BHUM 12A16 - Subjectivism in Indian History

This seminar introduces the problem of unification of India, through three periods: The British Raj (1858 to 1947), The Mughal Empire (early 16th to the mid-18th century) and The Mauryan Empire (around 321 B.C.E. to 185 B.C.E.). Through different sources historical and literary, we will study whether economic, political and/or administrative control has helped bring about a sense of unity in India. Despite the common elements of culture, manifested in religion and tradition, common language of learning and the modes and standards of life, the different States that make up India do not show the preconditions of a national identity.

Mahi AGARWAL

Séminaire

English

Spring 2024-2025

The assignments that allow you to validate the course are leading 10-minute discussion (30%) and participating in class discussions (20%) and writing a Research Paper of 2000 to 3500 words (50% of the grade). as possible.

The focus of this seminar, which traverses the same period as the Silk Road lectures of the fall seminar, is to show through a Research Paper, how you understand and analyse the problem of unity in the historical evolution of India. The Indian History seminar is interdisciplinary and at the end of the course students are expected to be able to : 1. Analyse and read a text using close reading so as to provide an understanding of the historical and cultural implications of textual and the context of the “events,” but also a close analysis of language and structure that open up the meaning of the text. 2. Use clear argumentation that persuades the reader of your way of interpreting the insights, observations, and ideas that you have when you encountered, interpreted and finally shaped into a response that makes sense of your perceptions. Interpretation is an art that requires you to use your imagination, but it also demands the discipline of grounding your understanding in solid textual evidence by using relevant theories and concepts.