DAMODARAM SANJIVYYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

Visakhapatnam

COURSE OUTLINE, 2016-17 (Odd Semester)

Title of the Subject: History-I Semester: First

Name of the Faculty: : Dr.Viswachandra Nath Madasu Total No. of Hours: 60

Objective:
The primary objective of this paper is to answer the question how and why the present has evolved from
the past in the manner it has.

The way we recognize our past constructs our identity in the present and also builds our vision of the
future.

History helps us to understand the socio, economic and political context in which legal system emerge and
evolve.

A study of the nature of the state and administrative apparatus is required for proper understanding of the
legal systems in ancient and medieval India.

The paper will offer a close study of select themes, focusing specifically on the intersections in history and
law.

Unit No. of
No. Sessions
Module I Introduction

1.1 History, its meaning, purpose and methodology 2

1.2 Re-writing of history – the controversy 2
Module II Ancient India

2.1 Nature of State, Society, economy and Administrative of Vedic Society 5

2.2 Nature of State, Society, economy and Administrative of Mauryan Empire 5
2.3 Nature of State, Society, economy and Administrative of Gupta Empire 5
Module III The concept of Justice and Judicial systems in Ancient India

3.1 Concept of Dharma and sources of Dharma: Veda, tradition and good custom 3
3.2 Dharma Sutras- Apastamba, Goutama, Baudhayana, Vasasta and Vishnu dharma 4
Sutras
3.3 Dharma Sastras : Manu Smriti, 2
3.4 Yajnavalkya 2
3.5 Narada 2
3.6 Commentaries and Digests 2
3.7 The Scope and method of interpretation of Law in Ancient India 2
3.8 Dharma and custom 2
3.9 Dharma and Royal Ordinances 2
3.10 Judicial System - Types of courts and procedures 2
Module IV Medieval India
4.1 Introduction-Society, economic and administrative apparatus of Delhi Sultanate 3
4.3 Sources of Islamic law and salient Features of Islamic Criminal Law 2
4.3 Judicial Organization: King, Chief Qazi, Judicial officers and Punishments 4
1
 4.4 Law with regard to non-Muslims 1
Module V Mughal period

6.1 Introduction-Administrative apparatus of Mughal administration 3

6.2 Judicial administration –Types of courts, King, Chief Qazi, Judicial officers and 5
Punishments- changes introduced by Akbar

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

1. E.H.Carr: What is History?

2. Arthur Marwick: Nature of History.
3. Romila Thapar: Early India.
4. HV. Srinivasa Murthy: History of India-I for Law Students
5. R.S. Sharma: Aspects of Political ideas and Institutions in Ancient India.
6. R.S. Sharma: Sudras in Ancient India
7. R.S. Sharma: Material culture and Social formation.
8. Patrick Olivelle, Dharmasutras.
9. Robert Lingat: The Classical Law of India.
10. J.D.M. Derrett: Religion law and state in India.
11. Satish Chandra: Medieval India Vol. I & Vol. II.