| Unit name | Religious and Cultural Change in India: from Indus to Islam |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRS20101 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Langer |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
NONE |
| Co-requisites |
NONE |
| School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will focus on the religious thought and practice of ancient India from the Indus civilisation up to and including the coming of Islam. We will explore the religious milieu and cultural changes that led to the rise of the three principal Indic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism) and their early interaction with Islam. Topics include: Indus civilisation, Ashoka’s empire, the “golden age” of the Guptas, the changing concept of karma (from ritual to ethical), social structure (class, caste and renouncers), women (mothers, nuns and courtesans); shared cosmologies, myths and epics, art and literature, and reception of the “other” (Aryan and Muslim “invasions”).
On successful completion of this unit students will have (1) developed deep understanding of the cultural and religious background to the great Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) and their encounter with Islam; (2) gained an in-depth knowledge of certain significant topics in the history and practice of Indian religions; (3) ability to reflect critically on the common ground of and differences between Indian religions with regard to both theory and practice; (4) developed advanced skills in the researching, reading and presentation of complex material.
20 hours (lecture/seminar)
One summative coursework essay of 2500 words and one unseen examination of two hours comprising 2 questions out of 6 (50%).
Bryant, Edwin F. and Patton, Laurie L. (ed.) 2005. The Indo-Aryan controversy: evidence and inference in Indian history. London: Routledge. Doniger O'Flaherty, W. (ed.) 1980. Karma and Rebirth in Classical Indian Traditions, Berkeley, University of California Press Doniger, Wendy and Sudhir Kakar (trans. and ed.) 2003. Vatsyayana: Kamasutra: a new, complete English translation of the Sanskrit text, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Kulke, Hermann and Rothermund, Dietmar. 1998. A history of India. 3rd ed. London : Routledge.
Strong, John S. The legend of King Aśoka: a study and translation of the Aśokāvadāna (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983).
Eaton Richard M. India's Islamic Traditions, 711-1750: Themes in Indian History Oxford in India Readings: Themes in Indian History. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003)
