HSY1050

Asian civilisations: an historical introduction 1: from the earliest times to c.1600

Ian Mabbett, Jane Drakard, and A Buzo

6 points
* Two lectures and one tutorial per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prohibited combination: ASN1010

Objectives On successful completion of this subject students should have a basic understanding of major developments in the cultural and political history of Asia in the premodern period.

Synopsis This subject provides students with a broad overview of Asian history from antiquity to the dawn of European maritime exploration in the sixteenth century. Topics studied include the Indus Valley civilisation; Hinduism and the caste system; traditional political thought; the rise of great empires in India, China and Southeast Asia; Mahayana Buddhism; the Japanese samurai; and Genghiz Khan and the Mongols. Although lectures tend to focus on the big picture, supplying a broad, connected survey of important events or concepts, students will have an opportunity to specialise on particular countries or issues in their tutorials and essay work.

Assessment Written work (2500 words): 50%
* Examination (2 hours):40%
* Class participation/attendance: 10%

Prescribed texts

Murphey R A A history of Asia Harper Collins, 1996

Recommended texts

Basham A L The wonder that was India Fontana, 1974
Reischauer E O East Asia: The great tradition Allen and Unwin, 1960
Schirokauer C A brief history of Chinese and Japanese civilizations HBJ, 1989
Thapar R A short history of India vol. 1, Penguin, 1966
Williams L Southeast Asia: A history OUP, 1976