History Subjects 2025: Year-Syllabus, Electives, Books, Specializations

History of India from earliest times up to c. 300 CE

This course provides an in-depth analysis of interpreting ancient India by surveying various sources. It also provides an overview of the Vedic Culture, polity, economy, society and religion. The changes and evolution in the political structures of the Cholas, Arabs, etc., the foundation of art and architecture and mediaeval India and the integrated patterns of exchange are covered in this subject.

History of India, c. 300 to 1200

This subject provides an insight into the state and administration, economy, religion, art, society and literature of the Guptas and Vakatakas. Topics like the evolution of the political structures of the Rashtrakutas, Palas and Prathiharas and their economic, cultural and religious developments are also covered in this subject.

Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient World

This subject provides an overview of the evolution of humankind, the palaeolithic and Mesolithic cultures, food production, agriculture and animal husbandry. The topics like slave society in ancient Greece, nomadic groups in Central and West Asia and the Bronze Age Civilizations are covered in this subject.

Capitalism and Colonialism

This subject provides an insight into the concepts of capitalism in the United States, both pre and post Civil War and the Capitalist form of development in Japan. The Russian experiment on Imperialism and socialism and the scramble of Colonies in India, China and Africa are also covered.

Issues in World History

This subject provides an in-depth analysis of Colonialism and Nationalism and the social transformations after the Second World War, The Cold War and the character of the Communist states. Social movements like ecological, feminist, human rights issues, modernity and cultural transformation, and media and consumption are also covered in this subject.

Gender in the Modern World

This subject provides an introduction to the topics like historicizing gender in History like patriarchy, masculinity and femininity, the gender value in French Revolution, iconography, women's suffragette movements in Europe, Socialist movements in Russia, Socialist Feminism, women and the anti-apartheid campaign in Africa, etc.

Introducing Indian Art

This subject provides an overview of the appreciation of art, craft, sculptures, iconography, etc. It provides an overview of Architecture in Temples like Nagara, Dravida and Vesara, in Mosques like Qutb Complex, Humanyun's tomb, Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, etc., and Colonial Architecture along with modern and contemporary architecture.

1

Core

History of India - I

This subject provides an insight into topics like reconstructing Ancient Indian History, Prehistoric hunter-gatherers, The advent of food production, The Harappan Civilization, Cultures in transition settlement patterns, etc.

Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient World

This subject provides an overview of the evolution of humankind, the palaeolithic and mesolithic cultures, the beginnings of food production that include agriculture and animal husbandry, the bronze age civilization, slave society in ancient Greece, polis in ancient Greece, etc.

2

Core

History of India - II

This subject provides an in-depth analysis of the economy and society that includes the expansion of the agrarian economy. These changing political foundations have the empires and dynasties of that age, the concepts of religion, philosophy and society and the cultural developments.

Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Mediaeval World

This subject provides an insight into the Roman Empire, the Principate and Empire comprising the slave society in ancient Rome, the Religion and Culture, the Crises of Roman Empire, the Religion and Culture in Medieval Europe and the societies in Central Islamic Lands.

3

Core

Rise of Modern West - I

This subject provides an insight into the transition from feudalism to capitalism and its problems and theories. The renaissance and origins of the course and results of the European Reformation in the 16th century and the Commercial Revolution. Topics like the Emergence of the European state system in Spain, France

History of the United States of America

This subject provides an overview of the background, making of the republic, evolution of American Democracy, Early Capitalism, the Agrarian South, the Ante Bellum Foreign Policy, the Civil War and the concepts of Abolitionism and Sectionalism, etc.

4

Core

History of India - IV

This subject provides an insight into interpreting the Delhi Sultanate and its Political Structures. The Society, Religion, Culture and Economy of India are also covered in this subject.

Elective

History of the USSR

This subject provides an insight into the Russian Revolutions, the provisional government, the new economic policy, the Comintern, the formation of the USSR, the Soviet Industrialisation, Soviet Agriculture, etc.

5

Core

History of India - V

This subject provides an insight into the sources of historiography, the establishment of the Mughal Rule, the Consolidation of Mughal Rule under Akbar, Expansion and Integration, Rural Society and Economy, Political and Religious Ideas, etc.

Elective

History of China and Japan - I

This subject introduces Imperialism and the Emergence of Nationalism in China and Japan. The Chinese and Japanese Feudalism, the bureaucracy and peasantry, the Confucian value system, the Agrarian and popular movements, the attempts of self-strengthening, etc.

6

Core

History of India - VII

This subject provides an insight into the Persian and vernacular literary cultures, histories, memoirs and travelogues of India. The political culture under Jahangir and Shah Jahan and the Mughal Empire under Aurangazeb, the visual culture of paintings and architecture, the patterns of religious politics and trade and commerce are covered in this subject.

Elective

History of Modern Europe - II

This subject provides an overview of the liberal democracy, working-class movements, the crisis of feudalism in Russia and the experiments in Socialism, Imperialism, war and crisis, the cultural and intellectual developments since circa, etc.

Generic Elective

Women in Indian History

This subject provides an in-depth analysis of the theoretical concepts of understanding gender and patriarchy and the historiography of women in ancient India. Topics like Bhramanical Patriarchy, women and property, women and work: voices from Tamilakam, Imperial Women like Razia Sultan, Nur Jahan, Jahanara and women in literary activities are also covered in this subject.

Skill Enhancement Course

Archives and Museums

This subject provides an insight into Indian Museum structures and complexities. The History of setting up archives and case studies based on the National Archives of India is also seen in this subject. New kinds of museum archives that are virtual digital, in the form of craft and media, are also covered in this subject.

Discipline-Specific Elective

Issues in World History - II

This subject provides an overview of the concepts of Colonialism and Nationalism. The social transformations after the Second World War and the Cold war, the perspectives of development and underdevelopment in globalisation, the social movements, etc., are covered in this subject.

Skill Enhancement Course

History and Tourism

This subject provides an overview of the Heritage of art and architecture in India and understanding architectures like Stupa, Sanchi, Temple architecture, Indo-Persian architecture, forts, palaces, mosques, and colonial architecture in Delhi, tourism management and the varieties in tourism, etc.

History of India

An Introduction to the Study of Indian History

D.D.Kosambi

D.D wrote this book. Kosambi introduces the study of Indian Historiography and its classic works. The realistic and scientific approach of revolutionised Indian Historiography is also covered in this book.

Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Mediaeval Age

The Mediaeval Papacy

J.Barraclough

The Mediaeval Papacy by G. Barraclough talks about how an institution in itself rose through for a cause of reform but instead later turned out to be an institution of reform and in itself needed reformation. The book is refreshingly original by revealing the best-known episodes and personalities in a new refreshing light.

Rise of the Modern West

The Lineages of the Absolutist State

Perry Anderson

The Lineages of the Absolutist State by Peter Anderson uses a historical-comparative and narrative approach to perceive the dynamics of late feudalism. It also traces the development of the Absolutist states in European feudalism and examines their various trajectories.

Patterns of Colonialism in the World

The Rise of the Atlantic Economies

Ralph Davis

The Rise of the Atlantic Economies by Ralph Davis examines and surveys the Economic histories of Spain, Netherlands, France, England and the colonies they established in North and South America, right from the start of the Portuguese exploration in the 15th century till the American Revolution.