The Art of India was created in the area of the modern day countries of India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Southeast Asia is now the countries of Myranmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Click here for the PDF of the handout Common Characteristics of The Art of India and Southeast Asia

The presentations for our four class sessions are:

1. Introduction to The Art of India and Buddhist Art September 25

2. The Art of India and Hindu Art September 27

3. The Art of the Mughal Emperors October 2

4. The Art of Southeast Asia October 4

Click here to print out the slides from the presentations. Each is a PDF file formatted with six slides per page.

1. PDF for Art of India and Buddhist Art PPT

2. PDF for Art of India and Hindu Art PPT

3. PDF for The Art of the Mughal Emperors PPT

4. PDF for The Art of Southeast Asia PPT

Required Readings:

1. Mohenjo_Daro Homework! Read for September 25. Please read pages 4 and 5 of the essay, about the Environment and Crafts. It will give you a brief introduction to the Indus Valley Civilization. If you want to learn more, click on "Main" to go to the home page.

2. Buddhism and Buddhist Art Homework! Read for September 25. Learn about the life of Buddha and how he has been depicted in painting and sculpture mainly in India but also in China, Tibet, Japan and Southeast Asia.

3. The Kushan Empire Homework! Read for September 27 The Kushans ruled what is now Afghanistan from the 2nd century BC to the 3rd century AD. It was a period of great wealth and patronage of the arts.

4. Hinduism and Hindu Art Homework! Read for September 27. Hinduism developed in India with no single founder, no single spokesperson, no single prophet. There is one god, Brahman, but he manifests himself in many fascinating forms. Hindu art and architecture are rich in symbolism and spirituality.

5. Nepalese Painting Homework! Read for September 27. Nepalese painters created intricate and colorful religious works. They were known throughout Asia for the high quality of their workmanship and they had tremendous influence on Chinese and Indian artists.

6. The Art of the Mughals before 1600 AD Homework! Read for October 2. The first Mughal emperor, Akbar, was a great patron of the arts. You'll enjoy the bright paintings and royal architecture at this link.

7. The Art of the Mughals after 1600 AD Homework! Read for October 2. Akbar's son and grandson were also great patrons of the arts. This was when the magnificent Taj Mahal was built and individual artists rose to fame.

8. The Taj Mahal Homework! Read for October 2. This is an extensive web site created by PBS about one of the most magnificent jewels of architecture in the world. Please enjoy it's many sections. However, the only required sections are in this PDF file: PDF for The Taj Mahal Required Reading

9. Borobudur Homework! Read for October 4. The sacred site of Borobudur is a combination of Hindu and Buddhist architecture with a fascinating history. We'll study more of its five kilometers of relief sculptures.

10. Angkor Watt Homework! Read for October 4. You are to read three sections of this Wikipedia article - Architecture: Site & Plan, Style and Decoration. You might find other sections on the history of the Khmer Empire interesting or the video on the continuing preservation of this World Heritage Site. There are some lovely photos.

Suggested Readings:

1. Life of the Buddha Read about the life of the Buddha. Through 10 artworks you will see how the artists of India and Pakistan created images of him for worship. There are also five artworks from Cambodia, Japan and Korea.

2. Islamic Art of the Deccan In the Deccan region of south central India, the royal courts followed the styles of Persia to the west. Painters used vivid colors and fantastic backgrounds. Artists also created masterpieces in cast metal and carved stone.

3. Indian Textiles: Trade and Production Spices and textiles were the principal international trade goods before the Industrial Revolution. India was famous for the quality, fine details and lush colors of its textiles.

4. Nepalese Sculpture Nepalese sculptors worked in wood, stone, metal and terra cotta. Their graceful Buddhist and Hindu deities were important in religious ceremonies.

5. Recognizing The Gods Indian gods are idealized and thought Hindu and Buddhist images share some similarities, here's a guide to help you sort them out.

Suggested Books and Resources:

1. "Indian Art" by Partha Mitter, From the Series: Oxford History of Art, Published by Oxford University Press, 2001 ISBN: 0-19-284221-8

2. "Arts And Crafts of India" by Ilay Cooper and John Gillow, Published by Thames and Hudson, 1996 ISBN: 0-500-27863-6

3. Ohio Buddhist Vihara Temple Cincinnati now has its own Buddhist monastery in Mt. Healthy. "Our temple serves anyone interested in studying and practicing Buddhism. Using the original doctrines and practices taught by the Buddha 2500 years ago, we follow and practice the oldest version of the Buddha's teaching in the Theravada tradition. The resident monks come from Sri Lanka where the Buddha's Complete Canon was first written down from an oral tradition." They now have evening classes in English for anyone interested in learning more about Buddhist meditation. Call the monastery for more information: (513) 825 - 4961. (The web site needs an update.)