ARCHEOLOGY AND THE CULTURES OF GANDHARA AND THE SILK ROADS

The course is part of the curriculum on cultures and history and South and Central Asia. However, being the topic basically archaeology, fine art and material culture of the so-called "Hellenistic Far East", the course can be linked to the Classics curricula.
The course wished to introduce the students to the problems of archaeology, fine art and material culture from Afghanistan to South and Central Asia from BCE 600 to 1000 CE. The course will have a focus on the early-historic to post-Kushan phases of the Gandharan region (modern Pakistan) (c. 150 BCE- 650 CE).
This year the course will have a special focus on the urban defences from Hellenistic to post-Kushan times.

A good understanding of the history and historical geography of the region. A fair knowledge of the major sites and excavations, as well of the major research themes with a focus on Gandharan art.
A good understanding of the thematics discussed and related methodologies.

Not necessary. A basic knowledge of South/Central Asia (a) ancient history, (b) fine art and architecture, and (c) archaeological methods, is though preferred. Supplementary material and tutorship can be provided to the students who need specific help on that regard.

General ancient geography of the area.
General chronologies for the period considered in a broad sense (approx. 600 BC to 1000 AD).

Topics in the archaeology of religions.1: Buddhist shrines.
The construction of a stupa: from the quarries to the elevation. organisation of the construction site, the workers, the client.
Case study 1: Saidu Sharif I
Case study 2: Amluk-dara
Topics in archaeology of religions.2: dynastic sanctuaries.
Case study 1: Surkh Kotal
Case study 2: Mat (Mathura)
History of architecture: urban fortification.
Case study: The city walls of Barikot (Bazira)
Ancient economy: agricultural production and the role of Buddhist monasteries.
Case study 1: The double-crop regions
Themes in the history of Gandharic art: models, contamination and emulation.
Case study: The Frieze of the Master of Saidu

Thematic handouts (in inglese e/o italiano) and PDF presentations during the classes, will be made available from February 2022 in PDF format on the University platform moodle

Other texts are the following:

1) Henri Paul Francfort, Les fortifications en Asie Centrale de l'age du bronze a l'epoque kouchane. CNRS, URA 10, Paris 1979.

2) Ciro Lo Muzio, Archeologia dell’Asia Centrale preislamica. Mondadori Università, Milano, 2017 (ISBN: 9788861844124): Chapters 3, 5, 7 and 9 (maps) [BAUM: ARCHEO (931 ASIA 125)].

3a) Pierfrancesco Callieri, Anna Filigenzi (a cura di) Il Maestro di Saidu Sharif. Alle origini dell’arte del Gandhara. MNAOr/IsIAO 2002 (in italiano) (no ISBN): Chapters 3, 4 and 5.
or (in English)
3b) Domenico Faccenna, Pierfrancesco Callieri, Anna Filigenzi, “At the origin of Gandharan art. The contribution of the IsIAO Italian Archaeological Mission in the Swat Valley Pakistan”, Ancient Civilizations 9, 3-4. Brill, Leiden, 2003 (English short version) (ISSN: 0929-077X; 1570-0577).
or (in Chinese)
3c) Pierfrancesco Callieri, Anna Filigenzi, Luca M. Olivieri (a cura di), At the origin of Gandharan art, Shanghai Classics, Shanghai 2015 (Chinese edition) (ISBN: 9787532577866).

4) Cinzia Pieruccini, L'arte dell'India.1 Dalle origini ai grandi templi medievali, Einaudi, Torino 2020 (ISBN: 9788806245955): Chapters II.1, 7-8, III.3-4, IV.1-2.

5) Luca M. Olivieri, Fabrica gandharica. Lo stupa buddhista di Saidu Sharif I (Swat): le cave, il cantiere, l’officina (English edition [Serie Marco Polo, Edizioni Ca' Foscari] will be available in January 2022)

During classes the most important chapter of each text will be indicated.

The last part of every class will be devoted to actively discuss the main topics so to test the understanding of the subject-matter.

Frontal classes with images and texts illustrated with Power Points. The latter will be made available to the students before the end of the course on the University platform moodle.
The last part of every class will be devoted to actively discuss the main topics.

A short written summary will be requested every 4 lessons.
Before the exam, the candidate will present a short (about 3000 words in English or Italian) research essay on a topic selected by the candidate that references and cites the texts we have studied. Students are encouraged to work on the paper beforehand but cannot use their notes during the exam.

Italian

Tutorship in English is available

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development