Course Policy.pdf

HS 201 World Civilizations and Cultures Lecture 001 Introduction to the Course Contents and Policies V.N. Prabhakar, IIT Gandhinagar Course Modules 1. The Ancient World 2. The Medieval World 3. India and the...

HS 201 World Civilizations and Cultures Lecture 001 Introduction to the Course Contents and Policies V.N. Prabhakar, IIT Gandhinagar Course Modules 1. The Ancient World 2. The Medieval World 3. India and the World: The Ancient and the Medieval Period 4. The Modern World Course contents 1. The Ancient World Transition from hunter to gatherer; origin of earliest urban settlement; iron age in India and urbanization in northern India in 6th century BCE Major civilizations of the world; Harappan, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek Course contents 2. The Medieval World Circumstances responsible for the emergence of Feudal state society in the early medieval period (focusing on Western Europe), The conflict with monarchy, the obstruction to the Mediterranean trade (1) The Rise of Islam and the Crusades (1) The emergence of democratic state structures (examples from the parliamentary history of Great Britain and the French Revolution) (1) Course contents 3. India and the World: The Ancient and the Medieval Periods The Indo-Roman trade network (1) The Glories of India: Advancements made in Science and Technology (1) Circumstances responsible for the emergence of Buddhism and Jainism (1) Course contents 4. The Modern World Geographical discoveries and the expansion of European trade in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries (1) Socialism, Marxism and the Communist Revolution (1) Establishment of European colonies with a focus on India (1) Major wars: the First and the Second World Wars (1) Learning outcomes A broad perspective of the World Civilizations and Cultures right from the sedentary lifestyles of humans Understanding the important civilizations more closely and their interactions between them. The transitions, new set of regimes during the historical period, lifestyles, customs and traditions, architectural styles Discoveries, inventions and the spread of ideas into newer areas The knowledge of the past helps in understanding the present Evaluation Policy Active Participation in the class: 15% To be evaluated based on attendance and participation in discussions. 90%= 15% Journal writing: 20% Students are expected to write TWO mandatory Journals. Topics will be based on the topics taught in the class and will be announced during Journal Writing Week. FIRST Journal at 11 AM – 12 Noon on September 14 (Saturday); SECOND Journal at 11 AM – 12 Noon on October 19 (Saturday) TAs specifically allocated for Journal Writing will be moderating and evaluating the Journal. The topic for FIRST JOURNAL: (i) Discuss the significance of the Neolithic Revolution or (2) Compare and contrast two civilizations of your choice from the course syllabus. SECOND JOURNAL will be based on a MOVIE Screening Evaluation Policy Journal Writing Explained The Rubric for the evaluation of journal writing will be as follows: Excellent – 9; Good – 7-8; Average – 5-6; Not Satisfactory - 241 ha: Pataliputra Grade 2: 181-240 ha: Rajgir, Kausambi and Vidisa Grade 3: 121-180 ha: Sravasti, Ahichchhatra, Tosali Grade 4: 61-120 ha: Ujjain, Jaugada, Pratisthana Grade 5: 31-60 ha: Kandahar, Taxila, Sannathi, Dhanyakataka Grade 6: 16-30 ha: Kapilavastu, Puskalavati Nature of City Defenses Burnt brick facing, Kausambi Stone facing, Sisupalgarh Nature of City Defenses Kautilya’s Arthasastra prescribed no city walls or ramparts built of timber Pataliputra’s defences were made of timber, as revealed from excavations and also from the traveller’s accounts of Megasthenes  Nature of Internal Divisions of a City Kautilya’s Arthasastra describes the division of different parts of a fortified city; different quarters for different categories Location of shrines, temples, palaces, markets, prescribed Not actually tested archaeologically Irrigation tanks should be created around the periphery of the city Eg. Sisupalgarh (actual evidence), Girnar (inscription mentioning the presence of a huge lake) Sisupalgarh Location of Asokan Edicts Location of Buddhist and Rock Cut Structures