Religion in Medieval India

4 credits · Undergraduate

The period between 600 and 1600 C.E. witnessed the growth of a number of religious traditions that challenged prevailing orthodoxies and reshaped South Asian society and culture. This course will examine the major developments within Hindu traditions, focusing on popular traditions known as bhakti (devotion). Examines the growth and spread of Islam (particularly, Sufism) and the emergence of Sikhism. The focus of readings is on primary sources – poetry, extracts from theological literature, autobiographical narratives etc. These will be supplemented by secondary sources as appropriate.