Monsoons, Migration and the Making of the Indian Ocean

Catalog description

This course explores the Indian Ocean as a dynamic space shaped by the rhythms of the monsoon winds, the rise of port cities, and the movements of peoples and religious traditions across centuries. Focusing on the period from the early medieval era through the nineteenth century, we will examine how environmental patterns, maritime trade, and imperial rivalries fostered migrations and the formation of diasporic communities. Special attention will be given to the role of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and indigenous belief systems in shaping social and political life in key port cities such as Zanzibar, Mozambique Island, Diu, and Damão. We will examine the migrations of Banian merchants from western India, Goan migrants, and communities along both the Indian and East African coasts, as well as the movement of peoples from the Arabian Gulf to East Africa. Zanzibar, in particular, will serve as a central case study for understanding how these intersecting migrations reshaped the cultural, religious, and political landscapes of the Indian Ocean world. Students will engage with recent scholarship on oceanic history, religious networks, and mobility to understand how the Indian Ocean connected Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia into one of the world’s most vibrant intercultural arenas.