Term
| As of 2010, how many people of South Asian origin live in the US and what rank out of nine countries did US youths receive about general South Asian knowledge? |
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Definition
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Term
| What does the term "diapsora" refer to? |
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Definition
| The dispersion of peoples beyond their homeland |
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Term
| What nations are included in the study of cultures from South Asia? |
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Definition
| Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran (Persia), Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |
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Term
| What are the three major religions in South Asia in order from most practiced to least practiced? |
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Definition
| Hinduism, Islam, Christianity. Also, there is Sikhism and then Buddhism |
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Term
| What is the dominant political system in contemporary South Asian countries? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the major language families found in South Asia? |
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Definition
| Indic, Dravidian, Iranian, Tibeto-Burman, Altaic |
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Term
| What makes South Asia complex to study and understand? |
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Definition
| Many texts refer to South Asia as simply "India" to represent past events in the region. Currently, however, the regions referred to might be in nations other than India |
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Term
| How does Bose explain the concept of the "realm of ideas"? |
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Definition
| That the nations of South Asia are made in "conceptual histories, not just geo-political formations" |
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Term
| Was there a unified tradition across South Asia for very long? |
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Definition
| No, that is a myth. Because of this, Bose asserts that it may be most useful to study the region in post-modern ways |
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Term
| What does postmodernity advocate for and how does it mean to look at something postmodernly? |
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Definition
| It advocates for multiple points of view rather than singular perspectives. It means to look at multiple slivers of information and perspective rather than one singular, overarching truth |
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Term
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Definition
| Our perceptions of the world in visual forms |
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Term
| What is mapping and what would be an example of mapping? |
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Definition
| A form of visuality that allows us to see the same place/region in multiple forms, such as looking at an illustrated tourist map, a pop-up map, and a geographical atlas. An example would be the Guggeneheim UBS Map: a Global Art Initiative |
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Term
| According to Dahejia, what do the terms rasa and rasik mean? |
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Definition
| Rasa is an aesthetic means of viewing and responding to visuals and rasik is the viewer. These terms explain the anonymity of individual artists. |
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Term
| What are some key concepts in Dharmic Indian cultural influences? |
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Definition
| Karma and kaama (action and desire), varna (caste), dharma (duty), and moksha (liberation) |
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Term
| What are the Mohenjodaro and Harappa civilizations collectively known as? |
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Definition
| Indus Valley Civilization |
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Term
| Where are the words "India" and "Hindu" derived from? |
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Definition
| They are derived from the river Indus and they originally refer to the peoples who lived by the river Indus |
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Term
| Name two sophisticated urban systems and two rural, agricultural systems. |
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Definition
Urban: Mohenjodaro and Harappa
Rural: Indo-Aryan and Vedic |
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Term
| How have our understanding of Mohenjodaro and Harappa been reconstructed? |
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Definition
| Through excavations of architecture, art, and forms of visual culture like coins, tablets, statues, toys, and pottery |
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Term
| What is material culture study? |
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Definition
| The study of cultures and societies based on their production and consumption of human-made material forms and products |
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Term
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Definition
| The branch of metaphysics that deals with the nature of being. Religious systems may be understood to be an outcome of ontology |
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Term
| What are the multiple ontological systems found in South Asia? |
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Definition
| Ancient, Abrahamic, and Dharmic |
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Term
| What are key concepts of Ancient deities (such as Greek, Roman, Mesopotamin, Egyptian, etc.)? |
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Definition
| Numerous but not unlimited, individual identities and roles, both male and female, can combine with animal forms, are not single, all-powerful beings, affect the human world, can be invoked and affected by humans, some affect afterlife. The divine is outside of, or other to humanity (dualistic) |
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Term
| What are the Abrahamic religions? |
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Definition
| Judaism, Christianity, and Islam |
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Term
| What are key characteristics of Abrahamic visualization? |
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Definition
| Monotheistic (only one deity), deity is all-encompassing, all-powerful, all-knowing, and creator of the universe, deity is male, has total power over humans and humans must perform actions to try to influence deity, has power to determine what happens to you when you die, if represented in human form it must not be worshipped as a deity, and divine is outside of, or other to humanity (dualistic) |
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Term
| What are Dharmic religions? |
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Definition
| Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh |
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Term
| What are key characteristics of images in Dharmic deities? |
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Definition
| Many deities but not set number, they are infinite, both male and female, can have large or small powers, have fluid identities (can change form and purpose), can take human form, can be "seen" as manifestations of a single entity, can be "seen" as manifestation of divine once consecrated, and dualistic but also humans are potentially divine and that divinity is latent within us (non-dualistic) |
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Term
| Define sign, signified, and signifier |
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Definition
Sign: abstract mental concept expressed in material form through a "sound-image"
Signified: the mental concept evoked
Signifier: Material sound-image |
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Term
| Define "symbol" and "icon." |
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Definition
Symbol: type of sign that doesn't look like the material form they signify
Icon: Signifiers that look like the idea directly |
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Term
| Define pratima, murti, kala, vigraha, prakirti, and bimba. |
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Definition
Pratima: suggests a likeness, or reflective of the concept
Murti: suggests physically depicted form (sculpture)
Kala: like English term "art"; connotation of skill & manifestation
Vigraha: body or form of deity
Prakirti: suggests physical likeness
Bimba: suggests an image or representation
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Term
| Define darsana, pratishta, ankur-arpana, and archa. |
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Definition
Darsana: indicates both seeing and being seen (reciprocal act of visibility, seeking, and recognition)
Pratishta: consecration
Ankur-arpana: "eye-opening", ritual through which consecration (pratishta) occurs
Archa: a consecrated image |
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Term
| Is an unconsecrated image still considered divine? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are some examples of overlapping and evolving imagery in South Asia? |
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Definition
| The forms of Pashupati in Mohenjodaro and Harappa and Shiva in Vedic/Hindu art. Also, the development of the female deity of fertility |
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Term
| What are examples of the remnants of the craftsmanship of the Indus Valley Civilizations? |
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Definition
| Terracotta toys produced in contemporary Gujarat |
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Term
| When did Sufi and Bhakti traditions emerge? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are key concepts that Sufi and Bhakti traditions focus on? |
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Definition
| Unity of humanity as a whole and practicing love and devotion as emotional and intellectual habit |
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Term
| What thought systems do Sufi and Bhakti traditions take ideals from? |
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Definition
| Hindu, Islam, and Buddhist thought systems |
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Term
| Where do Bhakti art and Sufi art draw from? |
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Definition
| Bhakti draws from Hindu mythology and imagery, so Bhakti art metaphorically represents stories about Hindu and Buddhist personas. Sufi draws from Islamic artistic traditions, so Sufi art represents the search for and experiences of finding Allah |
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Term
| Is poetry and music important in Bhakti and Sufi art? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are two examples of Sufi architecture? |
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Definition
| The Sufi shrine of Bibi Jawindi at Uch Sharif in Pakistan and Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, India |
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Term
| What are the Hindu (Bhakti) and Arabic (Sufi) words for chosen teacher or learned one? |
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Definition
Bhakti: chosen teacher/learned one is Guru
Sufi: teacher is Pir, learned one is Murshid |
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Term
| Were Sufi and Bhakti leaders ordinary people or royalty? |
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Definition
| Ordinary people who had "seen" divinity |
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Term
| How does Dahejia describe seeing the divine? |
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Definition
| She defines it as recognizing the divine or the divine becoming visible to us |
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Term
| In terms of Hindu temples, what body parts are represented by the Gopuram, Dwaja Stabham (Dwaja Lingam), Antaratma, Maha Mandapam, and Garba Griha. |
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Definition
Gopuram: feet of God
Dwaja Stabham (Dwaja Lingam): reproductive organs
Antaratma: internal being
Maha Mandapam: heart area
Garba Griha: head/brain and houses Paramatma (deity) |
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Term
| What shape is the Sun Temple in Konarak Odisha built in and what does it represent? |
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Definition
| Built in the shape of a chariot and represents the sun |
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Term
| What are the 5 states of being that the Om symbol represents? |
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Definition
| Absolute state of bliss, illusion, dream state, waking/awakened state, and unconscious/deep sleep state |
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Term
| How is the visualization of the form of a church most often symbolized? |
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Definition
| The body of Christ on the crucifix |
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Term
| How is the visualization of an Islamic mosque most often symbolized? |
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Definition
| In the metaphor of the hijab, or the "architecture of the veil" where the inside is not visible from the outside |
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Term
| Define the key architectural elements of an Islamic mosque: mihrab, minrab, minaret, shah, and iwan. |
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Definition
Mihrab: niche in the wall that faces Mecca
Minrab: place from which religious leader speaks to the people
Minaret: tower on outside of mosque from where call to prayer is made
Shah: courtyard surrounded by arches on all sides
Iwan: Portal or vaulted hallway where 3 sides are walled and one side is entirely open |
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Term
| In an Islamic mosque, is there one single sacred space or is there an atmosphere of spirituality throughout the mosque? |
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Definition
| There is an atmosphere of spirituality throughout the whole mosque |
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Term
| What does the dome represent in an Islamic mosque? |
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Definition
| It represents the world as a place of prostration and in resemblance to nature (the sky as a dome) |
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Term
| What is the visualization of the form of the Buddhist stupa? |
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Definition
| To promote and convey the experience of a sustained state of consciousness (nirvana) |
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Term
| What is the earliest form of a Buddhist place of worship? |
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Definition
| A stupa, which is a mound-shaped shrine with no interior. |
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Term
| What are chatras and what do they symbolize? |
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Definition
| Chatras are the three umbrella shapes that are located at the central mast at the top of a stupa. They symbolize the three jewels of Buddhism: Buddha (enlightened one), the Law, and commmunity of monks |
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Term
| What are two examples of Buddhist Stupa architecture? |
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Definition
| The stupa at Sanchi in India and Dambulla in Sri Lanka |
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Term
| Define the key architectural concepts of a stupa: chatra, harmika, the anda, the medhi, the enclosure wall, and the torana |
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Definition
Chatra: Umbrella-shaped spire with 3 disks representing the 3 jewels
Harmika: square fence surrounding the Chatra, symbolizing the 8 fold path of Buddhism
Anda: the egg, signifying the dome
Medhi: latticed railing forming outside wall or base of the Anda
Enclosure wall: wall surrounding the mound containing the reliquery
Torana: Symbolic entrance to the stupa, marking the front. Usually adorned with decorative elements like yaksha and yakshis and animals |
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Term
| What did the stupa mound eventually develop into and what does it symbolize? |
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Definition
| It eventually developed into the pagoda, which symbolizes the 5 elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and space |
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Term
| In Buddhism, what does the lotus symbolize and what color can it not be? |
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Definition
| It symbolize purity and it cannot be blue |
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Term
| How (to where) did Buddhism spread? |
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Definition
| It spread from Bitar, India to Afghanistan |
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Term
| What were the Buddhas of Bamiyan and when were they created? |
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Definition
| They were monumental statues that represented the classic style of Ghandara art. They were created in the 6th century, but were bombed by the Taliban in 2001 because they were declared to be idols |
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Term
| Why is Bamiyan significant? |
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Definition
| It represents the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic nature of the peoples of Afghanistan and because the people have become a symbol of oppression |
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Term
| How does Diana Eck define iconic and aniconic images? |
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Definition
Iconic: a likeness of and having a recognizable physical likeness to which that they represent
Aniconic: being without human or animal form |
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Term
| Iconic images can be defined further by Pratima, Pratikiri, and Murti. Define these. Also define Vigraha and Yantra. |
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Definition
Pratima: form that represents something in its likeness
Pratikiri: form that represents the nature of something
Murti: form of a manifested idea that contains its essence
Vigraha: the body or form that that enables us to understand the nature or essence of a concept
Yantra: the form that harnesses focus for purpose of meditation on formless concept |
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Term
| Give one example of an iconic image and one example of an aniconic image. |
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Definition
Iconic: Nataraj form of Shiva
Aniconic: Shivalinga |
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Term
| What type of art and architecture represents the hybrid nature of South Asia's cultural forms? |
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Definition
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Term
| What cultural influences did the Mughals blend? |
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Definition
| Turkish, Mongolian, Persian, and Indian |
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Term
| Who was the founder of the Mughal dynasty? |
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Definition
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Term
| Who was the Mughal emperor who recognized himself as Indian or "Hindustani" and advocated for multiculturalism? |
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Definition
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Term
| Who was the emperor that built the Taj Mahal in honor of his wife Mumtaz Mahal? |
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Definition
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Term
| Give an example of a hybrid art form that developed in the Mughal courts. |
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Definition
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Term
| What two types of art does Mughal art blend? |
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Definition
| Geometric patterns of Islamic motifs and naturalistic representations of Hindu art forms |
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Term
| What Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic elements does Mughal architecture blend? |
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Definition
Hindu/Buddhist: onion-shaped domes with chatra or chatri and lattice work windows
Islamic: minarets and arches, non-figurative decorative patterns, and Quranic calligraphy |
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Term
| Give an example of hybrid art form emerging in the Mughal period. |
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Definition
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Term
| What do the Char Bagh in Mughal architecture represent? |
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Definition
| The Char Bagh, or four gardens, symbolize the elements of paradise, with 4 water channels symbolizing water, milk, wine, and honey |
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Term
| What do Mughal architectural complexes comprising gardens and tombs symbolize? |
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Definition
| They symbolize the earthly universe as well as the paradise that will be achieved after death |
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Term
| What are three significant features of the Taj Mahal and why are they impressive? |
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Definition
Calligraphy on gateway: impressive because they look the same size all the way up due to the gradual enlarging of the letters and spacing
Onion-shaped dome: double shelled with false interior
Finial of dome: Hindu symbol with Islamic scripture on it |
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Term
| What was the original doorway of the Taj Mahal made of? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the hasht-bihisht? |
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Definition
| A nine-fold architectural layout where an octagonal central chamber is flanked by an outer chamber on each wall. It is a common feature in Mughal architecture |
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Term
| Were Mughal miniature paintings made by one master artist or many artists? What did the paintings typically depict? |
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Definition
| They were made by many artists, so they were produced through a collaborative process. They depicted courtley scenes and everyday life |
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