Indology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a general background on the development of Indian civilisation from antiquity to the Middle Ages.
Expected learning outcomes
Essential knowledge of: geography of South Asia; history of ancient and medieval India; religions born in India; foundational works of ancient and classical Indian culture; social structure of India in historical perspective.
Ability to: use precise and rigorous terminology, with mastery of basic vocabulary; contextualise the main aspects of ancient and traditional Indian thought; expand knowledge through appropriate sources; critically evaluate sources on the internet and other media; with the overall aim of achieving a high level of understanding of issues and critical analysis skills.
Ability to: use precise and rigorous terminology, with mastery of basic vocabulary; contextualise the main aspects of ancient and traditional Indian thought; expand knowledge through appropriate sources; critically evaluate sources on the internet and other media; with the overall aim of achieving a high level of understanding of issues and critical analysis skills.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Course title:
Outlines of Indian cultural history.
India and animals: anthology of passages from the literatures of ancient India.
The syllabus for the first 40 hours includes the presentation of the following topics, in due order: the origins and foundations of Vedic-Brahmanic, Buddhist, and Jaina thoughts and beliefs, set in their historical contexts; the rise and basic characteristics of Hinduism; classical India. A monographic part will be devoted to the reading of an anthology of passages from various ancient Indian works where animals appear from different perspectives, in fables, divine, as food. Finally, the last 20 hours of the course will provide essential outlines of Indian cultural history concerning the period of the Delhi Sultanate and the great Mughals.
Outlines of Indian cultural history.
India and animals: anthology of passages from the literatures of ancient India.
The syllabus for the first 40 hours includes the presentation of the following topics, in due order: the origins and foundations of Vedic-Brahmanic, Buddhist, and Jaina thoughts and beliefs, set in their historical contexts; the rise and basic characteristics of Hinduism; classical India. A monographic part will be devoted to the reading of an anthology of passages from various ancient Indian works where animals appear from different perspectives, in fables, divine, as food. Finally, the last 20 hours of the course will provide essential outlines of Indian cultural history concerning the period of the Delhi Sultanate and the great Mughals.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission.
Teaching methods
The course consists of taught classes. The professor will regularly use PowerPoint slideshows, which will gradually be uploaded onto the Indology page of MyAriel. This material is crucial for students to develop the expected skills, and its consultation is highly advised also to non-attending students. Attendance is not mandatory, but is strongly recommended for a correct approach to the subject and in order to better identify the basic concepts and notions. For detailed study guidelines, news, and other initiatives, students should regularly refer to the MyAriel page of the course and the website of the Indological courses of our University (https://sites.unimi.it/india/).
Teaching Resources
IMPORTANT: We recommend that you read the texts in the order in which they are listed here.
In all cases copyright laws will make this possible, and particularly for books that are out of print, the material will be made available on MyAriel at the beginning of the course. The anthologies of texts indicated below will be provided on MyAriel by the professor.
ATTENDING STUDENTS:
6 ECTS (40 hours)
· Friedrich Wilhelm, Ainslie T. Embree. India. Dalla civiltà dell'Indo fino all'inizio del dominio inglese, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1968, up to Chapter 13 included (presently out of print; see MyAriel at the begininning of the course).
This is not a recent textbook, but it is still an excellent introduction to the cultural history of India available in Italian; we will address it with a few updates.
· Gavin Flood, L'induismo. Temi, tradizioni, prospettive, Torino, Einaudi, 2006, pp. 29-48 (see MyAriel at the begininning of the course).
· Giorgio Renato Franci, Il buddhismo (Serie Farsi un'idea), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2004 (or reprints).
· Giorgio Renato Franci, L'induismo (Serie Farsi un'idea), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2000 (or reprints).
· Cinzia Pieruccini, Mimma Congedo, Viaggio nell'India del Nord, Torino, Einaudi, 2010 (2018 revised reprint), up to page 196.
· An anthology of passages from various ancient Indian works where animals appear from different perspectives (see MyAriel at the beginning of the course).
· A short essay on the general conception of animals in ancient India, in particular their depictions (see MyAriel at the beginning of the course).
9 ECTS, in addition (further 20 hours)
· Friedrich Wilhelm, Ainslie T. Embree. India. Dalla civiltà dell'Indo fino all'inizio del dominio inglese, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1968, from Chapter 14 to the end (presently out of print; see MyAriel at the beginning of the course).
· Cinzia Pieruccini, Mimma Congedo, Viaggio nell'India del Nord, Torino, Einaudi, 2010 (2018 revised reprint), from page 197 to the end.
· An anthology of short texts by contemporary authors, of different styles, on some crucial topics covered in the other parts of the course (see MyAriel at the beginning of the course).
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
For 6 ECTS, in addition to the programme for attending students:
· Pinuccia Caracchi, Sanātana Dharma e religioni hindū. Un'introduzione (https://www.academia.edu/40716990/San%C4%81tana_Dharma_e_religioni_hind%C5%AB._Un_introduzione?email_work_card=view-paper
For 9 ECTS, in addition to the programme for attending students:
· David Smith, Induismo e modernità, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2006 (only this, and not the text of Pinuccia Caracchi).
In all cases copyright laws will make this possible, and particularly for books that are out of print, the material will be made available on MyAriel at the beginning of the course. The anthologies of texts indicated below will be provided on MyAriel by the professor.
ATTENDING STUDENTS:
6 ECTS (40 hours)
· Friedrich Wilhelm, Ainslie T. Embree. India. Dalla civiltà dell'Indo fino all'inizio del dominio inglese, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1968, up to Chapter 13 included (presently out of print; see MyAriel at the begininning of the course).
This is not a recent textbook, but it is still an excellent introduction to the cultural history of India available in Italian; we will address it with a few updates.
· Gavin Flood, L'induismo. Temi, tradizioni, prospettive, Torino, Einaudi, 2006, pp. 29-48 (see MyAriel at the begininning of the course).
· Giorgio Renato Franci, Il buddhismo (Serie Farsi un'idea), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2004 (or reprints).
· Giorgio Renato Franci, L'induismo (Serie Farsi un'idea), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2000 (or reprints).
· Cinzia Pieruccini, Mimma Congedo, Viaggio nell'India del Nord, Torino, Einaudi, 2010 (2018 revised reprint), up to page 196.
· An anthology of passages from various ancient Indian works where animals appear from different perspectives (see MyAriel at the beginning of the course).
· A short essay on the general conception of animals in ancient India, in particular their depictions (see MyAriel at the beginning of the course).
9 ECTS, in addition (further 20 hours)
· Friedrich Wilhelm, Ainslie T. Embree. India. Dalla civiltà dell'Indo fino all'inizio del dominio inglese, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1968, from Chapter 14 to the end (presently out of print; see MyAriel at the beginning of the course).
· Cinzia Pieruccini, Mimma Congedo, Viaggio nell'India del Nord, Torino, Einaudi, 2010 (2018 revised reprint), from page 197 to the end.
· An anthology of short texts by contemporary authors, of different styles, on some crucial topics covered in the other parts of the course (see MyAriel at the beginning of the course).
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
For 6 ECTS, in addition to the programme for attending students:
· Pinuccia Caracchi, Sanātana Dharma e religioni hindū. Un'introduzione (https://www.academia.edu/40716990/San%C4%81tana_Dharma_e_religioni_hind%C5%AB._Un_introduzione?email_work_card=view-paper
For 9 ECTS, in addition to the programme for attending students:
· David Smith, Induismo e modernità, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2006 (only this, and not the text of Pinuccia Caracchi).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral, and lasts approximately 45 minutes. Broadly, it consists of no less than three groups of questions regarding the topics covered by the programme, with regard to Indian history, main socio-religious beliefs, and the monographic part. Grading, on a scale of 30 (minimum passing grade 18), will take into account: the student's general preparation, and the familiarity with the bibliography of the course; the understanding of the historical development of the Indian civilization, with a basic knowledge of dates and periods; the command of the fundamental cultural-religious concepts, and the capacity for synthesis and critical analysis in the presentation; the use of an appropriate language, and the accuracy in terminology and main proper names.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Unita' didattica A
L-OR/18 - INDOLOGY AND TIBETOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-OR/18 - INDOLOGY AND TIBETOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-OR/18 - INDOLOGY AND TIBETOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Sheet to register in the 'Contents' of the MyAriel pages of Indology and History of Indian and Central Asian Art
Professor's office, Festa del Perdono 7