Students may enroll in either semester or both. No prerequisites required. This two-semester course sequence, beginning fall 2026 and continuing in spring 2027, offers students a sustained introduction to the material and visual histories of South Asia and its Indian Ocean worlds. It foregrounds how archaeological, architectural, and art historical methods are used to reconstruct the past. From Paleolithic rock shelters at Bhimbetka and early agricultural settlements at Mehrgarh, to Indus urban centers such as Harappa, Buddhist monastic and pilgrimage landscapes at Sanchi and Kanheri, and port cities like Arikamedu, the course explores how ancient and premodern societies produced meaning through objects, built environments, and visual practices.