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.
- South Asian Heritage Month at City Lit - Key figures in Indian history
Course start date: Sat 15 Aug 2026Location 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 - The East India Company & India Course start date: Sat 12 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: T HussainChart the rise and fall of the East India Company in India on this one-day workshop, from 1600 to 1858.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - History taster: India Post Independence (1947-2004)Course start date: Tue 15 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Reshmi BanerjeeA lively introduction to the key turning points in India’s social and political history from independence in 1947 to the early 2000s, exploring how the world’s largest democracy evolved.
Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - India Post Independence: Exploring Social and Political History Course start date: Tue 29 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Reshmi BanerjeeThe 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.
Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - China in the World Wars and the World Wars in China Course start date: Sat 21 Nov 2026
Location 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 £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Burma and the end of the British Empire Course start date: Fri 4 Dec 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Barnaby PhillipsExplore how the campaign in Burma accelerated the end of the British Empire.
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - The Rise and Fall of the Mughal Empire Course start date: Sat 9 Jan 2027
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 £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - The Making of Modern Japan: A Tale of Recovery, Innovation, and ChallengesCourse start date: Fri 12 Feb 2027
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 Chinese Cultural Revolution: 1966-1977 Course start date: Sat 13 Mar 2027
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 £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00
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