INTRODUCTION
One of the leading places for historical research and teaching in Pakistan, Department of History GCU can justifiably boast of its golden past and the present holding forth promise for the bright future. A blend of experience and youth in the faculty is working hard in dissemination as well as production of knowledge. We train our students to achieve the requisite competence required of scholars and teachers of history today. H.L.O Garrett, Dr Abdul Hameed and Prof. Razi Wasti represented academic excellence in the past; the legacy is being passionately sustained by the succeeding generation of academics in the discipline of History.
Established in 1864, the Department of History has always made an impact by inculcating intellectual panache and the quest for learning among the students. Now it is bracing itself up for new challenges in the realm of academia posed by the changed scenario in the epistemic contours of the discipline. In view thereof, the courses offered at GCU have been radically re-worked in accordance with current trends, incorporating postcolonial debates crosscutting disciplinary boundaries of Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy and Cultural-Studies, etc. That multi-disciplinary approach of expanding intellectual range and specialized competence is being employed not only at the MPhil/PhD studies but also at the undergraduate level.
We have very vibrant and enthusiastic teaching staff and we intend to enhance their capabilities by equipping them with the necessary tools of cognitive excellence and pedagogic expertise. Our major and allied subjects share the common intellectual value.
The following renowned historians and scholars served the Department as Heads at various times since the inception of Pakistan.
Prof Mian Namdar Khan | (1947-54) |
Prof Dr Abdul Hameed | (1954-65) |
Prof M. Amjad Butt | (1965-67, 1982-88, 1989-90) |
Dr S. Razi Wasti | (1967-82, 1988-89) |
Dr Farhat Mahmud | (1990-96) |
Prof Syed Masood Raza Rizvi | (1996-99) |
Prof lftikhar Ahmad Ch. | (1999) |
Prof Javaid Ahmed Shiekh | (1999-2003) |
Dr. Tahir Kamran | 2003–2010 |
Dr Farhat Mahmud | 2010-2011 |
Mohammad Ibrahim | 2011-2015 |
Dr. Tahir Kamran | 2015–2019 |
Dr. Tahir Mahmood | 2019-todate |
FACILITIES
Research
For the past several years, the faculty at the Department of History has been engaged in a number of research projects like the Sufism and its impact on the Cultural History of the Punjab, Regional Studies such as the History of districts, Historiography in Pakistan: Trends and critique, Role of Bradari System in Power Politics of Lahore, Ranjit Singh: A Discourse analysis of th orientalist in the 19 Century Punjab, Religion and Politics in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Colonial Education in Punjab: A case study of History of FC College Lahore etc.
Research Journal
Apart from other publications, “The Historian” is the main research journal of the Department and has become a regular feature providing material for debate and discussion here at GCU. The journal has encouraged young teachers to conduct research in different areas. The Historian is a Bi-Annual HEC recognized journal.
Seminars, Lectures, Workshops
Distinguished historians, political activists and scholars from various disciplines are invited at seminars, extension lectures and workshops. Recently, the Department organised a Lecture of Prof Francis Robinson on South Asia and West Asia from the Delhi Sultanate to the Present: security, resources and influence. Garrett History Society invited Raja Anwar , Advisor to the Chaief Minister of the Punjab, to deliver a lecture on Turmoil in Afghanistan. Dr Mohammad Waseem delivered a lecture on Impediments to the functioning of Democracy in Pakistan. Dr Uzma Rehman, Foreign Faculty Professor, delivered a lecture on Sufi Shrines and the Identity Crisis in Pakistan. Besides, the Department also organised a Two-Day International Conference, “Punjab and the Raj”, at which reputed scholars from Europe, East and South Asia presented their papers. The Department also organised a one-day “National Conference on the State of Social Sciences in Pakistan” in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan.
Future Work
History has in its fold many specialized branches. It has a lot to offer to youngsters in the realms of education, Journalism, Museology, Historical Research and Professional Writing etc. Furthermore, history still has its relevance along with Anthropology and Economics in non-governmental sectors.
Academic Programs
The Department of History offers following Degree Programs:
- BA (Hons.)
- MA (Evening Programme)
- MPhil
- PhD
Objective
The vision of the Department of History is to establish itself as the premier social sciences program at the M.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D., levels in Pakistan, at least in the public sector. In a social sciences program, the principal determinants of research output are the strength of the faculty, both in qualitative and quantitative aspects, and the level of enthusiasm and competence of the students enrolled. That is why the students from several parts of Pakistan flock to the department. Our mission is to produce a class of conscious educated people, who are also mindful of the pitfalls of history. We shall cater our students, who have passed their Bachelor of Arts (2 year programme). A blend of experience and youth in the faculty is working hard in dissemination as well as production of knowledge. A graduate of the Department should be capable of recognizing how study of the past may be used for the betterment of the future. They should be able to demonstrate sufficient capability to be objective, analytical and methodic individuals.
CURRICULA
Year – I |
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Semester – I |
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Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS-1101 |
Ancient India |
3 |
HIS-1102 |
British India (1707 – 1857) |
3 |
HIS-1103 |
A Global History |
3 |
HIS-1104 |
History of the Americas |
3 |
HIS-1105 |
British History |
3 |
HIS-1106 |
Muslims in Spain |
3 |
Semester – II |
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Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS-1201 |
Ancient Europe |
3 |
HIS-1202 |
Freedom Movement |
3 |
HIS-1203 |
Modern Central Asia |
3 |
HIS-1204 |
Modern China |
3 |
Year – II |
||
Semester – III |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS-2101 |
State and Society in Medieval India |
3 |
HIS-2102 |
European History-I (1789 – 1871) |
3 |
HIS-2103 |
History of World Religions |
3 |
HIS-2104 |
Umayyads and Abbasids |
3 |
HIS-2105 |
Safavid Empire |
3 |
HIS-2106 |
Ottoman Empire (13th to 20th Century) |
3 |
HIS-2107 |
South Asia since 1947 |
3 |
HIS-2108 |
History of Australia |
3 |
Semester – IV |
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Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS-2201 |
History of South Asian Art |
3 |
HIS-2202 |
Medieval Europe |
3 |
HIS-2203 |
Social and Intellectual History of Modern Europe |
3 |
HIS-2204 |
European History-II (1871 – 1945) |
3 |
HIS-2205 |
Modern South-East Asian History |
3 |
HIS-2206 |
Themes in African History |
3 |
HIS-2207 |
History of Russia |
3 |
HIS-2208 |
History of Middle East |
3 |
HIS-2209 |
History Writing Skills |
3 |
Year – III |
||
Semester – V |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS-3101 |
Key Concepts in Social Sciences |
3 |
HIS-3102 |
Research Method |
3 |
HIS-3103 |
Medieval India – I |
3 |
HIS-3104 |
Introduction to US History |
3 |
HIS-3105 |
Political Economy of Pakistan |
3 |
HIS-3106 |
Challenges to Islam in Modern World |
3 |
HIS-3107 |
Historical Sources in Arabic Language |
3 |
HIS-3108 |
Themes in Art & Architectural History |
3 |
Semester – VI |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS-3201 |
Introduction to Philosophy of History |
3 |
HIS-3202 |
Medieval India – II |
3 |
HIS-3203 |
Modern History of Afghanistan |
3 |
HIS-3204 |
Islamic History |
3 |
HIS-3205 |
Modern Asia |
3 |
HIS-3206 |
Sufi Shrines and Identity Construction in South Asia |
3 |
HIS-3207 |
Sufis and Colonial States |
3 |
HIS-3208 |
Ancient Civilizations |
3 |
HIS-3209 |
History and Literature |
3 |
Year – IV |
||
Semester – VII |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS-4101 |
History of Colonial Punjab |
3 |
HIS-4102 |
Discourses of History in the 19th and 20th Centuries |
3 |
HIS-4103 |
Social and Cultural History of Medieval India |
3 |
HIS-4104 |
International Relations |
3 |
HIS-4105 |
Social Sciences; Key Concepts |
3 |
HIS-4106 |
Historical Sources in Persian Language |
3 |
HIS-4107 |
Cultural Institutions in Colonial India |
3 |
HIS-4299 |
Research Project / Internship |
3 |
Semester – VIII |
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Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS-4201 |
New Trends in History |
3 |
HIS-4202 |
Emergence of USA as Global Power |
3 |
HIS-4203 |
Pakistan and the Contemporary World |
3 |
HIS-4204 |
Early Indian History |
3 |
HIS-4205 |
Social and Intellectual History of India |
3 |
HIS-4206 |
Nationalism in Europe |
3 |
HIS-4207 |
Historical Sources in Pakistani Languages |
3 |
HIS-4299 |
Research Project / Internship |
3 |
History as Allied Subject
Semester – I |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS – 1102 |
British India 1707-1857 |
3 |
Semester – II |
||
HIS – 1202 |
Freedom Movement |
3 |
Semester – III |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS – 2102 |
European History-I 1789-1871 |
3 |
Semester – IV |
||
HIS – 2204 |
European History II 1871-1945 |
3 |
Year – I | ||
Semester – I |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS – 7101 |
Philosophy of History |
3 |
HIS – 7102 |
Research Methodology |
3 |
HIS – 7103 |
Nineteenth Century India and Colonial Interception |
3 |
HIS – 7104 |
Transformation of Europe from Medieval to Modern Age |
3 |
Semester – II (The students will study Four Courses) |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS – 7201 |
International Political Economy with Specific Reference to Pakistan |
3 |
HIS – 7202 |
Agrarian System under Mughal (1526 – 1707) |
3 |
HIS – 7203 |
Government and Politics in America |
3 |
HIS – 7204 |
Domestic and Foreign Policy of USA since Second World War |
3 |
HIS – 7205 |
Specialized Study of World Civilizations |
3 |
HIS – 7206 |
Movement in the Modern Historical Discourse |
3 |
HIS – 7207 |
Foreign Policy of Pakistan in the Post Cold War Era |
3 |
HIS – 7208 |
State and Society History of Muslims in India 1206 – 1707 A.D. |
3 |
HIS – 7209 |
Cultural and Social History of Muslims in India 1206-1707 A.D. |
|
HIS – 7210 |
International Relations |
3 |
HIS – 7211 |
History of Feminism |
|
HIS – 7212 |
Religious Pluralism |
3 |
HIS – 7213 |
Economic History of India under British Colonial Rule |
3 |
HIS – 7214 |
Colonial Punjab |
3 |
HIS – 7215 |
History of Knowledge |
3 |
HIS – 7216 |
Research Methodology |
3 |
HIS – 7217 |
Approaches to Cultural History |
3 |
Year – II |
||
Semester – III & IV |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS – 7499 |
Thesis |
12 |
Semester – I |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS – 8101 |
History As A Discourse |
3 |
HIS – 8102 |
State and Society in Pakistan |
3 |
HIS – 8103 |
Economic History of India Under British Colonial Rule |
3 |
HIS – 8104 |
Sufi Shrines and Identity Construction in South Asia |
3 |
HIS – 8105 |
Preliminary Persian Language |
3 |
HIS – 8106 |
Islamic Science: A Critical Study of Sources |
3 |
Semester – II |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
HIS – 8201 |
History of Mystical Thought |
3 |
HIS – 8202 |
History of Colonial Punjab |
3 |
HIS – 8203 |
Pakistan Foreign Policy Imperatives |
3 |
HIS – 8204 |
Tasawwuf: A Critical Study of Sources |
3 |
FACULTY

Dr. Hussain Ahmad Khan
PhD (University of Singapore)
Designation:
Chairperson

Dr. Zahra
PhD (Oxford, UK)
Designation:
Assistant Professor

Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim
PhD (BZU Multan)
Designation:
Associate Professor

Dr. Nayyar Abbas
PhD (GCUL)
Designation:
Assistant Professor