13658 - Indology (2)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have acquired the necessary knowledge to navigate the field of south Asian cultural history independently. They will be familiar with selected texts that are pertinent to the culture and history of the Indian subcontinent. They will be able to ask scientifically pertinent questions and to critically assess the main research sources. Furthermore, they will be able to identify the main conceptual categories that characterise the contemporary scholarly debate and apply them to the south Asian context.They will be able to demonstrate a good command of the bibliography pertaining to the topics studied during the course and use the appropriate scholarly terminology orally.

Course contents

a) General course description. The course examines the history and cultures of India and South Asia during the so-called "medieval" and "pre-modern" periods, with particular attention to their documentary sources, both literary and epigraphic.

b) Main topics. The course covers the following topics:

• History and sources of early medieval India;
• History and sources of late medieval India;
• History and sources of Mughal India;
• Introduction to the colonial period.

N.B.: The syllabus is the same for both attending and non-attending students.

Readings/Bibliography

REQUIRED READINGS

• Textbook:

Eaton, Richard M. (2019) India in the Persianate age, 1000-1765. Oakland: University of California Press.
(Available at the Giorgio Renato Franci Library, Via Zamboni 33, as well as other libraries in Bologna.)

• Additional readings:

Further readings (corresponding to an average of one or two per class) will be made available by the instructor through the course page on the "Virtuale" platform.

Students who have not attended the course Indology 1 are also required to read Kulke, Hermann and Dietmar Rothermund (2016) A History of India. London: Routledge, chapters 1 to 5. (The volume is available at the Walter Bigiavi library, Via delle Belle Arti 33)

Teaching methods

The course consists of a series of lectures. The instructor will regularly use Power Point slideshows and, occasionally, pdf files (for text readings), audio and video files.

Although not mandatory, attendance is recommended.

Lessons won't be recorded.

Assessment methods

• Attending and non-attending students 

The exam is oral, and lasts approximately 30-45 minutes.

The exam consists in the discussion (presentation, contextualisation, criticism) of a selection of the historical sources studied during the course.

Grading is based primarily on student's preparation, but will also take into account her/his ability of analysis and synthesis, clarity in exposition, and use of an appropriate language.

Broadly speaking:

• An organic vision of the topics discussed in the course, the capacity for critical analysis, and the use of a precise and appropriate language will be evaluated with excellent to good marks;
• A mnemonic knowledge of the subject, a limited ability of analysis and synthesis, and the use of an acceptable but not always accurate language will be evaluated with decent to average marks;
• Incomplete knowledge of the subject and/or poor analysis and synthesis skills and/or the use of an inaccurate language will lead to mere pass marks;
• Poor preparation, lack of familiarity with the bibliography of the course, use of inappropriate language will lead to exam failure.

• Exam sessions

During the academic year, exam sessions are scheduled for the following months: May, June, September, November, December, February

 

Teaching tools

Handouts will be made available to students through the "Virtuale" platform of the University.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Ciotti