This course is a survey of ancient South Asia, from around 2500 BCE to the 10th century CE. Close attention will be paid to the geography and ethnography of the region, its political and economic history, the religious, philosophical, literary, and artistic movements that have shaped it and contributed to its development as a unique, diverse, and fascinating civilization.

Fall 2025: This course is designed to give students an introduction to the Sikh tradition, from its founding by Guru Nanak through the present day. The course combines historical, philosophical, and anthropological perspectives to develop a broad understanding of Sikh thought and practice in its multiple aspects. No prior background knowledge of the Sikh tradition is expected or required to take the course.

This course is an advanced introduction to the major teachings of Indian Buddhism and their philosophical elaborations. We will cover the core tenets attributed to the Buddha, and the later doctrinal and scholastic developments that turned Buddhism into one of the principal philosophical traditions of India.

Reading and composition in connection with eastern and western representations of India, and other Asian cultures, in great works of modern literature. Satisfies the second half of the reading and composition requirement.

From ancient times, cultural, political and philosophical movements originating on the Indian subcontinent have had an immense influence on life in Southeast Asia. In this reading and composition course we will explore the history of Indian connections with Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

This course is a survey of South Asia from the 10th century to the present. Close attention will be paid to the geography and ethnography of the region, its political and economic history, the religious, philosophical, literary, and artistic movements that have shaped it and contributed to its development as a unique, diverse, and fascinating civilization.

Readings and lectures focus on Thailand, Vietnam and Burma; Cambodian and Laotian materials as available. After brief attention to the influence of oral tradition, classical poetry, and dance drama, emphasis will be on modern novels, short stories, film, and television in their cultural/historical context.