1 2 3 4 Bamiyan Peshawar Rangmahal Hadda Akhnur Srinagar Harvan Taxila Mirpur Khas Mathura Ahar Bhitargaon Pawaya Deogarh Varanasi Nachnakuthara Tigawa Ramtek Nalanda Sultanganj Kurkihar Pandu Rajar Dhibi Vaishali Elephanta Kondapur Ter Anuradhapura Sigiriya Kanchipuram Nagapattinam Amaravati Udayagiri Bhattiprolu Ghantasala Goli Nagarjunakonda Jaggayyapeta Sanchi Akota Ellora Aihole Kolhapur Brahmagiri Bagh Ajanta Dwarka Barygaza Phophnar Noh Gop Sarnath Kannauj Bodh Gaya Kaushambi Ma hanadi Godava ri Ka veri Krishna Ganges Yamuna Sutlej Indus Indus Jhelu m Chen ab Ravi Brahmaputra A R A B I A N S E A I N D I A N O C E A N H I M A L A Y A S EASTERN GHATS WESTERN GHATS D E C C A N H I N D U K U S H T H A R D E S E R T KSHATRAPA W ESTERN A N D H R A S S A T A V A H A N A S G U P T A S H U N A S IKSHVAKUS P A L L A V A S CHOLAS PANDYAS CHERAS VAKATAKAS S A S S A N I A N S H E P H T H A L I T E S K U S H A N A S Southwestern ports: clothing/linen, copper, tin, lead, semi-precious stones, coins, glass, wheat, wine Eastern ports: muslin, pearls, ivory, cinnamon Indus ports: semi-precious stones, furs/skins, indigo/other dyes, cotton, silk Southeastern ports: muslin, semi-precious stones, pearls, tortoise shell N 0 0 2 India, AD 100-600 area of Gupta overlordship major dynasty, 1st-3rd centuries AD major dynasty, 3rd-6th centuries AD route of Faxian, AD 399-414 probable route of Xuanzang, AD 629-645 painting pillar monastery remains stupa cave: sculpted or painted temple structure bronze sculpture stone sculpture terracotta/stucco imagery ivory carving jewellery coins imports exports ANDHRAS GUPTAS - Indus ports (imports): silver/gold plate, semi-precious stones, glassware, clothing/linen, wine - Barygaza ports (exports): semi-precious stones, cotton/silk cloth, yarn, pepper, ivory - Southwestern ports (exports): precious/semi-precious stones, tortoise shell, silk cloth, cinnamon, pepper, ivory - Barygaza ports (imports): silverware, gold/silver coins, copper, tin,lead, glass, clothing, wine 1 2 3 4 300 miles 450 kms DETAIL OF A WALL PAINTING from Ajanta caves, c. fifth century AD, in the domain of the Vakataka dynasty. These Buddhist paintings are celebrated for their sophisticated compositions that burst with life. Set in palaces and gardens, they show kings, ascetics, animals and the most seductive women in self- consciously languid poses. The depictions of textiles, furniture and ornament allow us a vivid window into early India. The mountain passes of the northwest frontier have always been India’s vital corridors for links to the west, whether for overland trade, or, as in the case of Alexander in the third century BC, for conquest. Following Alexander’s retreat from the Jhelum River in 326 –5 BC, his possessions in northwest India and Afghanistan were divided between his generals. By the period of the establishment of the subcontinent-wide Mauryan Empire in the third century BC, therefore, indigenous and foreign models of statecraft, administration and, moreover, control over a standing army were well-known. The extensive diplomatic and trade exchanges of the Mauryan emperors Chandragupta (r.321–297 BC) and Ashoka (r.268–232 BC) with Iran, Greece, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia are reflected in not just the influences on their art, but the conscious choice to leave lasting legacies in stone. Imperial Mauryan freestanding monolithic pillars were all quarried near Varanasi and then transported over river networks to far-flung regions of the empire. Ashokan stone inscriptions concern a variety of social, religious and economic matters. They 30˚ 25˚ 20˚ 15˚ 90˚ 85˚ 80˚ anchi nathi Amaravati Udayagiri Gudimallam Arikamedu Anuradhapura Bharhut Ahichhatra Sravasti Ayodhya Sarnath Chandraketugarh Tamralipti Varanasi Vaishali Pataliputra Rajgriha Bodh Gaya Kaushambi Mahanadi Godavari mada v eri G anges amuna Bra hmaputra I N D I A N O C E A N H I M A L A Y A S A S T E R N G H A T S C A N G A S M A U R Y A S K A L I N G A economic commodities/ raw materials: horses elephants cotton silk spices iron/coal gold diamonds gems pearls WHILE HUNDREDS OF megalithic burial sites were otted across India in this period and traces of vilization and rural dwellings can be found across he subcontinent, this map shows only major sites r regions that either manufactured r supplied materials for the production of ‘art’. everal cities and monastic dwellings have evealed structures, coins, paintings and artefacts or what is called the ‘early-historic’ period in dia. The structures are mostly Buddhist, Jain or indu, although there are traces of others which an no longer be clearly identified. The map ses only the most commonly known names f dynasties. LION CAPITAL, SARNATH, 3RD CENTRY BC. This monolithic pillar capital was one of many erected by King Ashoka. The capital is made from spectacularly polished cream sandstone. Sarnath is the site where the Buddha delivered his first sermon, thereby establishing the religious order of Buddhism. Interestingly, the pillar bears an inscription left by Ashoka threatening dissenting monks with expulsion from the order.