China and the Silk Road: Art and Archaeology

Key information

Start date
End date
Year of study
Any
Duration
Term 2
Module code
15PARH093
FHEQ Level
7
Credits
15
Department
School of Arts & Department of History of Art and Archaeology

Module overview

This module covers the period from the 5th century of the Common Era through to the collapse of the Yuan dynasty in the 14th century. It focusses primarily on the overland routes (Silk and Steppe) that connected China with Central Asia and also Northern India and Persia.

Using both archaeological and textual materials, it examines the role of contact, interaction and exchange on the development of material culture (tombs, architecture, textiles, metalwork, ceramics, painting, sculpture, glass) in Central Asia and China. There is also an emphasis on the conduit role these routes played in the transmission of religions, particularly Buddhism but also Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism. The Module as structured stresses cross regional and cross disciplinary approaches. It encourages students to develop skills of visual analysis, engage with scholarly issues and critically examine the methodological paradigms and narratives that have shaped the study of the Silk Road over the past century.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to

  • Assess critically the materials and themes explored in this module.
  • Identify and evaluate established paradigms and experiment with alternative models.
  • Analyse material culture in terms of the theories and methods discussed during the module.
  • Reflect and comment critically on issues regarding ethnicity and identity.
  • Develop, articulate and justify scholarly positions using relevant and correct terminology.
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the range of materials and resources available to support research in the study of Silk road art and archaeology.

Workload

  • Lectures: 1 hour per week 
  • Seminars: 1 hour per week 

Method of assessment

  • 1,000-word report/review (worth 30% of marks)
  • 2,000-word essay (worth 70%)

Suggested reading

  • Stanley K. Abe. 2002. Ordinary Images. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Valerie Hansen. 2012. The Silk Road -- A New History. Oxford: Oxford University Press
  • James C.Y. Watt. 2004. China - Down of a Golden Age, 220–750 AD.  New Haven and London: Yale University Press
  • 2010. The World of Khubilai Khan: Chinese Art in the Yuan Dynasty. New Haven: Yale University.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules