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University of Rajasthan,
Jaipur

Multi-Disciplinary Subject
(History)
Session 2024-25

III, IV & V
Semester

University
of
Rajasthan
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Syllabus
[MDS] - [HIS-53T-101] - [ HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF INDIAN
SOCIETY]

Code of the NHEQF

Semester Title of the Course/Paper Credits
Course Level
MDS-HIS- HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF
III 6 4
53T-101 INDIAN SOCIETY
Credit Distribution Offered
Level of Type of the Course Delivery
to NC
Course Course Theory Practical Total Method
Student
6 MJR 4 4 Yes/No Lectures
List of Programme Codes
in which Offered as Minor
Discipline

Prerequisites XII Pass

The course aims to introduce students to the different stages of

evolution of Indian society across the historical periods. The
course has the following objectives:
1. Understanding Historical Context: Provide students with
a foundational understanding of the key historical events
and processes that shaped Indian society.
2. Interdisciplinary Connections: Encourage students to
explore the intersections of history with sociology,
Objectives of the Course:
anthropology, political science, and cultural studies.
3. Critical Analysis: Develop critical thinking skills by
analyzing primary and secondary sources related to Indian
history.
4. Appreciation of Diversity: Foster an appreciation for the
diversity and complexity of Indian society across different
periods.
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Detailed Syllabus

MDS-HIS-53T-101- Historical Evolution of Indian

Society

Unit I: Ancient Indian Society

Indus Valley Civilization: Social structure and urban

planning

Vedic Period: Social hierarchy and the concept of dharma

Religious Development: Jainism and Buddhism

(15 lectures)

Unit II: Medieval Indian Society

The Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire: Changes in social

structure and culture

Bhakti and Sufi movements: Social reform and inclusivity

(15 lectures)

Unit III: Colonial Impact and Society

European colonialism and its social implications

The role of social reformers: Raja Ram Mohan Roy,

Dayanand Saraswati

(15 lectures)

Unit IV: Regional Social History: Rajasthan

Bhakti Saints: Dadu, Meera

Folk Deities and Saints of Rajasthan

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(15 lectures)

Suggested Books and References:

https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/54063/
1/B-1U-3.pdf

https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/46733/
1/Unit-5.pdf

Romila Thapar, A History of India: Volume 1. Penguim. 1990

R.S. Sharma, India’s Ancient Past. OUP, 2007
Satish Chandra, Medieval India. Har-anand Publications, 2004
Shekhar Bandyopadhyaya, From Plassey to Partition.Orient Blackswan, 2015
Bayly, C. A. Indian Society and the Making of the British Empire. Cambridge University
Press, 1988.
Gopinath Sharma, Rajasthan ka Sanskritik Itihas. Rajasthan Hindi Granth Akademi.
2016

E-resources:

Learning Outcomes: The course shall encourage students to critically engage with
historical narratives and develop a nuanced understanding of Indian society's
evolution by enabling them to:
Analyze the social, cultural, and religious transformations in Indian society from
ancient to colonial periods, with a focus on the Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic
Period, and the rise of new religious movements like Jainism and Buddhism.
Evaluate the impact of medieval empires and movements such as the Delhi
Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Bhakti, and Sufi movements on social structure,
inclusivity, and cultural practices in India.
Assess the social implications of European colonialism and the contributions of key
reformers, understanding how colonial rule influenced social hierarchies, reform
movements, and modern Indian society.
Examine the regional social history of Rajasthan, focusing on the contributions of
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Bhakti saints and local deities, and how these figures shaped cultural and spiritual
life in the region.
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Syllabus
[MDS] - [HIS-64T-201] - [Historical Trends in Indian Culture]

Code of the NHEQF

Semester Title of the Course/Paper Credits
Course Level
MDS-HIS-
IV Historical Trends in Indian Culture 6 4
64T-201
Credit Distribution Offered
Level of Type of the Course Delivery
to NC
Course Course Theory Practical Total Method
Student
6 MJR 4 0 4 Yes Lectures
List of Programme Codes
in which Offered as Minor
Discipline

Prerequisites [MDS] - [HIS-53T-101

This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive

understanding of the historical trends in Indian culture,
equipping them to critically analyze its rich diversity and dynamic
evolution. The objectives are to:
1. Familiarize students with the major cultural trends in
Indian history from ancient to contemporary times.
Objectives of the Course:
2. Encourage students to explore connections between
cultural studies, history, literature, and philosophy.
3. Develop analytical skills by examining primary texts, art
forms, and cultural artifacts.
4. Highlight the pluralistic nature of Indian culture and its
regional variations.
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Detailed Syllabus

MDS-HIS-64T-201- Historical Trends in Indian

Culture

Unit I: Ancient and Classical Cultural Trends

Early Indian art and architecture: Mauryan, and Gupta periods

Literature: Vedic texts, epics (Mahabharata, Ramayana)

(15 lectures)

Unit II: Medieval Cultural Synthesis

The Delhi Sultanate: Literature and Architecture

Mughal Paintings and Architecture

(15 lectures)

Unit III: Colonial and Nationalist Cultural Trends

Nationalism and cultural identity: Role of literature and the arts in the
freedom struggle

Company School of Painting

(15 lectures)

Unit IV: Regional Trends: Rajasthan

Rajasthani School of Paintings

Fort Architecture of Rajasthan: Chittor, Ranthambore

(15 lectures)

Suggested Books and References:

A.L. Srivastava, Medieval India Culture (also in Hindi). Sivalal grawal,

1964.

V.S. Agrawal, Studies in Indian Art, Varanasi, 1965.

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A.L. Basham, The Wonder that was India (also in Hindi). Picador, 1954.

Romila Thapar, A History of India: Volume 1. Penguim. 1990

R.S. Sharma, India’s Ancient Past. OUP, 2007
Satish Chandra, Medieval India. Har-anand Publications, 2004
Shekhar Bandyopadhyaya, From Plassey to Partition.Orient Blackswan, 2015
Gopinath Sharma, Rajasthan ka Sanskritik Itihas. Rajasthan Hindi Granth Akademi.
2016

E-resources

https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/89558/3/Unit-15.pdf

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2017/company-
school-painting

https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-art/paintings/mughal.html

https://www.britannica.com/art/South-Asian-arts/Medieval-Indian-
sculpture
Learning Outcomes
Analyze the development of early Indian art, architecture, and literature, with a focus
on the cultural contributions of the Indus Valley, Mauryan, and Gupta periods, as
well as key literary works like the Vedic texts and epics.
Examine the cultural synthesis during the medieval period, particularly the evolution
of literature, painting, and architecture under the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal
Empire, and assess their lasting impact on Indian culture.
Evaluate the cultural trends during the colonial period and nationalist movement,
with a focus on the debates surrounding women's rights and the role of literature
and the arts in shaping national identity and supporting the freedom struggle.
Investigate the regional cultural heritage of Rajasthan, understanding the significance
of the Rajasthani School of Paintings and fort architecture, particularly the
architectural developments of Chittor and Ranthambore forts.
These outcomes encourage students to critically explore Indian culture's diverse
and evolving trends across historical periods.
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Syllabus
[MDS] - [HIS-75T-301] - [HISTORICAL METHODS AND
HISTORIOGRAPHY]

Code of the NHEQF

Semester Title of the Course/Paper Credits
Course Level
MDS-HIS- HISTORICAL METHODS AND
V 7 4
75T-301 HISTORIOGRAPHY
Credit Distribution Offered
Level of Type of the Course Delivery
to NC
Course Course Theory Practical Total Method
Student
7 MJR 4 0 4 Yes Lectures
List of Programme Codes
in which Offered as Minor
Discipline

Prerequisites [MDS] - [HIS-64T-201

The course aims to introduce students from diverse academic

and social backgrounds to the discipline of History.
1. To explore the meaning, scope, and various perspectives
within the field of History.
2. To understand periodization in Indian history and its
significance.
Objectives of the Course: 3. To familiarize students with the processes of history
writing and the contributions of notable historians.
4. This course introduces students to historiography and the
diverse perspectives that have shaped historical
narratives, particularly in the context of Indian history.
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Detailed Syllabus

MDS-HIS-75T-301- HISTORICAL METHODS AND

HISTORIOGRAPHY

Unit I: Introduction to History

Definitions and Meanings of History as a Discipline

Scope and Nature of History

Relationship of History with Science, Social Science, and the

Arts

(15 lectures)

Unit II: Periodization in Indian History

Framework for Dividing Indian History: Ancient, Medieval,

and Modern

The Logic Behind Historical Periodization

Sources of Indian History: Literature, Monuments, Archival

Documents

(15 lectures)

Unit III: Perspectives in History Writing

Understanding Historiography: Definition and Importance

Pre-modern Perspectives on History Writing: Ancient

Indian Perspectives, Indo-Persian Historiography

(15 lectures)

Unit IV: Indian Historiography and Historians

Nationalist Perspective: AS Altekar

Marxist Perspective: DD Kosambi

Feminist Perspective: Uma Chakravarti

(15 lectures)
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Suggested Books and References:

Carr, E.H. What Is History?. Penguin Books, 2018.

Kosambi, D.D. An Introduction to the Study of Indian History. Popular Prakashan,

1996.

Altekar, A.S. State and Government in Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass, 2002

Basham, A.L. The Wonder That Was India. Picador, 1954.

Ernst Breisach. Historiography : ancient, medieval, & modern. 3rd ed. Chicago :
University of Chicago Press, 2007

Shashi Bhushan Upadhyay. Historiography in the Modern World: Western and Indian
Perspectives. Oxford University Press, 2016

E. Sreedharan. A Textbook of Historiography, 500 B.C. to A.D. 2000. Orient

Blackswan, 2004

Kumkum Roy. Insights and Interventions – Essays in Honour of Uma Chakravrti. Primus.
2011

E-resources

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/history/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/historiography
https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/016/06/0551-0573
https://cpim.org/indian-history-dilemma-periodization/

Learning Outcomes: The course shall foster critical thinking and analysis of history
as a discipline, while engaging students with historiographical debates and
frameworks by enabling students to:
Define and explain the scope, nature, and meanings of history as an academic
discipline, demonstrating its relationship with science, social science, and the arts.
Analyze the framework and logic of historical periodization in Indian history,
understanding how and why Indian history is divided into ancient, medieval, and
modern periods, and assess the use of various historical sources.
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Critically examine different historiographical perspectives, including pre-modern

perspectives like ancient Indian and Indo-Persian historiography, and understand
their significance in shaping historical narratives.
Evaluate key historiographical schools of thought in Indian historiography, such as
the imperialist, nationalist, and Marxist perspectives.