HISTORY OF INDIA

This is one of the mandatory courses within the Indian Subcontinent curriculum of the Corso di Laurea (degree course) of "Lingue, Culture e Società dell'Asia e dell'Africa Mediterranea". The programme envisages an introduction into basic notions of history of the Indian subcontinent and the main historical periods from the Indus civilization until the the colonial period. Through fifteen lessons dedicated to key topics, characters and crucial moments in Indian history, the course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge about Indian society and culture, as well as a critical view of the historical / historiographical approach to the subcontinent.

The course is designed to provide students with a first knowledge of the history of India. This is intended to be as broad as possible and preparatory to future investigations or researches. At the end of the course students are expected to be able to know the main events and characters that have marked the history of the Indian subcontinent also according to a global history perspective. Furthermore, candidates are expected to develop a critical perspective on issues of historical analysis and reconstruction and of historiographical processes.

None, but students are expected to have a good working knowledge of the English language in order to independently access texts and sources related to the subject.

The course intends to present students with a series of lessons focusing on key moments and periods in the millenarian history of the Subcontinent. An attempt will be made of singling out and analyzing the determining factors and peculiar characteristic of each chosen topic and/or historical period.

Lesson 1: Introduction and method for the study of History in India
Lesson 2: The dawning of Indian civilization: from Mehrgarh to the Indus valley
Lesson 3: The civilization of Harappa and Mohenjodaro (3300 - 1500BC)
Lesson 4: The Indian subcontinent in the first millennium BC
Lesson 5: Alexander the Great and Hellenism in India
Lesson 6: Religion and Spirituality: Historical Perspective on Hinduism and Buddhism
Lesson 7: The Maurya Empire (322 -187BC)
Lesson 8: From the reign of Asoka to the 1st century AD
Lesson 9: The Gupta Empire (240-590AD)
Lesson 10: From the fifth century to the advent of Islam
Lesson 11: The Sultanate of Delhi (1206 -1526AD)
Lesson 12: The fall of the Sultanate and the dawn of the Mughal era (1526 -1857AD)
Lesson 13: The Spice Route, Goa is the 'Estado da India portuguesa'
Lesson 14: Splendor and decline of the Mughal empire; the Maratha wars (1680 - 1707AD)
Lesson 15: The British Raj: from the East India Company to Mutiny (1857AD)

Mandatory:
- Torri, Michelguglielmo: Storia dell'India, Laterza, Bari, 2007.

Elective:
- Wolpert, Stanley: Storia dell'India, Bompiani, Milano , 1998. (New edition 2022)
- Herman Kulke e Dietmar Rothermund, A History of India, Routledge, New York/London 2004.
- John Keay, India: A History. Revised and Updated, Grove Press, New York, 2000.
- Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Mondi Connessi: la storia oltre l’eurocentrismo, Carocci, 2014.
- David Ludden, Storia dell’India e dell’Asia del Sud (e del Sud Est asiatico), Einaudi, Torino, 2011.
- Fred W. Clothey, Religion in India. A Historical Introduction, Routledge, London/New York, 2006
- Romila Thapar (ed), Cultural Pasts: Essays in Early Indian History, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2000.
- Beggiora, Stefano: Sacrifici umani e guerriglia nell'India britannica/Dal genocidio in nome della civilta alla civilta come genocidio, Itinera Progetti Editore, Bassano VI, 2010.
- Peter Jackson, The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History, Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999.
- Duccio Balestracci, “Terre ignote, strana gente. Storie di viaggiatori medievali”, Editori Laterza, Bari, 2008.
- A.L. Basham, The Wonder that was India I(History of Indian Subcontinent before Islam), Picador, London 2004.
- S.A.A. Rizvi, The Wonder that was India II (History of Indian Subcontinent from Islam to British Conquest), Picador, London 2005.

Further bibliography and texts shall be offered in class.

The exam will consist of an oral discussion of ca. 30 minutes, during which the student is expected to show his ability in exposing and critically debating the topics treated during classes; hence, utmost importance will be given to the notes taken during classes, which will significantly complement the texts listed in the above bibliography.
The exam grade is measured in thirtieths (scale 0-30), the minimum grade is 18/30 and the maximum grade is 30/30. The maximum mark can be enriched with "cum laude" (30 with honors). The score is awarded on the basis of the candidate's overall preparation, on his/her ability and clarity of expression, on the awareness of the state of the art, on the ability to propose an investigation methodology, and on the coherence of the chosen topic with the general topic of the course. Regarding the grading scale (method through which grades will be assigned):

A. Scores in the range of 18-21 will be attributed in the presence of:
Sufficient knowledge and ability to understand applied in reference to the program;
Limited ability to gather and/or interpret information, formulating independent judgments;
Adequate communicative skills, especially concerning the use of specific language related to the description of textual and historical-literary phenomena;
B. Scores in the range of 22-25 will be attributed in the presence of:
Decent knowledge and ability to understand applied in reference to the program;
Decent ability to gather and/or interpret information, formulating independent judgments;
Decent communicative skills, especially concerning the use of specific language related to the description of textual and historical-literary phenomena;
C. Scores in the range of 26-30 will be attributed in the presence of:
Good or excellent knowledge and ability to understand applied in reference to the program;
Good or excellent ability to gather and/or interpret information, formulating independent judgments;
Fully appropriate communicative skills, especially concerning the use of specific language related to the description of textual and historical-literary phenomena;
D. Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and ability to understand applied in reference to the program, judgment skills, and excellent communicative abilities.

In the final slot of the moodle relating to the course, all the detailed instructions regarding the exam are available

oral

Conventional classes. Discussions and insights on the different topics will be offered and encouraged each week through the forum provided by the e-learning moodle platform of the course.

Italian

Students are advised to attend classes regularly.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development