Asian History Courses
Stretching from what we now call the Middle East over South Asia to Southeast and East Asia, Asia is as vast as its histories are rich. It is also key to understanding not only the global past but also today’s world.
And there is much to explore: from the first agricultures and the inland trade routes over medieval and early modern empires to modern European and Japanese empire-building, and from independence and decolonisation processes to the Cold War conflicts. And that is without highlighting the connected histories of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as several other oceans and waterways!
Central to the numerous histories of Asia are connectivity, trade, exchanges, expansion, conflict, resilience, and variety, aspects still being reinterpreted by historians and archaeologists.
Join us to learn about and engage with the different histories of the part(s) of Asia that interest you. Our Asian history section offers both short and long courses, online and face-to-face designed to build your understanding and interest.
- China in the World Wars and the World Wars in China
Course start date: Sat 6 Dec 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Qiuyang ChenUncover the complex role of China in the World Wars, explore the profound transformations within its society, and delve into the enduring effects of these conflicts on modern China. This course guides you through these turbulent times, revealing overlooked events and evolving gender dynamics.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - The Rise and Fall of the Mughal Empire Course start date: Sat 10 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: T HussainFollow the fortunes of the Mughal Emperors, rulers of Northern India from the 1500s to the 1800s. What were their contributions to the religious, political and cultural life of northern India and how can we explain the decline of their powers in the 1700s and 1800s? Tutor: T Hussain.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - A short history of the Indian subcontinent Course start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ketan VariaThe India subcontinent is unique in its heritage and history. Join us for a tour of of the period from Pre-Aryans (c5000 BCE) to the start of the Mughal empire.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £136.00 - Indian Women and the Raj Course start date: Sat 24 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: T HussainExplore the representations and reality of Indian women’s lives during the British colonial era. Why does gender history matter and what can it tell us about the history of British colonialism and India?Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - The Making of Modern Japan: A Tale of Recovery, Innovation, and ChallengesCourse start date: Fri 6 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dale Mineshima-LoweJoin us for a 1-day workshop to discover the modern history of Japan, from the recovery and rebuilding of the country after the devastation of WWII through to the 21st century.
Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - The heirs of Genghis Khan: the Mongol Empire divided and the establishment of the Islamic Ilkhanate (1256-1335)Course start date: Sun 8 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinDiscover the history of the Mongols and the establishment of the Ilkhanids, who converted to Islam and became one of the celebrated Islamic dynasties.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - The Chinese Cultural Revolution: 1966-1977 Course start date: Sat 14 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinThe Cultural Revolution that began in 1966 marked one of the most tragic moments in the recent history of China. But what was is about? What led to it and why did it abruptly end?Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Chinese history taster: the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1636-1912) DynastiesCourse start date: Tue 7 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Qiuyang ChenTo understand China of our present means understanding China of the past. Join us a taste of the histories of the Ming and Qing Dynasties from 1368 to the new Republican era in 1912?
Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Weekend Study: A short History of the Indian Subcontinent (With British Museum Visit) Course start date: Sat 9 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaThe Indian subcontinent is unique in its heritage and history. It has lasted through invasion, political change and assimilation. It is home to the one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the Indus Valley. Join us on this 2-day study weekend to learn more.
Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Spices, Trade, and Traditions of the Indian Sub-Continent - The Story of Food from Ancient Times to the Colonial Era Course start date: Sat 16 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaJoin us to discover the history of food on the subcontinent, from the ancient period to the colonial era.How did local climates, agricultural practices, and cultural interactions shape regional cuisines?Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - A women’s history of modern China Course start date: Sat 23 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Qiuyang ChenDiscover the untold stories and hidden legacies of women in modern China in this illuminating one-day course. Traverse time, from the late Qing Dynasty to the present, to examine how women have shaped and been shaped by social, political, and cultural currents.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Exploring Early Modern China Course start date: Tue 26 May 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Qiuyang ChenTo understand China of our present means understanding China of the past. Explore the histories and legacies of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £77.00 - Ancient India: The Harappan Civilisation in the Indus Valley Course start date: Sat 6 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaWant to know more about the ancient Harappan Civilization thriving in the Indus Valley from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE? Join us to learn more!Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Partition in India and Pakistan Course start date: Sat 11 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: T HussainIn 1947 British India was partitioned. This resulted in an estimated one million deaths, the largest migration of people in modern history and the formation of India and Pakistan. What were the forces which led to Partition? When did the political and cultural factors that precipitated Partition emerge and accordingly, when did partition begin?Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Key figures in Indian history Course start date: Sun 9 Aug 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaWant to know more about Indian history but not sure where to start? Join us in this course to learn about key figures in Indian history from different eras and areas of society.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
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