Syllabus
1. Introduction: Who are the Kushans? Rediscovering an empire, our sources, and the contribution of archaeology
2. Intellectual history: Kushan archaeology in 20th century Afghanistan, Soviet Central Asia, and the post-Soviet republics
3. Kushan coinage: what can money tell us?
4. Nomadic vs. sedentary lifeways (and death): burial archaeology in Bactria
5. The big picture: settlement patterns, irrigation, and the boundaries of the state
6. Urbanism: everyday life, architecture, and craft production
7. Khalchayan: dynastic art and identity at a contested site
8. Surkh Kotal: the royal pantheon and religious architecture
9. Buddhism in Bactria: art, architecture, and life in the monastery
10. Begram: questions of 'Silk Road' trade in luxury and prestige goods
11. Rural life: what changed for everybody else?
Annotation
The Kushan Empire (ca. 50–350 CE) – ruled by a dynasty with nomadic roots – once stretched from southern Uzbekistan to northern India, and presided over a golden age in Central Asia's ancient history: we see major developments in urbanism, the economy, religion, and art, as well as intensifying cross-cultural connectivity across the ancient world. Yet, much of this picture also remains poorly known or debatable, such as the exact role played by the Kushan state in these transformations, the impact of the ‘Silk Road,’ how the lives of ordinary people were affected, how religion changed and why Buddhism spread to Bactria, in what way the Kushans were ‘nomadic,’ and how and why the dynamic art of this period drew from diverse Iranian, Hellenistic, and Indic elements. This course will explore such questions through a comprehensive overview of the archaeology of Central Asia under the Kushans. We will examine material and visual culture related to ruling elites as well as the wider populace, and consider famous sites and finds alongside new ideas and discoveries. The topics of weekly classes are dedicated alternatively to broader themes or case studies provided by significant sites. As an outcome, students will gain a solid knowledge of the field and form their own views regarding its key debates, as well as deepen their understanding of diverse methodological, theoretical, and conceptual themes relevant to broader archaeology.
The regular format of lessons (90 minutes) are lectures with discussions of set weekly readings. For readings in languages other than English, translations (into English) will be provided. In December, students may also join an optional excursion to Berlin to visit the traveling exhibition Archäologische Schätze aus Usbekistan (James Simon Gallery), where we can view some material discussed in the course in-person.