Time Schedule:
Purnima Dhavan
JSIS A 202
Seattle Campus
The Islamic impact, British conquest, and contemporary India. Emphasis on the rise of nationalism, social organization, and contemporary life and history. Offered: jointly with HSTAS 202.
Class description
This class will trace the history of South Asia from the late Mughal period to the current time. We will begin by examining how ideas of political power, social networks, and cultural identity changed as indigenous states were replaced by colonial rule, study the effects of colonial rule in the nineteenth century on South Asian communities, and then focus on the major social, economic, and cultural developments in the period after India and Pakistan became independent. Throughout the quarter we will focus on how changes in economic and political policies impacted the lives of every-day people in South Asia during this period. We will also explore the ways in which concepts of religion, gender, nationhood, and identity evolved and changed.
Student learning goals
grasp the basic political and social changes in the early modern and modern period in South Asia
understand the historical context of these changes
differentiate between popular and academic concepts of history
differentiate between primary and secondary sources and understand how they are used in historical arguments
General method of instruction
two weekly lectures and weekly class discussion. Two hour lecture is interactive and includes small amounts of discussion
Recommended preparation
No prior knowledge of South Asian history required.
Class assignments and grading
2 short analytical papers (40%), Midterm, (25%), Final Exam (25%), Discussion (10%)
For Papers: Clarity of thesis, ability to sustain argument through good use of evidence, clear writing reasonably free of errors, use of correct citation methods
Exams: Mixture of paragraph IDS and one analytical essay question
