Spring 2009

ANS 372 • South Indian Cultural History

Course Description

This course will provide the student with a thorough understanding to South Indian cultures through a wide variety of focus on different components and aspects of cultures. The course will examine major components of culture (like, technology, economy, religious movements and development of religions, arts and architecture, professions, landscapes, polity and governments, rituals, customs and habits, marriage, and other social issues...) in Indian context in general and South India particular. The course will proceed with the introduction to early culture and examine the development of political cultures and their influence on social structures and their vital institutions. During the course of study, the class will examine about indigenous race(s), pre-historic situations, their cultures and developments, civilizations of the sub-continent and emergence of nations, their influence; role of geography in south Indian cultures, influence of other cultures on south Indian so! ciety; religious movements from time to time and development of religions, contact between south India with East Asia; role of temples, temples as cultural centers and their influence on society; emergence of social divisions (caste-structures), marriage and marriage patterns, rituals: believes and faiths etc. A clear picture about the early, medieval, and modern cultural contexts will be presented to understand the south Indian cultures through lectures, visual aids, class-notes, reference materials, etc. Student\'s active class participation form part of the course.

Grading Policy

Quiz (Q-1: 20+Q-2: 30) && 50% Critical write-ups(2)on videos 10% Attendance and class participation && 15% Project/Paper and presentation 25%

Texts

Course-Pack with articles from: M.L. Bose. Social and Cultural History of Ancient India David Ludden. India and South Asia Sharpe M.E. The Making of India Thomas Trautmann. Aryans and British India Hardgrave. India Slater. The Dravidian Elements in Indian Culture Michael Thompson. Cultural Theory Nilakanta Sastri. History of South India Thapar. History of India Vol. I & II

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