Art History 356: The Taj Mahal and Beyond: The Art and Architecture of Mughal India

This class explores the art and architecture of the Mughal dynasty in South Asia, from the origins of the empire in the sixteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, when British forces exiled the last Mughal ruler. Manuscript and album paintings, palace and tomb architecture, jewelry, enameled weaponry, and elaborate textiles will all be interpreted within the context of Mughal politics, Islamic doctrine, art workshop structures, and pre-existing aesthetic traditions in South Asia and the broader Islamic world. Topics examined include (but are not limited to) public space and imperial propaganda, art objects in networks of gift exchange, artistic and cultural exchange between Mughal and contemporary Rajput courts in Rajasthan and the Himalayan foothills, and the impact of the British presence on Indian visual culture. Various written assignments, presentations, and class discussion are required. May be taken for credit toward the South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies major.