142208 UE Cultures at Meeting (2024W)

Course Overview
This course delves into the rich cultural history of Northern India from the
decline of Buddhism to the reign of Shah Jahan. We will focus on the cultural,
religious, and social dynamics that shaped the region during this period
of significant encounters and transformations, exploring the syncretism and
exchanges between different traditions and the rise and fall of various dynasties.
Course Objectives
• To explore religious encounters and syncretism in Northern India.
• To analyze the cultural developments under various dynasties up to
the Mughal Empire.
• To critically assess historical sources and historiography.
Meeting Schedule
1 Historical Context at the Turn of the Millennium
Topic: Overview of Northern India around the year 1000 CE. Factors leading
to the decline of Buddhism in India. The political and cultural landscape
dominated by Hindu kingdoms. Early Islamic incursions.
Reading: The Decline of Buddhism in India: A Fresh Perspective by K.T.S.
Sarao.
2 Mahmud of Ghazni and the Ghurid Invasions
Topic: Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasions and their impact on Northern India.
The Ghurid invasions and the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate. Early
cultural transformations.
Reading: The Delhi Sultanate: Urbanization and Social Change by K.S.
Lal.
3 The Delhi Sultanate: Early Phase and the Tughlaq Era
Topic: Establishment and cultural policies of the early Delhi Sultanate.
Growth of urban centers. The Tughlaq dynasty’s cultural contributions and
innovations. Architectural developments.
Reading: The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History by Peter
Jackson; Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent by Takeo Kamiya.
4 Religious Encounters: Sufism and Bhakti Movements
Topic: The rise of Sufism and the Bhakti movement. Impact on Northern
Indian society.
Reading: A History of Sufism in India by Saiyid Athar Abbas Rizvi.
5 The State of Hindu Traditional Knowledge in the Premodern Era
Topic: The state of Hindu traditional knowledge systems.The role of Hindu
scholars and institutions. Interaction with Islamic knowledge.
Reading: The Life of Hinduism edited by John Stratton Hawley and Vasudha
Narayanan.
6 The Lodis and the Prelude to the Mughals
Topic: Cultural Developments and Political Declin. The cultural landscape
under the Lodi dynasty. Prelude to the Mughal era.
Reading: The Afghan Nobility and the Mughals by K.S. Lal.
7 The Advent of the Mughals: Babur and Humayun
Topic: Cultural Foundations of the Mughal Empire. Babur’s establishment
of Mughal rule and Humayun’s reign. Initial cultural policies and contributions.
Reading: The Baburnama: Memoirs of Babur, Prince and Emperor translated
by Wheeler M. Thackston.
8 Akbar the Great: Syncretism and Cultural Flourishing
Topic: Akbar’s Reign and Cultural Synthesis. Akbar’s policies of religious
tolerance and cultural syncretism. Contributions to art, literature, and architecture.
Reading: Akbar and His India edited by Irfan Habib.
9 Jahangir and Shah Jahan: The Pinnacle of Mughal Culture
Topic: Cultural Zenith and Artistic Achievements. Jahangir’s patronage of
the arts and Shah Jahan’s architectural marvels. Cultural achievements and
the zenith of Mughal culture.
Reading: The Mughal Empire by John F. Richards.
10 The Relationship Between Sanskrit and Persian Knowledge
Topic: Cultural and Intellectual Exchanges. The synthesis of Sanskrit and
Persian knowledge during the Mughal period. Contributions to literature,
science, and administration.
Reading: Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughal Court by Audrey
Truschke.