Class: Tues, Thurs 10:30-12:00, Annenberg 111
Instructor: David Ludden (dludden@sas.upenn.edu)
Office Hours: 215B College Hall. Tues 12:30-2:30
This introductory survey course focuses on modern history and contemporary trends within a very long term perspective. The central theme of the course is the historic formation and transformation of imperial systems of power and authority with their associated patterns of economic development, social inequality, cultural order, and political conflict.
Student course work includes readings, class discussions, and quizzes, map and library assignments, and three five-page papers. The first two papers are on assigned topics. The second and third papers require independent library research. The third paper requires the student to formulate a research question.
Grading is based on points for each assignment, which appear on assignment dates below.
Students can miss one class each term without penalty for missing in-class work on that day. Assignments do on days of absence are still due on that day. There are no extensions of due dates. Late work will be penalized in proportion to lateness. Nothing will be accepted for grading after Closing Time (see calendar below).
There is one mandatory attendance day, October 5th, when we meet in the Library. Plann ahead. Do not miss that class. Absence on that day will cost 5 points.
Grading calculations convert numeric point totals into letter grades.
Textbook available at House of Our Own, 3920 Spruce Street
David Ludden, India and South Asia: A Short History, OneWorld Publishers, 2002.
Arundhati Roy, An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire, South End Press, 2004.
Online Readings (OLR)-- access via link in left panel.
Weekly Assignment Schedule.
* marks assignments (points in paren) ** marks mandatory attendance day
1. Sept. 7. Introduction
2. Sept. 12, 14. Ancient history and early imperial formations.
Read: India and South Asia, Chapter 1.
(Supplement: OLR Ludden, An Agrarian History of South Asia , pp.48-60.)
Study Maps1PPTdownload . Elementary Quiz link
*1 Map quiz (5) and *2 Quiz (5). [doc file]
3. Sept. 19, 21. Medieval history and imperial regions
Read: India and South Asia, Chapter 2. and Romila Thapar in Frontline (cache)(orig)
*3 Map assignment 1 due Thursday. (5). Draw a sketch map of South Asia including the most important natural features (without labels).. Make a copy of this sketch map to use as a base map for future assignments. For this assignment, label the major geographical centers of imperial exansion in the first millennium of the Common Era with appropriate dynastic names. Draw arrows to indicate directions of imperial expansion.
*4 Quiz (5). This quiz will concern medieval trends.
Paper #1 Assignment. This paper is based on the first three chapters of India and South Asia and on class presentations and discussions. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER SOURCES.
In no more than five double-spaced pages, discuss the following proposition. Before modern times, South Asia consisted of regions of cultural and political development and expansion, which intersected and influenced one another within formative networks of interaction spanning most of Asia.
4. Sept. 26, 28. Later medieval history and early modernity
Read: India and South Asia, Chapter 3.
Sept 26: paper #1 Q & A. Graphic summary of epochs.
*5 Sept 28 Paper #1 due at start of class. (10)
==> Point ST end Sept = 30.
5. Oct. 3, 5. Imperial capitalism and modernity
Read: India and South Asia, Chapter 4.
*6 Tuesday Quiz (5)
**7 THURSDAY Oct 5 Library session and assignment.(5) CLASS MEETS IN Goldstein Electronic Classroom on the ground floor of Van Pent Library.
6. Oct. 10, 12. Empire and nationality
Read: India and South Asia, Chapter 5.
*8 Quiz (5) Hand in Library Assignment
Oct 12 no class. Paper #2 Assignment.
In no more than five double spaced pages, describe the regional dynamics and chronology of events that mark the process of transition to British imperial dominance in one region of South Asia, and consider the implications of this process for later history in this region. Consider this exercise part of your preparation for paper #3. You can select any kind of later history you like: cultural, political, religious, economic, ethnic, etc etc. You can use any sources you like for this essay; but be judicious: do not try to include too much.
7. Oct. 17, 19. Nation, Region, Politics.
Read: India and South Asia, Chapter 6 and 7..
Tues 17. How Empire shaped Nations.
Thurs *9 discussion/quiz on paper #2 solutions (5)
8. Oct. 26. The Nehru Era
Read: Roy, An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire
Oct 24 no class. Fall Break
Oct 26 *10 Quiz (5)
9. Oct 31, Nov 2. The 1970s as Historic Watershed
*11 Oct 31 Paper #2 due at start of class. (15)
Paper #3 Assignment. Q&A.
==> Points ST end Oct = 70
10. Nov. 7, 9. Congress, Bangladesh, Regions, and Politics
12 Nov 7. Paper #3 prospectus and bibliography due at start of class. (5)
Nov. 9. Fitting final papers into themes
11. Nov. 14, 16. Economic Cycles and Political Transitions. Graph
*13 Nov. 14. Paper #3 key question, key reading text due. (5)
12. Nov. 21. Religion and Politics: Ram, VHP, BJP, and the 1990s.
R.K.Advani timeline. images 1, 2. Rath Yatra Map 1990. VHP Ram.
Nov 23 no class. Thanksgiving.
13. Nov. 28, 30. Discussion of Student Paper Themes.
*14 Nov. 28 Paper #3 Draft due at start of class. (5)
Discussion of paper topics thematically.
14. Dec. 5. Wrap-Up and Student Paper Themes. India's Political Economy 2006PPT
*15 PAPER #3 due at start of class on Dec. 5. (15)
Dec 5 is last class. No class on Dec 7.
CLOSING TIME: MONDAY Dec 11, 5PM.
Late material will be accepted until Closing Time.
Nothing will be accepted after Closing Time.
Submissions after class on Dec 5 must be on Blackboard as a RTF attachments.
(I leave the country on Dec 6)