AP Art History · Unit 8: South, East & Southeast Asia

8.1 South & Southeast Asia

Buddhist & Hindu art

In South Asia, the Great Stupa at Sanchi (India) is a domed Buddhist monument circled by worshippers. Hindu and Buddhist temples covered surfaces with sculpted deities and stories.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat (Cambodia, 12th c.) is a colossal temple-mountain, first Hindu then Buddhist, its towers modeling the sacred Mount Meru and its walls carved with epic reliefs.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal (India, 17th c.) is a white-marble Mughal tomb blending Islamic, Persian, and Indian design — perfectly symmetrical, inlaid with semiprecious stone.

Key terms

Great Stupa at Sanchi: domed Buddhist monument, India
Angkor Wat: Cambodian temple-mountain modeling Mount Meru
Taj Mahal: white-marble Mughal tomb, India
Stupa: domed Buddhist shrine circled by worshippers
Mughal: Indo-Islamic dynasty; Persian-Indian design

Try an AP-style question

A stupa like the Great Stupa at Sanchi is…

a royal palace
a Hindu temple tower
a mosque dome
a mound holding Buddhist relics

Show the answer

D. Relics.

Practice 8 AP-style questions with instant explanations, flashcards and spaced review.

Study 8.1 free in APrep