Historical introduction to the main non-European civilisations (India-China module) [FINT0024]

Learning outcomes

Be familiar with the permanent features and major transformations of the main living civilisations (outside the West) and the societies that support them; be able to explain these transformations and establish relationships between the various facets of these cultures (language, arts, religion, ideology, politics), going beyond conventional images.

Objectives

At the end of the course, students will be able to :

- identify the main characteristics (permanent features) and the major transformations (main milestones in historical development) of two non-Western civilisations and the societies that support them;

- explain these transformations

- establish relationships between the various facets of these cultures mentioned in the course: language, arts, religion, ideology, politics, etc.

Content

This course aims to provide the keys to a better understanding of the world in which we live: this year it will focus on INDIA (Eve Tignol), followed by CHINA (Etienne Renard). Each module is designed as an introduction to the various facets of a civilisation and their interactions in a historical perspective: the permanent features and the major transformations of society, the economy and the political system, language, the arts, religion and frames of thought, and even the development of science and technology over the past centuries. The emphasis will be on the originality and relevance of this heritage. The part devoted to China will be given in the 1st term, that devoted to India in the 2nd term, at the rate of 10 sessions of 1h45 each (17h30 per module).

Table of contents

Provisional map

INDIA

1. General introduction

2. Ancient India: from the Indus civilisations to Brahmanism

3. Birth of heterodox "sects": Buddhism and Jainism

4. Classical" India: the age of great empires

5. Muslim India

6. The European presence and the beginnings of colonisation

7. British India

8. The independence movement and the Partition of 1947

9. The Indian Union: politics, culture and contemporary issues (1/2)

10. The Indian Union: politics, culture and contemporary issues (2/2)

CHINA

Introduction

I. Chinese identity: A. An ethnic identity? B. Language and writing

II. Milestones in Chinese history: A. From mythical rulers to Qin Shi Huangdi; B. Two thousand years of empire; C. Modern and contemporary China

III. Ritualism, Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism

IV. Traditional frames of thought

V. Aesthetics: A. Calligraphy; B. Painting