From its pre-modern roots in the Indus Valley Civilization to the contemporary works of Subodh Gupta, students in this course survey the development of South Asian visual and material culture. The remarkable artistic creations that emerge from the present-day nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka attest to the connections and continuities between these distinct modern states. By making connections, students learn of the importance of exchange and interaction between religions, cultures, and various groups, such as Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, on the one hand, and Indians, Persians, Europeans, Central Asians, and Southeast Asians, on the other. Students further connect South Asian art and material culture to the broader history of the subcontinent. In this class, learners tackle traditional art-historical concerns, such as visual/iconographic analysis, explore the role of the artist and systems of patronage, as well as stylistic development, significance of materials, and theories of aesthetics. Students also relate South Asian art to its broader social, political, economic, and other dynamic contexts.