HIST 060. Empires of the Indian Ocean

This course explores trade, commerce and empire building in the Indian Ocean from the trading routes which connected the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC to the mid- seventeenth century struggle between the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English. What do we see if we map the history of early modern European empires onto the ancient and medieval history of empire-building in the Indian Ocean? This course will explore how the literal mapping of history can help us address this question more productively.
Concentrations: Empires and Nations, Migration, Diaspora, and Space
Prerequisite: Course is not open to first year students. Previous course in the department or instructor permission.
Social sciences.
1 credit.
Eligible for ASIA, GLBL-Paired. Concentrations: Empires and Nations, Migration, Diaspora, and Space
Spring 2026. Azfar.
Catalog chapter: History
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/history

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