Survey of traditional South Asia (focusing on the area which now includes India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) from the Harappan Culture to the beginning of the 11^th century. Course emphasizes developments in Indian culture, society, and politics, particularly the development of religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It will feature "hands-on" analysis of literature, inscriptions, coins, and art as means of exploring India's rich and ancient past.

There are four basic texts for the course. In addition to these texts, students will be expected to read supplementary works available on-line as part of Project South Asia, a digital library of teaching resources for colleges and universities (see www.mssc.edu/projectsouthasia).

Rental:

Karl J. Schmidt, An Atlas and Survey of South Asian History (Armonk, NY and London: M.E. Sharpe, 1995).

Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, A History of India, 3^rd edition (London and New York: Routledge, 1998).

George Michell, Hindu Art and Architecture (London: Thames and Hudson, 2000).

Robert E. Fisher, Buddhist Art and Architecture (London: Thames and Hudson, 1993, Reprinted 2000).

NOTE ON READING AND THE OTHER WORK OF THIS COURSE: Part of the college experience involves reading and studying textbooks. You will be expected to read the texts and other readings thoroughly. I will expect you to master the material at hand. While I realize this course is not your only one this semester, I do expect you to cooperate in the completion of the readings and assignments. If you do not have time this semester to read, study, and do the work that is required, I suggest you take another course.

15 Weekly Readings Quizzes (75 points—5 points each; will consist of factual questions, e.g., identification of names, geographical areas, etc.)

In-class Assignments (100 points—points per assignment varies): These assignments will consist of analyzing primary texts, images, coins, etc., in class.

Writing/Editing Component (150 points): This component of the course consists of three parts:

• Working on an historical editing/classroom resource development project as part of a web-based library of teaching resources called Project South Asia that I am developing and that you will be using extensively this semester (additional details on this requirement will be handed out in class) [100 points];
• A short, critical essay (5 pages) on Indian numismatics (the study of coins) and their use in the study of ancient Indian history [25 points];
• A short, critical essay (5 pages) on either:

Kautilya's Arthashastra (available on-line at Project South Asia):

http://www.mssc.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Arthashastra/index.htm [25 points]

or

The Laws of Manu (available on-line at Project South Asia):

http://www.mssc.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Manu/index.htm [25 points]

Attendance at the Planned Events of the India Semester (75 points): A number of events are planned for the India Semester. You are required to attend a minimum of three of these events outside of class time (25 points each). A sign-up sheet will be provided at the end of each event. You must attend each event in its entirety. Do not leave early or you won't get credit for attending. To see what is planned and to schedule your attendance at the events, please see www.mssc.edu/international/india/indiasem.htm

I will evaluate the overall quality of your participation at the end of the semester and will assign a grade accordingly. Quality participation is defined as follows: responding to questions I ask in class in a thoughtful way (simply blurting out answers without being able to substantiate why you came up with the answer in the first place is not considered thoughtful); active participation in group class discussions (not reading the assigned material for the discussion prevents you from being an active participant); and performance on the in-class readings quizzes and other exercises. Excessive absences will also affect your final grade (see policy on Attendance below).

Attendance: Roll will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting. Good attendance is strongly encouraged as you will miss much of value to you and your work in the course. You may miss up to two days without penalty and with no questions asked. For every two days you miss after the first two, I will dock you a full letter grade for the course. If you must miss, use those first two, penalty-free days wisely. You are responsible for getting notes and assignments for missed days.

Grades for the course will be assigned based on the possible total of 400 points for the examinations, weekly readings quizzes, in-class assignments, writing/editing component, and participation and discussion and will be based on these standards: A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = less than 60%.

The only extra credit available in this course is for attendance at additional India Semester events (beyond the three required). For each event attended, you may receive 10 additional points added to your final score. To see what is planned and to schedule your attendance at the events, please see:

Excused Late Work: The only valid excuse for not meeting the requirements of the course is if you are hospitalized for a major illness or accident, or for certain verifiable collegiate extracurricular activities that will take you away from the campus, such as band, sports, etc. In all such cases, you must present a letter from your physician, or from your faculty sponsor, to be exempt from penalty. If you cannot provide such documentation then see penalties below.

Unexcused Late Work: Failure to complete assignments by the deadlines for unacceptable reasons (conflicts with your employment, work from other classes, oversleeping, transportation problems, fraternity or sorority functions, prearranged trips home, extended vacations, etc.) will be penalized as follows:

How Much to Study? I won't mislead you about the workload of this course—it is substantial. You should expect to average 2-3 hours of work outside of class for every hour in class.

Questions, Comments, Opinions, Criticisms? Your questions, comments, opinions, and criticisms are welcome and encouraged in this course. Your final grade will be based on your performance on the assignments and in class participation, not on your agreement or disagreement with me.

Problems? See me as soon as possible.

NB: If you are an individual with a disability and require an accommodation for this class, please notify the professor or Melissa Locher, Disabilities Coordinator, at the Learning Center (( 625-9516).

8/19 Introduction and Overview of Traditional South Asia

8/21 Sources of Ancient and Classical South Asian History

8/23 QUIZ and Geography of South Asia

Week II (8/26-8/30)

8/26 The Harappan Culture

8/28 The Mystery of the Harappan Script

8/30 QUIZ and Early Vedic India

9/2 NO CLASS - Labor Day Holiday

9/4 Early Vedic India

9/6 QUIZ and the Rig Veda

9/9 The Late Vedic Period

9/11 The Epics: The Mahabharata and the Ramayana

9/13 QUIZ and the Bhagavad Gita

9/16 Conflict in the Ganga Valley and the Rise of Magadha

9/18 Advent of Religious Protest: Jainism and Buddhism

9/20 QUIZ and Alexander the Great in India

9/23 Foundation of the Mauryan Empire

9/25 Ashoka

9/27 QUIZ and Ashoka's Edicts

9/30 The Later Mauryans

10/2 The Shungas and the Resurgence of Brahmanism

10/4 QUIZ and King Kharavela of Kalinga

10/7 The Greeks in Afghanistan and India

10/9 Indo-Greek History through Numismatics

10/14 The Kushanas

10/16 The Kushanas (cont'd.)

10/18 QUIZ and the Western Kshatrapas and Numismatic Portraiture

10/21 The Rise of the Guptas

10/23 Gupta Inscriptions and Coins

10/25 QUIZ and the Geography of the Gupta Empire

10/28 Decline of the Gupta Empire

10/30 Advent of Harsha

11/1 QUIZ and the Harshacharita

11/4 Ruling Dynasties of Deccan and the Peninsular South

11/6 Ruling Dynasties of Deccan and the Peninsular South (cont'd.)

11/8 QUIZ and the Inscriptions of the South

11/11 The State in Ancient India

11/13 The Military in Ancient India

11/15 QUIZ and Kautilya's Arthashastra

11/18 Society in Ancient India

11/20 Society in Ancient India (cont'd.)

11/22 QUIZ and Everyday Life in Ancient India

11/25 Hinduism

11/27 NO CLASS - Thanksgiving Day Holiday

11/29 NO CLASS - Thanksgiving Day Holiday

12/2 The Art and Architecture of Ancient and Classical India

12/4 The Art and Architecture of Ancient and Classical India (cont'd.)

12/6 QUIZ and the Art and Architecture of Ancient and Classical India (cont'd.)

Copyright © 2002 Project South Asia and Karl J. Schmidt.  May be copied for educational purposes only.  Commercial use is prohibited without permission of Karl J. Schmidt.