In 1857, tens of thousands of Indians rose up in a violent rebellion against British imperial rule. It was the biggest crisis to rock the British Empire since the American Revolution, and imperial forces moved fast, suppressing the revolt in a wave of indiscriminate bloodshed. What caused the rebellion? How did the British regain control of their colony? In tackling these questions, this class does not assume any prior knowledge with Indian history—or with history at all. Instead, we will use the rebellions of 1857 as a dramatic setting in which to build key historical skills, from reading primary sources to interpreting the past to exploring how that past is remembered around the globe. MWF 11