External (Foreign) and

Internal (Indigenous)
INFLUENCES OF SOUTH,
CENTAL AND WEST ASIAN
ARTS

CHARLO D. PELLEGO
E A S T V I L L A L F O R E S N AT I O N A L H I G H S C H O O L
 PRE-TEST
Direction:
Multiple choice: write
the letter of the best
answer on your
 PRE-TEST
1. What form of art is
classified into specific period,
each reflecting certain
religious, political and cultural
developments?
A. Indian Art C. Islamic
 PRE-TEST
2. In the recent centuries, what art
was mainly influenced by Islamic art,
while varied earlier cultures were
influenced by the art of China,
Persia, and Greece?
A. South Asian Art
B. Central Asian Art
C. Western Asian Art
 PRE-TEST
3. What 30 rock cut-cave
monuments that date back from
the 2nd century BCE to 600 CE
are found in India?
A. Ellora Caves
B. Frescoes of Ajanta
C. Carved Pillars of Ellora
 PRE-TEST
4. What form of art, which can
be found throughout
Kazakhstan, shows how
nomads used to draw on
rocks?
A. Harappa C.
 PRE-TEST
5. Which of the following is
influenced by Buddhism?
A. West Asian Art
B. South Asian Art
C. Central Asian Art
D. Southeast Asian Art
 PRE-TEST
6. Which of the following is
one of the most popular
art forms in India?
A. Maharashtra C.
Rangoli
 PRE-TEST
7. Kyrgyz women produce a wind
range of textiles, mostly from the
felt of their sheep. Nowadays,
ancient patterns are adapted to the
tourist and export market. What
living tradition did Kyrgyz women
developed which are found in their
houses?
 PRE-TEST
8. Which of the following is
characterized by an effort to
master large open spaces and to
create an effect of grandeur?
A. Buddhism
B. Hellenistic culture
C. Arabian Inscriptions
 PRE-TEST
9. Why did Tajik’s carving gradually
change to Arabian inscriptions using
images of people and animals?
A. It was influenced by Islamic art.
B. It was influenced by Hellenistic
culture.
C. It was influenced by Buddhism
religion.
 PRE-TEST
10. Which of the following best describes
Persepolitan glyptic?
A. It is one of the most beautiful and most
pleasing art forms of India.
B. It is distinguished by the complexity,
richness and density of its imagery.
C. It is a term that is used chronologically to
refer to the culture of the Hellenistic age.
D. It is characterized by an effort to master
large open spaces and to create an effect of
 PRE-TEST
11. How did Islam influence the arts and crafts
of Central Asia?
A. Figurative sculpture and ritual objects like
bells were developed.
B. Islam culture is reflected in the designs,
patterns and color of the textile.
C. Delicate carving in cave architecture with
Hellenistic columns, pediments and proportions
were made.
D. Islam influenced Tajik’s carving that
 PRE-TEST
12. How did Moguls contribute to the enrichment of
Indian culture, in painting and in architecture?
I. They crafted the image of Shiva.
II. They built great Buddhist monuments like the
Borobudur in Java.
III. Splendid architectural designs were developed like
the Taj Mahal built in 1632 by Shah Jahan in memory
of his wife.
IV. They developed bronze and copper statuettes
which show vigor and concern for surface texture as
constantly characterized in Indian art.
A. I and II C. III and IV
 PRE-TEST
13. Which of the following best illustrates the
importance of silk road in South, Central, and
Western Asian Art?
A. It is a route served as a cultural bridge between
Europe, China and India.
B. It provides opportunity to showcase different
arts and crafts of other countries.
C. It presents an opportunity to trace patterns of
trade, diplomacy and cross-cultural developments.
D. It provides great international reach and cultural
exchange that were significant to the diffusion of
 PRE-TEST
14. How would you determine the Greek influence and
culture in the arts and crafts of West Asia?
A. Figurative sculpture and ritual objects like bells
were developed.
B. West Asian art was influenced by Greek culture
through the interaction of local and traditional
elements.
C. Advanced urban culture was developed for the first
time in the region with large buildings, some of which
still survive to this day like Mohenjo Daro.
D. The Care architecture in Petra shows Greek
 PRE-TEST
15. How would you determine the significant
influence of Buddhism in South Asia?
A. Figurative sculpture and ritual objects like bells
were developed.
B. Sculpture and monuments were built and
developed like the Borobudur in Java in the 8th
century.
C. Delicate carving in cave architecture with
Hellenistic columns, pediments, and proportions
were made.
D. Advanced urban culture was developed for the
 External (Foreign) and
Internal (Indigenous)
INFLUENCES OF SOUTH,
CENTAL AND WEST ASIAN
ARTS

CHARLO D. PELLEGO
E A S T V I L L A L F O R E S N AT I O N A L H I G H S C H O O L
ACTIVITY 1: IDENTIFY!
Directions: Identify the
pictures below by choosing
your answers inside the box.
Write your answer in your
activity notebook .
ACTIVITY 1: IDENTIFY!
ACTIVITY 1: IDENTIFY!
ACTIVITY 1: IDENTIFY!
ACTIVITY 1: IDENTIFY!
 HISTORY
The history of Asian art includes a
wide range of influences from different
“cultures” and “religions”. Historically,
developments in Asian art parallel those in
western art, in general a few centuries
earlier. Chinese art, Indian art, Japanese art,
Korean art, each had a vital influence on
western art, and, vice versa. Eastern art
had a significant influence on western art
 HISTORY
South, West, and Central Asia had
great international reach through trade on the
silk road. The cultural exchange was
significant and helped in the spread of
religions, artistic techniques, and styles. The
Silk Road was a series of major trade routes
used to transport silk from China to Europe.
Many other goods were also negotiated along
the way and this route also served as a
HISTORY The survival of several
hundred Central Asian silks,
which are dated between the
seventh and the eleventh
centuries, reveals patterns of
trade, diplomacy, and cross-
cultural developments at the
heart of the Silk Road. Silks
traded along this ancient
route were precious, light,
and easily transportable
which made them ideal
 SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
India
Indian art can be classified into specific
periods, each reflecting particular religious influence
and political and cultural developments. The earliest
examples are the petroglyphs or rock engravings such
as those found in Bhimbetka, some of which dating to
before 5500 BC. Petroglyphs are pictogram and
logogram images created by removing part of a rock
surface by incising, picking, carving, and brading. The
production of such works continued for several
millenniums. Later examples are the carved pillars of
Ellora, Maharashtra state. Other examples include
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
Periods of Indian Art
Ancient Period (3900 BCE-
1200 CE)
Bronze and copper
statuettes and steatite
seals, which show vigor
and concern for surface
texture as constantly
characterized in Indian art
are some pieces of
evidence of the early
SOUTH ASIANTheARTS
Ajanta
Caves of
Maharashtra,
India are 30 rock-
cut cave
monuments that
date back from
the 2nd century
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
Classical Period (5th to 6th
Centuries)
The image of Shiva (the
destroyer) was developed
during this period. It is a four-
arm figure, where one hand
holds the fire with which he
destroys; another holds a
drum, which is the first sound
heard in the world at birth; the
third arm points up in a
reassuring gesture and the
 SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
Islamic Ascendancy (1192-1757) or
Transitional Period This
was the period of evolution from
Vedism into Hinduism or
Brahmanism. The two great
Indian epics, the Mahabharata
and the Ramayana, emerged in
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
Mogul Period (16th
Century)
Moguls
contributed to the
enrichment of Indian
culture in painting and
in architecture. The
most splendid example
is the Taj Mahal which
was built in 1632 by
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
The Taj Mahal is a
combination of both the
traditional Islamic motif of
the crescent moon and the
Hindu symbol of the trident,
associated with the god
Shiva. Mogul or Mughal
architecture is an Indo-
Islamic architectural style
that developed in India. It is
both influenced by Islam and
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
Buddhism is an
example of cultural
exchange. It started
in India around the
6th century BCE and
arrived in Tibet
through the Silk
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
Buddhist sculpture is
believed to have
developed some centuries
later, after a period without
figurative representations.
Wood, stone, and metal
were used. Metalwork
included figurative
sculptures and ritual
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
As part of Indian
festivities, a colorful and
traditional art makes its
way with enthusiasm.
Gracing the entrances to
Indian households is the
vibrant display of “rangoli”.
It is a form of sand painting
decoration and one of the
most popular art forms in
SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
Rangoli is comprised of
two words: 'rang' meaning
'color' and 'aavalli'
meaning 'colored creepers'
or 'row of colors'. It is the
art of making designs or
patterns on the walls or the
floor of the house using
finely ground white powder
 SOUTH ASIAN ARTS
Pakistan
Pakistani architecture, which is greatly
influenced by Islam, is divided into four
recognized periods: Pre-Islamic, Islamic, Colonial
and Post-Colonial. Around the middle of the third
millennium BCE, an advanced urban culture was
developed for the first time in the region, with
large buildings. Some of these buildings still
survive to this day like Mohenjo Daro, Harappa,
and Kot Diji which are among the pre-Islamic
settlements that have now become tourist
 CENTRAL ASIAN
ARTS
Central Asian art is a visual art
created in Central Asia by the largely Turkic
peoples of modern Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan,
Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. The arts of
recent centuries are mainly influenced by
Islamic art, but the varied earlier cultures
were influenced by the art of China, Persia
and Greece, as well as the Animal style that
CENTRAL ASIAN
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,

ARTS
Tajikistan
People who inhabited the
region of present Uzbekistan were
very popular for making printed
cloth. Printed table-cloths, curtains,
bed-spreads, shawls, and various
coverlets were functional and
served as a daily-round ornament.
The small Uzbek factories which
were developed in the 1920s
produced textiles of such poor
quality that they could not
compete with imported fabrics
from Russia. This is why relatively
 CENTRAL ASIAN
ARTS
The art of Uzbekistan has established
itself over many centuries, developing a
tradition whereby masters of the arts passed on
their skills and knowledge to students from
generation to generation. The art of the pre-
Islamic period is represented by wall sculpture,
painting and different kinds of crafts. The art is
reflective of the influence of ancient-Iranian,
Hindu, Buddhist, local Central-Asian culture, and
 CENTRAL ASIAN
ARTS
Kazakhstan’s visual arts are
relatively young. In ancient times,
nomads used to draw on rocks and,
today, these petroglyphs can be
found throughout the country. The
art of Kazakhstan covers all forms of
art created throughout history by
the people living in the territory of
 CENTRAL ASIAN
MajorityARTS
of its art is applied
art: the decoration of practical
objects, like household utensils and
patterned harnesses, through art
forms such as carpetweaving,
pottery, and leatherwork. It includes
architecture, fine arts, and
 CENTRAL ASIAN
ARTS
Historically, Kazakh art had
many artistic influences. It was
influenced by Islamic art from the
8th century AD onwards and by
Russian art in the 19th and 20th
centuries. Modern Kazakhs,
however, are keener in emphasizing
 CENTRAL ASIAN
When ARTS
Islam came, Tajik’s
carving gradually changed to
Arabian inscriptions using images of
people and animals while some
carvers prefer “vegetative”,
geometrical patterns. In
architecture, ornaments in the form
of lotus, tulips, and other flowers are
CENTRAL ASIAN
ARTS
 CENTRAL ASIAN
Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan
The
ARTS
most unique and
beautiful carpets in the world are
produced by Turkmenistan and
they have varied shapes and
purposes. Carpet weaving is an
ancient art, and each tribe
 CENTRAL ASIAN
ARTS
Kyrgyz women produce a wide range
of textiles, most of which are from the
felt of their sheep. Nowadays, ancient
patterns are adapted in the tourist and
export market, but carpet weaving
remains a tradition and that all yurts
and most houses contain shyrdaks
which are hand-made carpets or rugs.
 CENTRAL ASIAN
Colors ARTS
and designs
symbolize Kyrgyz traditions and
rural life. Flowers, plants,
animals, stylized horns, national
designs, and emblems of Kyrgyz
life are usually found in these
CENTRAL ASIAN
ARTS
WEST ASIAN ARTS
The Hellenistic
culture was probably the
first major foreign
influence on West Asia.
After the end of Alexander
the Great's Empire, several
Greek-influenced kingdoms
developed in the region,
combining elements of
WEST ASIAN ARTS
An example is the cave
architecture in Petra, an
ancient city that is in
present-day Jordan. These
edifices were carved on the
rock with Hellenistic
pediments, columns, and
Greek proportions.
 WEST ASIAN
Hellenistic Culture ARTS
It is a term that is used
chronologically to refer to the culture of
the Hellenistic age and typologically to
refer to the culture that resulted from the
interaction of Greek (Hellenic) and local
elements. It was a fusion of local, more
permanent, traditional elements and the
culture that was brought by conquerors
 WEST ASIAN ARTS
Hellenistic architecture is
characterized by an effort to master large
open spaces and to create an effect of
grandeur; also evident is a desire to
impress the viewer through the scale and
boldness of the engineering, the logic of
structural elements, the imposing quality of
the architectural forms, and the precision
and mastery with which structures were
 WEST ASIAN ARTS
There are two types of Hellenistic
mosaics: (1) done by a free,
painterly manner of execution and
(2) more severe and classical.
Features common to all Hellenistic
art may be traced in vase paintings,
and glyptic, as well as in the fine
WEST ASIAN ARTS
 WEST ASIAN ARTS
Persepolitan Glyptic
represents the final, grand
summation of the glyptic arts of
ancient Western Asia. It is
distinguished by the complexity of
its imagery which richness and
density are unparalleled by the
surviving glyptic/ sculptural
 ACTIVITY 2: LOCATE!
Directions: Some artworks of South Asia,
West Asia, and Central Asia were already
presented and discussed. Make a further
research on the different artworks that
South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia
have. List the external and internal
influences reflected in each artwork and
cite properly the sources. Write your answer
in your activity notebook .
ACTIVITY 2: LOCATE!
 ASSESSMENT
Direction:
Multiple choice: write
the letter of the best
answer on your
 ASSESSMENT
1. What form of art, which can
be found throughout
Kazakhstan, shows how
nomads used to draw on
rocks?
A. Harappa C.
 ASSESSMENT
2. How would you determine the significant
influence of Buddhism in South Asia?
A. Figurative sculpture and ritual objects like bells
were developed.
B. Sculpture and monuments were built and
developed like the Borobudur in Java in the 8th
century.
C. Delicate carving in cave architecture with
Hellenistic columns, pediments, and proportions
were made.
D. Advanced urban culture was developed for the
 ASSESSMENT
3. Which of the following is
influenced by Buddhism?
A. West Asian Art
B. South Asian Art
C. Central Asian Art
D. Southeast Asian Art
 ASSESSMENT
4. How would you determine the Greek influence and
culture in the arts and crafts of West Asia?
A. Figurative sculpture and ritual objects like bells
were developed.
B. West Asian art was influenced by Greek culture
through the interaction of local and traditional
elements.
C. Advanced urban culture was developed for the first
time in the region with large buildings, some of which
still survive to this day like Mohenjo Daro.
D. The Care architecture in Petra shows Greek
 ASSESSMENT
5. What form of art is
classified into specific period,
each reflecting certain
religious, political and cultural
developments?
A. Indian Art C. Islamic
 ASSESSMENT
6. What 30 rock cut-cave
monuments that date back from
the 2nd century BCE to 600 CE
are found in India?
A. Ellora Caves
B. Frescoes of Ajanta
C. Carved Pillars of Ellora
 ASSESSMENT
7. How did Moguls contribute to the enrichment of
Indian culture, in painting and in architecture?
I. They crafted the image of Shiva.
II. They built great Buddhist monuments like the
Borobudur in Java.
III. Splendid architectural designs were developed like
the Taj Mahal built in 1632 by Shah Jahan in memory
of his wife.
IV. They developed bronze and copper statuettes
which show vigor and concern for surface texture as
constantly characterized in Indian art.
A. I and II C. III and IV
 ASSESSMENT
8. Which of the following is
one of the most popular
art forms in India?
A. Maharashtra C.
Rangoli
 ASSESSMENT
9. Which of the following is
characterized by an effort to
master large open spaces and to
create an effect of grandeur?
A. Buddhism
B. Hellenistic culture
C. Arabian Inscriptions
 ASSESSMENT
10. In the recent centuries, what art
was mainly influenced by Islamic art,
while varied earlier cultures were
influenced by the art of China,
Persia, and Greece?
A. South Asian Art
B. Central Asian Art
C. Western Asian Art
 ASSESSMENT
11. Kyrgyz women produce a wind
range of textiles, mostly from the
felt of their sheep. Nowadays,
ancient patterns are adapted to the
tourist and export market. What
living tradition did Kyrgyz women
developed which are found in their
houses?
 ASSESSMENT
12. Which of the following best describes
Persepolitan glyptic?
A. It is one of the most beautiful and most
pleasing art forms of India.
B. It is distinguished by the complexity,
richness and density of its imagery.
C. It is a term that is used chronologically to
refer to the culture of the Hellenistic age.
D. It is characterized by an effort to master
large open spaces and to create an effect of
 ASSESSMENT
13. Why did Tajik’s carving gradually
change to Arabian inscriptions using
images of people and animals?
A. It was influenced by Islamic art.
B. It was influenced by Hellenistic
culture.
C. It was influenced by Buddhism
religion.
 ASSESSMENT
14. Which of the following best illustrates the
importance of silk road in South, Central, and
Western Asian Art?
A. It is a route served as a cultural bridge between
Europe, China and India.
B. It provides opportunity to showcase different
arts and crafts of other countries.
C. It presents an opportunity to trace patterns of
trade, diplomacy and cross-cultural developments.
D. It provides great international reach and cultural
exchange that were significant to the diffusion of
 ASSESSMENT
15. How did Islam influence the arts and crafts
of Central Asia?
A. Figurative sculpture and ritual objects like
bells were developed.
B. Islam culture is reflected in the designs,
patterns and color of the textile.
C. Delicate carving in cave architecture with
Hellenistic columns, pediments and proportions
were made.
D. Islam influenced Tajik’s carving that