Course Catalogue

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The course examines the ways in which religious networks are embedded in trade networks in Asia since the rise of Islam to the early modern period. The course focuses on the dynamics of inter-religious encounters and cross-cultural exchanges between West Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, especially along the Indian Ocean maritime trade routes. We examine the interface between trade and religion as manifested in ritual traditions, sacred landscapes, language and literature, and law. The focal point of reference is South Asia as connecting West and East, with particular emphasis on the Malabar Coast.

1 x 1hr lecture and 1 x 1hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled in MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Theology and Religious Studies and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Theology and Religious Studies, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay (2000 words) - 50%

■ Essay (1500 words) - 40%

■ Seminar Presentation of 5 minutes - 10%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essays, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ Recording of presentation as an alternative to the seminar presenation

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ Study the religious history of trade communities in South Asia

■ Examine intra- and inter-religious relations from a trans-regional perspective

■ Contextualise the study of Asian religions in socioeconomic global history

■ Relate historical research on trade networks to the history of religious diversity in Asia

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Apply a historical approach to religious expressions (textual, material or performative)

■ Evaluate the contribution of religious diversity to social and economic history of specific case studies

■ Integrate analytic tools and methods across disciplines (anthropology, archaeology, art history, textual studies, linguistics, area studies etc.) in historical research of trade communities

■ Identify a case study for future research (not necessarily of the period and region covered during the course)