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.
21 courses available
India Post Independence: Exploring Social and Political HistoryThe course will look at India’s social and political history for nearly six decades after independence (1947 to 2004). It will explore the interesting path traversed by India/Bharat by unravelling history around six watershed/landmark years, thereby providing a rich narrative of not just the politico-economic terrain but also the trajectory followed in the social realm. It will give everyone a glimpse into India’s unique, complex and fascinating journey.
Keeley Street
Tue 6 Oct 2026Reshmi BanerjeeFull fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00- China in the World Wars and the World Wars in ChinaUncover 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.
Keeley Street
Sat 21 Nov 2026Qiuyang ChenFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Burma and the end of the British Empire
Explore how the campaign in Burma accelerated the end of the British Empire.
Keeley Street
Fri 4 Dec 2026Barnaby PhillipsFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - The Rise and Fall of the Mughal EmpireFollow 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 £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00
- Chinese History Friday Late: Women in China
Trace the history of women in China from imperial times to the present, exploring how gender roles were defined, lived, and contested. It highlights both dominant ideals and diverse experiences, showing how women’s lives were shaped by social norms, cultural traditions, and historical change.
Online
Fri 22 Jan 2027Qiuyang ChenFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Gujarat: 4,000 Years of Trade, Faith and Migration
Discover Gujarat-where ancient trade routes and modern industry converge.
Online
Mon 25 Jan 2027Ketan VariaFull fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £58.00 - A short history of the Indian subcontinentThe 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.
Online
Wed 27 Jan 2027Ketan VariaFull fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £155.00 - Chinese History Friday Late: Reading Qing China through the Dream of the Red Chamber
Using Dream of the Red Chamber, one of China’s greatest novels, this introductory session explores everyday life, family structures, and cultural values in Qing dynasty China.
Online
Fri 19 Feb 2027Qiuyang ChenFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - The Chinese Cultural Revolution: 1966-1977The 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?
Keeley Street
Sat 13 Mar 2027Sebastien ArdouinFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Chinese history taster: the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1636-1912) Dynasties
To 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?
Online
Tue 6 Apr 2027Qiuyang ChenFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Myanmar: Past & Present
The land of the Shwedagon is known for its distinct identity, whose past has been shaped by both its pre-colonial and colonial periods. The course will explore its fascinating history and rich cultural heritage (including its Buddhist traditions) through a series of lectures and a museum visit.
Keeley Street
Thu 15 Apr 2027Reshmi BanerjeeFull fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Global encounters: meet the MongolsAt its height the Mongol empire stretched from the Sea of Japan to eastern Europe. We explore how the Mongols interacted with the nations they conquered.
Keeley Street
Thu 15 Apr 2027Vanessa KingFull fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £123.00 - Sri Lanka: History, Tradition and Legacy
Discover the fascinating history of Sri Lanka.
Keeley Street
Sat 17 Apr 2027Ketan VariaFull fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - Chinese History Friday Lates: The Chinese Pantheon and Catholic Missionaries
Explores the Chinese pantheon and religious world across imperial history from ancient cosmology and popular beliefs to organised traditions and examine encounters with Catholic missionaries in late imperial China, showing how different religious systems met, interacted, and sometimes clashed.
Online
Fri 30 Apr 2027Qiuyang ChenFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Weekend Study: A short History of the Indian Subcontinent (With British Museum Visit)
The 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 to learn more.
Keeley Street
Sat 8 May 2027Ketan VariaFull fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00
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