Indian Architecture History Quiz

Indian Architecture History

• Emerged as the third great civilization in a fertile river valley, primarily along the Indus River.
• Indus Valley civilization dates back to 2500 BC, located in present-day Pakistan and Northwest India.
• Major cities include Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, ruled by priest-kings with citadels.
• This civilization lasted approximately 800 years, ending around 1500 BC.
• Aryans migrated from the north around 1500 BC, establishing 16 separate kingdoms throughout India.
• The most powerful kingdom, Magadha, eventually conquered others and founded the Mauryan Empire in 300 BC under King Ashoka.

Religion

Hinduism

• Main religion in India, recognized as one of the oldest surviving religions alongside Judaism.
• Rooted in indigenous Dravidian beliefs combined with those of Aryan invaders.
• Key deities include Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
• Central belief involves reincarnation, where the soul returns in a different body.
• The caste system categorizes society into priests, warriors and nobles, farmers and traders, laborers and servants, and untouchables.

Buddhism

• Emerged in response to dissatisfaction with the Hindu caste system.
• Founded by Gautama Siddhartha (563–483 BC), who renounced princely life to seek wisdom.
• Achieved enlightenment through meditation after six years of searching.
• Advocates overcoming human weaknesses, such as greed and anger, to attain salvation or nirvana.

Buddhist Structures

Stambha or Laths

• Pillars commemorating Buddhist teachings and figures, often prominently displayed.

Stupas

• Memorial mounds built to enshrine relics of Buddha or mark sacred events.
• Represent symbols of the universe and are based on prehistoric funerary mounds.
• Constructed as domical mounds on a platform, featuring processional paths, railings, gateways, and a crowning umbrella (chattri).

Viharas

• Buddhist monasteries typically carved from solid rock.
• Include a central pillared chamber or quadrangle, surrounded by a verandah with small sleeping cells.
• The front often contains a courtyard with a stupa.

Chaitya

• Prayer halls or gathering spaces in viharas, often featuring a stupa as the central focus.

Wat

• Refers to Buddhist monasteries or temples in Thailand and Cambodia.
• Notable example: Angkor Wat, a temple complex in Cambodia, covering an area of 162.6 hectares.

Gompa

• Refers to monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism, exemplified by structures like the Dechen Choekhor Mahavihara Monastery.

Architectural Traditions in Thailand

• Early Influences: Development mirrored building traditions of the Mons and Talaings in Southern Burma; introduced stone construction, replacing traditional brick and vegetable glue.
• Thai Period (13th-17th century): Three styles emerged:
  • Sukhotai Style
  • Ayudhya Style
  • Chiengmai Style of the North
• Bangkok Style (18th-19th century): The new capital designed to reflect the destroyed city of Ayudhya; incorporated traditional forms with Chinese-influenced ornamentation from refugees.
• Materials and Finishes: Religious buildings often featured porcelain tile finishes.

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

• Significance: Regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand, located within the Grand Palace, Bangkok.
• Features: Houses the Emerald Buddha statue, revered as the country's palladium; recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest religious structure globally.
• Historical Background: Originally a Hindu temple for the Khmer Empire dedicated to Vishnu, constructed by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century, transformed into a Buddhist temple by the century's end.

Architectural Landscape of Thailand

• Geographic Context: Bordered by Burma to the North and West, Laos and Cambodia to the North-East and East; rich in durable decorative timber like teak and ebony.
• Building Materials: Brick and stone are primary materials; stone is used minimally with brick predominant in construction. Tropical climate characterized by monsoons affects building practices.
• Architectural Phases:
  • Dvararati Period (6th-10th century): Central Thailand; influenced by Burman Buddhist forms, used brick and stone with granite bases.
  • Mon-Khmer Period (10th-13th century): Featured Angkor-style architecture in Central and Eastern Thailand.

Architectural Traditions in Sri Lanka

• Geographical Overview: Sri Lanka, located 32 km off the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula, is a pivotal international trade center due to its strategic location.
• Geological Resources: Abundant use of granite, limestone, sandstone, and clay for bricks; hardwoods like teak and satin are common in dry areas.
• Climatic Zones: Consists of three climatic areas:
  • Dry hot zone in the north/east
  • Central wet region
  • Hot low-lying zone in the south/southwest.

Historical Overview of Sri Lankan Architecture

• Buddhism's Influence: Architectural history began in the 3rd century B.C. with Buddhism's introduction from India, marking a shift from perishable wood to durable materials like brick and stone.
• Anuradhapura Period (4th century B.C. to 10th century A.D.):
  • Earliest remains include natural rock chambers for hermits featuring drip-ledges for rainwater.
  • Evolvement into enclosed rock temples with pillars, significant to peristyle architecture.