Asian civilisations: an historical introduction
Mike Godley and Ian Mabbett
6 points * 2 lectures and 1 tutorial per week * First semester * Clayton
This subject is designed to provide students with a grounding in the history, society and culture of Asia in the premodern period, with particular reference to the great civilisations of India, China and Southeast Asia. Among other topics we will look at what the archaeological evidence says about the antiquity of Asian civilisation; at the rise of cities, kingdoms and empires; at the origin and development of India's unique caste system; at the expansion of Buddhism; at the evolution of China's Confucian bureaucracy; at the coming of Islam to island (but not mainland) Southeast Asia; and of Asia's extraordinary pioneering achievements in the realm of science and technology. Lectures and tutorials will focus on the big picture, providing thereby a broad, connected survey of Asian civilisations from antiquity to the dawn of European maritime imperialism in the sixteenth century; but students will have the opportunity, in essay work, to specialise on areas and themes of their choice.
Assessment
Written (2500 words): 60% * Examination (2 hours) 30% * Class participation/attendance: 10%
Prescribed texts
Basham A L The wonder that was India Fontana, 1974
Fairbank J K and others China: Tradition and transformation Allen and Unwin, 1989
Farmer E L and others (eds) A comparative history of civilization in Asia vol. 1, Addison-Wesley, 1977
Recommended texts
Macintyre M (ed.) Spirit of Asia BBC, 1980
Mus P India as seen from the East CSEA Studies, Monash U, 1975
Schirokauer C A brief history of Chinese and Japanese civilizations HBJ, 1978
Thapar R A short history of India vol. 1, Penguin, 1966
Wolters O W History, culture and region in Southeast Asia perspectives Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1982