Art of the Silk Routes: Cultural Transmissions from China to Rome
Parsons School of Design: Art/Design Hist & Theory
CRN: 8491
Credits: 3
With an emphasis on matters of artistic exchange, this course delves into premodern processes and patterns of movement which we have now come to know as “globalization”. We will be looking at cultural transmissions through land and maritime trade routes, known collectively as the “Eurasian steppe” and “Silk Routes”, from the early Iron Age to the end of the Mongol Empire’s hegemony in Eurasia. Why do we find Roman glass in ancient Chinese tombs? How did Persian textiles find their way to Nara, Japan? Why did Greek craftsmen settle in the Northern Indian subcontinent? We will explore how trade, war, diplomacy and migration were continuously shaping the artistic, sociopolitical and economic landscapes of Eurasian empires and communities until the end of the 15 th century. Students will view mobility through various new lens by exploring the diffusion paths of artworks as well as music, literature, religions, ideologies and political movements from East Asia all the way to Europe.
College: Parsons School of Design (PS)
Department: Art/Design Hist & Theory (PGHT)
Campus: New York City (GV)
Course Format: Seminar (R)
Modality: In-Person
Max Enrollment: 15
Add/Drop Deadline: February 5, 2023 (Sunday)
Online Withdrawal Deadline: April 16, 2023 (Sunday)
Seats Available: Yes
Status: Open*
* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 9:28am EST 1/27/2023