandra Guha "Forest and Fire" Chapter Two of their This Fissured Land: An Ecological History of India. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1992. (Electronic Reserve)
I strongly advise that you START READING THE MAHABHARATAthe week of September 9.
September 11th A YEAR ON
Program TBA
September 18-30 AGE OF THE EPICS
Readings: 1. Kulke and Rothermund, pp. 43-46.
2. Narasimhan, Mahabharata.
3. Selections from the site on the Mahabharata http://web.utk.edu/~jftzgrld/MBh1Home.html
Screening: Part of Peter Brooks' Mahabharata. " The Game of Dice."
Recommended :
Ramayana at Syracuse http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/maxpages/special/ramayana/Intro.htm
Images and maps http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/maxpages/special/ramayana/imagesmaps.htm
SEPTEMBER 23, PAPER ONE ASSIGNED
October 2 MID TERM REVIEW
October 4 MID TERM EXAM
October 7- 14 POLITICS AND THE WRITING OF HISTORY
Readings: 1. Srikant Talageri "The Indus Valley Civilization" http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/ancient/indus/indus_civ.html
2. Romila Thapar "Hindutva and History" http://www.flonnet.com/fl1720/17200150.htm
3. D.N. Jha "Paradox of the Indian Cow: Attitudes to Beef Eating in Early India"
http://www.ercwilcom.net/~indowindow/sad/godown/history/dnjha.htm
4. D. N. Jha Interview http://www.the-week.com/21aug26/events8.htm
Recommended: For an introduction and set of contradictory readings around the Indus Valley Controversy, see http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~sj6/ivcdisputes.htm
PAPER ONE DUE OCTOBER 14
October 16-23 AGE OF EMPIRES
Readings: 1. Kulke and Rothermund, pp. 47-67.
2.
Selections from The
Arthshastra http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/india/kautilya1.html#Book
I, Chapter 19
3.
Kumkum Roy,
" The King's Household: Structure and Space in the Sastric Tradition."
In Kumkum Sangari and Uma Chakravarti eds. From
Myths to Markets: Essays on Gender. Delhi: Manohar, 1999. (Electronic
Reserve)
Illustrations:
Recommended: Edicts
of Ashoka http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/ashoka.html
PAPER TWO ASSIGNED
OCTOBER 21
October 25-30 AGE
OF THE HETERODOXIES: FOCUS ON BUDDHISM
*Readings: 1. Buddhism
basics: http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/history/reader/4nobletruths.htm
2. Uma Chakravarti "Women,
Men, and Beasts: The Jataka as Popular Tradition." Studies in
History, 9, 1, n.s. (1993). (Electronic Reserve)
3. Stories from Jataka sources:
a. The phony holy man http://www.buddhanet.net/bt_conts.htm
b. The holy man who tried
to be too holy http://www.buddhanet.net/bt_46.htm
c. Wisdom of Queen Tenderhearted
http://www.buddhanet.net/bt_14.htm
Illustrations
Buddha image: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/images/guptbudd.gif
*Map of the land in Buddha's
time: http://www.buddhanet.net/mapbud.htm
Recommended:
For Jainism basics:
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Religions/gurus/Mahavir.html
and http://arham.com/abt_jain_index.htm
and http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/jainhlinks.html#Introduction
More Buddhist texts at: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/bud-ser1.html
November 1 BETWEEN
EMPIRES
Readings:Kulke
and Rothermund, Skim pp. 69-81
November 4 A CLASSICAL
AGE?
Readings:Kulke
and Rothermund, 81-93; 98-99
Illustrations: Gupta
Map http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCINDIA/GUPTAMAP.HTM
*Gupta Map II http://www.history.upenn.edu/hist188/schmidt12.jpg
November 6-8 EMERGENCE
OF "HINDU" SOCIETY
*Readings: 1. Excerpts
from the "Laws of Manu"
http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/history/reader/manu.htm
2. Understanding India's
Caste System by Joe Elder http://www.dalitusa.org/es.html
3. To Be Announced.
Recommended
: Chapter Three
of the Laws of Manu at http://oaks.nvg.org/pv6bk4.html#3
Or the full text of the Laws
of Manu at: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/india/manu-full.html
November
11 VETERAN'S DAY: NO CLASS
November
13-15 EMERGENCE OF REGIONAL IDENTITIES
Readings:
1. Kulke
and Rothermund, 103-111; 118-120.
2. Kulke
and Rothermund, 120-124; 130-143
Illustrations:
*Harsha Empire Map: http://www.history.upenn.edu/hist188/schmidt14.jpg
*Dancing Shiva image: http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/history/reader/shiva.htm
November
18 NATIONALIST READINGS OF A PRE-NATIONAL HISTORY
Readings:
Selections
from Jawaharlal Nehru's Discovery
of India, TBA
November
20-25 AN INDO-ISLAMIC WORLD
Readings: 1. Kulke
and Rothermund,152-69
2. Richard Eaton, "Approaches to the Study
of Conversion to Islam in India," in Richard M. Martin ed. Approaches
to Islam in Religious Studies. Tucson: University of Arizona Press,
1985.(Electronic
Reserve)
3. Sultanate chronology http://www.itihaas.com/medieval/delhi-sultanate.html
4. Selections from the Amir
Khusro web site http://www.angelfire.com/sd/urdumedia/
November 27-29 WRITING
THE HISTORY OF MUSLIMS IN INDIA
Readings: 1. Henry Elliot "Sir
Henry Elliot's Original Preface" from his History
of India Told by Its Own Historians. London: Trubner and Co., 1867. (Electronic
Reserve)
2. Mohammad
Habib, "An Introduction to the Study of Medieval India (AD 1000-1400)"
in K.A. Nizami ed. Politics
and Society During the Early Medieval Period: Collected Works of Professor
Mohammad Habib. Delhi: People's Publishing House, 1974. (Electronic
Reserve)
3.
Hindutva Readings of History, To Be Announced.
NOVEMBER
29th, PAPER TWO IS DUE IN CLASS.
I will accept THIS paper till December 4th.
December
2 Discuss Politics of Ancient/Medieval Indian History
December
4 END OF TERM REVIEW
The
Final Exam for this Course: MONDAY DECEMBER 9, 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM.
LIBERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
*Map
of emerging states (mahajanapadas) http://www.history.upenn.edu/hist188/schmidt8.jpg
Map
of the Mauryan Empire http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCINDIA/MAURYMAP.HTM
*Ashokan
Pillar Image http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/history/reader/asokapillar.htm
Distribution Block: Cultural Understanding.
Essential Skills: Critical reading, creative thinking, effective speech and writing, critical thinking, use of technology for learning.
Course Objectives
1. Students will be able to identify the broad contours of the political, social, and cultural history of India to c. 1750 on written examinations. (Critical thinking, effective writing)
2. Through writing papers students will be able to demonstrate the ability to critically read and interpret primary and secondary sources, and reach their own conclusions about the merits of different arguments. (Critical reading and thinking, creative thinking)
3. Students will
be able to combine evidence from secondary and primary sources to describe
the complexities of social, political, and cultural life in Pre-Modern
India in their papers. (Creative thinking, critical reading and thinking,
effective writing)
4. Use traditional
printed material and a judicious use of Internet or other digital sources
to gather information for presentation in papers and examinations. (Use
of technology for learning, effective speech and writing)
