World History
Group Name: World History
Group size: 18
Subject areas: Bronze age, Classical History, Medieval History, Modern History, World History, South Asia,India
Frequency: Monthly
Group type: Research and share
Resources: ‘The Shortest History of India,’ John Zubrzycki, Old Street Publishing, 2023 , A Timeline of Asian History, Harvard University
The purpose of the group
This group decides on a theme and then studies it for a series of meetings – usually over a year or more. The theme chosen for this year was the history of India. The theme is studied in approximate chronological order but with some flexibility.
How this group operates
This group has two joint group leaders who help to organise each meeting, schedules, and all materials. Additionally, one group member has taken responsibility for a series of core talks. The group alternates between a core talk in one month and then shorter group member talks in the following month.
The group has an agreed text which they are following to support the whole theme - ‘The Shortest History of India’ (see above). Group members read each chapter independently between meetings to gain background knowledge on each topic.
Sessions
Session 1 & 2
Lost Civilisations and Religious Revolutionaries
Chapters one and two of ‘The Shortest History of India.’
Core talk: India in prehistory, the Vedic period and the major religions of India.
Short member talks:
- Harappan town planning
- Culture and religion depicted in the Rig Veda
- Harappan measurement systems
Session 3 & 4
Two great empires: Maurya and Gupta
Chapter three of ‘The Shortest History of India.’
Core talk: The Maurya and Gupta Empires. India is introduced as a great trading nation and exporter of culture.
Short member talks:
- Science and technology in India
- The origins and history of chess
Session 5 & 6
India from 500 – 1500 CE
Chapters three and four of ‘The Shortest History of India.’
Core talk: The Huna, Harsha, Chalukyas and Pallavas, the Shrivijaya empire, the Pala and Chola Dynasties and the Delhi Sultanate.
Short member talks:
- A look at the development of Indian scripts
- The Indus-Arabic numbering system
Session 7
The Mughals
Chapter five of ‘The Shortest History of India.’
Core talk: Mughal rulers - including Babur Akbar, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, Sikhism and Nur Jahan. The talk concludes with an exploration of Central Asian invaders.
No short member talks due to summer break
Session 8 & 9
The Marathas
Chapters six and seven of ‘The Shortest History of India.’
Core talk: The Marathas, including Shivaji and key conflicts.
Short member talks:
- An exploration of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist art.
- An examination of Indian forts from the Maratha period.
Session 10 & 11
The Ascendency of the East India Company
Chapters seven and eight of ‘The Shortest History of India.’
Core talk: The origins of the East India Company and its rise to dominance.
Short member talks:
- The fabrics of India
- Indian science and botany
- Indian stepwells