HIST 221
South Asia: Colonialism to Independence, 1750-1947 CE Spring 2024
Division II
Cross-listed GBST 221 / ASIA 221

Class Details

What did colonialism look like in India, Britain’s most valuable and populous possession for over two hundred years? How did the British establish their rule over the vast subcontinent? And how did the people who lived there experience and finally overthrow colonial rule? This course focuses on the history of South Asia with the aim of providing an overview of the political and social landscape of the region from c. 1750 to 1947. This period spans the decline of the Mughal Empire through British colonial rule, South Asians’ struggle for independence, and the Partition of India. We will explore a range of themes including the rise of colonialism, nationalism, religion, caste, gender relations, and the emergence of modern social and political institutions on the subcontinent. In addition to reading key texts and historical primary sources on the specific themes, we will also work with a variety of multimedia sources including films, short stories and podcasts. One objective of this course is to introduce students to the different political and social processes that led to the creation of India and Pakistan; another is to teach students to think critically about the significance of history and history writing in the making of the subcontinent.
The Class: Format: lecture; This class is combination of lectures and discussions. Student participation will be an essential component of the class and the overall evaluation
Limit: 40
Expected: 25
Class#: 3852
Grading: yes pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: class participation, responses papers (2-3 pages), mid-term and final exam
Prerequisites: none; open to all
Enrollment Preferences: history majors if the the class is overenrolled.
Distributions: Division II
Notes: This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
GBST 221 Division II ASIA 221 Division II HIST 221 Division II
Attributes: GBST South + Southeast Asia Studies
HIST Group B Electives - Asia

Class Grid

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