History of Eastern Architecture

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Eastern Architecture (3 hours)
   1. Overview of eastern architectural traditions
   2. Comparison between eastern and western architectural approaches
   3. Introduction to key regions: South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia
2. Indus Valley Civilization and Vedic Architecture (4 hours)
   1. Key elements of the architecture of the Indus Valley civilization
   2. Significant aspects of the evolution of Vedic architecture
3. Indian Buddhist Architecture (4 hours)
   1. Development of Buddhist architecture in India
4. Indian Hindu Temple Architecture (18 hours)
   1. Development of Hindu temple design from the Gupta and Chalukyan eras to later times
   2. Development in southern India architecture
   3. Development in northern India architecture
5. Indian Jain Temple Architecture (4 hours)
   1. Historical evolution, architectural techniques, key elements and distinct characteristics of Jain temples
6. Indian Islamic Architecture (6 hours)
   1. Development of India's early Islamic architecture
   2. Regional variations in the development of Islamic architecture
   3. Developments in Mughal architecture
7. Ancient East Asia and Southeast Asian Architecture (4 hours)
   1. Historical developments in Burmese, Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese and Cambodian architecture

Practicals

Fifteen hours: students prepare an analytical graphical report on South Asian, East Asian and Southeast Asian architecture covering historical context, social and cultural influences, religious significance, materials and construction techniques, create posters, present findings and participate in a departmental exhibition.