Buddhist Landscapes in Central India: Sanchi Hill and Archaeologies of Religious and Social Change, c. Third Century B.C. to Fifth Century A.D. by Julia Shaw (review)

Julia Shaw's groundbreaking study, 'Buddhist Landscapes in Central India: Sanchi Hill and Archaeologies of Religious and Social Change,' challenges conventional approaches to studying ancient South Asian religions by shifting focus from monumental sites like the UNESCO-listed Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi to the broader landscape surrounding it. Through her Sanchi Survey Project (SSP), Shaw mapped 720 sq km, uncovering 35 Buddhist sites, dams, and settlements that provide a more comprehensive understanding of religious and social dynamics from the third century B.C.E. to the fifth century C.E. Her interdisciplinary approach, combining landscape archaeology, art history, and religious studies, reveals how Sanchi functioned within its regional context over a millennium, offering new insights into the evolution of Buddhism in Central India.

Becker, C. (2014). Buddhist Landscapes in Central India: Sanchi Hill and Archaeologies of Religious and Social Change, c. Third Century B.C. to Fifth Century A.D. by Julia Shaw (review). Asian Perspectives, 51(2), 311–313. https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2014.0006