Introduction to Islam in South Asia

Undergraduate / Graduate

This survey course introduces students to the rich, complex, and interdependent history of Islam in South Asia. Progressing chronologically, we will begin with the prehistory of Islam in the subcontinent, then proceed from the early Islamic period through the rise of Muslim empires and states to the British-colonial period, and end with the postcolonial twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Along the way, we will encounter and discuss important historical moments, major ideas, key figures and movements, and literary and artistic works to gain insight into the continuities, changes, and many forms of diversity that have characterized the history of Islam in South Asia through the centuries. Among our many goals will be to develop tools to think critically about the ways in which Islam in South Asia is represented in our time. Course readings include secondary scholarship and primary sources in translation. No prior knowledge of Islam or the history of South Asia is required. Students are welcome and encouraged to contact the instructor, Gregory Maxwell Bruce (gmbruce@uchicago.edu), with questions.