History of Southeast Asia up to the 16th century

Paper Code: 
25DHIS 511(B)
Credits: 
06
Contact Hours: 
90.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course offers an overview of pre colonial Southeast Asian history. It seeks to familiarise students with historiographical debates involving the construction of Southeast Asia as a region. It analyses processes of state formations, the impact of maritime activity on society and polity in the mainland and the archipelago. It focuses on the development and localization of religious traditions across a linguistically and culturally diverse region. The paper will require students to engage with recent developments in the historiography especially with recent research on aspects of social and political history, external influences on the region, architecture, urban history and its local histories. Through this the student will develop a clear and comprehensive understanding of different aspects of pre modern Southeast Asian history

 

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Code

Course Title

25DHIS 511(B)            

History of Southeast Asia up to the 16th century

(Theory)

 

CO67- Analyse the historiographical debates involving the construction of Southeast Asia as a region.

CO68- Assess the State formation and social structures of early Kingdoms

CO69-Critically evaluate the  economic history of South East Asia and its trade connection with the Africa and Europe.

CO70- Make an estimate of localization of religious traditions across a linguistically and culturally diverse region

CO71 Examine the growth and development of Art and Architecture of South east Asian Countries 

CO72- Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Use of Maps and Globe, Power Point Presentation

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects
 
18.00
Unit I: 
Introducing Greater India

[a] Maritime and Mainland Southeast Asia; diversity within the macroregions

[b] sources and historiographical trends -- Indianization/ Sinicization/ Localization

 

18.00
Unit II: 
State formation

[a] The early kingdoms; later polities (especially Pagan, Srivijaya, Champa,

Angkor)

[b] Social structure

18.00
Unit III: 
Trade

[a] Routes and commodities;

[b] Maritime and overland connections with Asia, Africa and

Europe

18.00
Unit IV: 
Religion

[a] The spread and localization of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam;

[b] Popular beliefs;

[c] Literary and visual narrations of the epics and Buddhist legends

Unit V: 
Art and Architecture

[a]  Prehistoric Bronze and iron age sites

[b] History of monuments and sculptures -- Cambodia, Indonesia,

Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam (any three)

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Guy, J., et al. 2014. Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of South and Southeast Asia. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Press.
  • Hall, K.R. and Whitmore, J.K. Explorations in Early Southeast Asian History: the origins of Southeast Asian Statecraft. Ann Arbor: Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan. Michigan Papers on South and Southeast Asia, 11.
  • Klokke, M., ed. 2000. Narrative Sculpture and Literary Traditions in South and Southeast Asia. Leiden: Brill.
  • Manguin, P.-Y., A. Mani and G. Wade, eds., 2011. Early Interactions between South and Southeast Asia: Reflections on Cross-cultural Exchange, ISEAS, Singapore.
  • Raghavan, V., ed. 2009. (reprint). The Ramayana Tradition in Asia. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi.75
  • Singh, U., and P.P. Dhar, eds., 2014. Asian Encounters: Exploring Connected Histories, OUP, Delhi.
  • Tarling, N., ed. The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia (vol. 1, part 1: from earliest times to 1500 CE), Cambridge University Press, 2000 (paperback edition).
  • Wolters, O.W. 1999. History, Culture and Region in Southeast Asian Perspectives,
  • Southeast Asia Program Publications, Cornell University; Revised edition.
References: 
Academic Year: 
2025-26
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