Question

examine art and architecture in the period 200b.c-200a.d

Answer 1

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In the period between 200 B.C. - 200 A.D. certain general characteristics
of art may be highlighted:
1. Art activities in this period were mostly related to religions
practised in this period and symbols and units associated with
them.
2. The Buddha image which began to be sculpted in this period was a
departure from earlier representations of him in the form of Bodhi
tree, Stupa, foot prints etc. Making of images for worship became
common among other religions as well.
3. The construction of Stupas, Chaityas and Viharas became
popular.
4. The art forms and all of their symbolic representations were not
exclusive to any particular religion. For example, the Bharhut and
Sanchi Stupas not only depict scenes from the life of the Buddha
but also the reliefs of Yakshas, Yakshinis, Nagas and other popular
deities.
5. Similarly, we find that the artists, in order to decorate the Stupas,
carved many scenes which they observed in nature along with
religious ideas. In fact, these are examples of secular art forms.
6. Because of regular interactions with other cultures in this period
we also find elements of non-Indian art in the artistic creations of
this period. This is particularly true of the Gandhara region which
produced art typical to the region, in which many different
elements came to be assimilated.

ARCHITECTURE
The architecture of this period can be broadly divided in two categories:
i) Residential structures
ii) Religious monuments
Under the first category we have very few surviving monuments since in
the initial phase they were built of perishable materials like wood.
However, a number of monuments have survived on unearthed through
excavations which come under the second category.
6.2.1 Residential Architecture
The Milinda Panha describes a city with moats, ramparts, gate houses,
towers, well laid-out streets, markets, parks, lakes and temples. There
are references to buildings of several storeys with wagon-vaulted roofs
and verandas - mostly constructed of wood. This description to an extent
is corroborated by archaeological sources. However, in the countryside
not much change is noticed in architectural style or types of hutments.