Introduction to Sanskrit Culture and Literature
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course is complementary one for the Bachelor degree of 'Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World', and belongs to the literary-linguistic area. It aims to provide the students with a substantial knowledge of South Asian civilizations correlated to the historical development of Sanskrit language and literature. The Sanskrit language, as outcome of a work of linguistic and literary canonization, operated by a cultural elite in scholarly and courtly context, was one of the most important means to promote cultural, social and political hegemony: irradiating from north India, it spread all over South Asia, throughout its lengthy history, so becoming vehicle of a civilization which is essential to understand the contemporary cultural complexity characterizing South Asian region until the Far East. The course aims also to present some basic linguistic elements, mostly focusing on the lexicon, serving the purpose of a better understanding of Sanskrit literature and civilization.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the fundamentals of the Sanskrit civilization; knowledge of the historical, geographical and linguistic context in which Sanskrit language and literature developed; understanding of the relationship between cultural complexity, linguistic variety and socio-political hegemonic aspects; knowledge of the main literary expressions of the Indian tradition; knowledge of some basic elements of Sanskrit language; understanding of the main lexical items, correlated to literary sources (read in English translation, together with the original language text).
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to correlate historical, geographical and linguistic context to literary sources; ability to address debated cultural heritage questions focusing on the complex relationship between the manifold aspects of the literary sources and the language as hegemonic media. Ability to critically consult the reference texts and their bibliography, understanding their main arguments, and applying diverse interpretative theories.
Expressing critical opinions: ability to approach literary sources on the basis of the understanding of their historical and linguistic context, being free from biased pre-assumptions, and linking ancient models with contemporary phenomena. Ability to critically evaluate sources on the internet and other media.
Communication skills: clear and exact (oral and written) exposition and communication of the information acquired.
Learning skills: understanding, and interpreting Sanskrit texts, mostly relying on English translations, also in an interdisciplinary perspective; ability to autonomously develop and integrate relevant pieces of knowledges and skills.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to correlate historical, geographical and linguistic context to literary sources; ability to address debated cultural heritage questions focusing on the complex relationship between the manifold aspects of the literary sources and the language as hegemonic media. Ability to critically consult the reference texts and their bibliography, understanding their main arguments, and applying diverse interpretative theories.
Expressing critical opinions: ability to approach literary sources on the basis of the understanding of their historical and linguistic context, being free from biased pre-assumptions, and linking ancient models with contemporary phenomena. Ability to critically evaluate sources on the internet and other media.
Communication skills: clear and exact (oral and written) exposition and communication of the information acquired.
Learning skills: understanding, and interpreting Sanskrit texts, mostly relying on English translations, also in an interdisciplinary perspective; ability to autonomously develop and integrate relevant pieces of knowledges and skills.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course (40 hours = 6 ECTS) offers an overview of South Asian civilization, from the linguistic perspective, approaching Sanskrit sources, mostly by reading texts in English translation, as cultural phenomena, belonging to specific historical, geographical and political context. The course will be organized in compliance with three main outlines:
- Historical outline: History of the Sanskrit Language; Languages of the Indian Subcontinent (OIA; MIA; NIA): an historical and geographical overview; orality vs. literacy; the script systems; inscriptions.
- Literary outline: overview of the main literary expressions in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages, with a special focus on one or more specific works;
- Linguistic outline: Elements of Sanskrit phonology, introduction to the Sanskrit morphological system, nominal composition.
- Historical outline: History of the Sanskrit Language; Languages of the Indian Subcontinent (OIA; MIA; NIA): an historical and geographical overview; orality vs. literacy; the script systems; inscriptions.
- Literary outline: overview of the main literary expressions in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages, with a special focus on one or more specific works;
- Linguistic outline: Elements of Sanskrit phonology, introduction to the Sanskrit morphological system, nominal composition.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission
Teaching methods
The course consists mainly of: a) face-to-face lessons, supported by ppt slides; b) guided discussion by the teacher on linguistic and textual materials; c) thematic insights proposed to students, who, working individually or in small groups, will discuss and analyze research material, and report their results in class by ppt presentation.
Teaching Resources
As to the relationship between language and script:
- R. Salomon, Indian Epigraphy, Oxford University Press 1998; pp. 3-98.
As regards languages in South Asia:
- G. Cardona, "The documentation of Indic", in Jared Klein, Brian Joseph, Matthias Fritz (eds.), Handbook of Comparative and Historical Indo-European Linguistics 41.1, De Gruyter Mouton, 2017, 309-325.
As regards History of ancient Indian subcontinent:
- M. Witzel, Early 'Aryans' and their neighbors outside and inside India, in Journal of Biosciences 44.3 (2019), DOI: 10.1007/s12038-019-9881-7
- A. Parpola, The BMAC of Central Asia and the Mitanni of Syria, in The Roots of Hinduism, Oxford University Press, pp. 69-91.
- M.J. Gilbert, South Asia in World History, Oxford University Press, 2017, pp. 1-68.
- M. Witzel, Brahmanical Reactions to Foreign Influences and to Social and Religious Change, in P. Olivelle (ed.), Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE, 2006, pp. 457-501.
As to Sanskrit Literature:
- A.Kessler-Persaud, Sanskrit Texts and Language, in Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Leiden-Boston, vol. II, pp. 3-18.
- J.L. Fitzgerald, Mahābhārata, in Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Leiden-Boston, vol. II, pp. 72-94.
- R. Goldman-S. Sutherland Goldman, Rāmāyaṇa, in Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Leiden-Boston, vol. II, pp. 111-126.
As to the history of the Sanskrit language and culture:
- J.E.M. Houben, "Linguistic Paradox and Diglossia: the emergence of Sanskrit and Sanskrit Language in Ancient India", Open Linguistics, DE GRUYTER OPEN, 2018, Historical Sociolinguistic Philology, 4 (1), 1-18. https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01807465
- A. Aklujkar, "The Early History of Sanskrit as Supreme Language", in J. E.M. Houben (ed.), Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, ed. by J. E.M. Houben, Leiden-New York-Koln, E.J. Brill 1996, 59-85.
- Sh. Pollock, "The Sanskrit Cosmopolis, 300-1300: Transculturation, Vernacularization, and Question of Ideology", in Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, ed. by J. E.M. Houben, Leiden-New York-Koln, E.J. Brill 1996, 197-247.
As to the Sanskrit language:
- Video material from A.M. Ruppel, The Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit, 2017: https://www.cambridge-sanskrit.org/video-resources/
As to orality and literacy:
- H. Falk, GOODIES FOR INDIA. Literacy, Orality, and Vedic Culture, in Wolfgang Raible (Hrsg.), Erscheinungsformen kultureller Prozesse, Tübingen: Gunter Narr Verlag, 1990, pp. 103-120.
- B. Lo Turco, Propagation of written culture in Brahmanical India, in Scripta. International Journal of Codicology and Paleography, 6 (2013): pp. 85-93.
For further material and news students should also regularly refer to the Introduction to Sanskrit Culture and Language page of myAriel.
- R. Salomon, Indian Epigraphy, Oxford University Press 1998; pp. 3-98.
As regards languages in South Asia:
- G. Cardona, "The documentation of Indic", in Jared Klein, Brian Joseph, Matthias Fritz (eds.), Handbook of Comparative and Historical Indo-European Linguistics 41.1, De Gruyter Mouton, 2017, 309-325.
As regards History of ancient Indian subcontinent:
- M. Witzel, Early 'Aryans' and their neighbors outside and inside India, in Journal of Biosciences 44.3 (2019), DOI: 10.1007/s12038-019-9881-7
- A. Parpola, The BMAC of Central Asia and the Mitanni of Syria, in The Roots of Hinduism, Oxford University Press, pp. 69-91.
- M.J. Gilbert, South Asia in World History, Oxford University Press, 2017, pp. 1-68.
- M. Witzel, Brahmanical Reactions to Foreign Influences and to Social and Religious Change, in P. Olivelle (ed.), Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE, 2006, pp. 457-501.
As to Sanskrit Literature:
- A.Kessler-Persaud, Sanskrit Texts and Language, in Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Leiden-Boston, vol. II, pp. 3-18.
- J.L. Fitzgerald, Mahābhārata, in Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Leiden-Boston, vol. II, pp. 72-94.
- R. Goldman-S. Sutherland Goldman, Rāmāyaṇa, in Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Leiden-Boston, vol. II, pp. 111-126.
As to the history of the Sanskrit language and culture:
- J.E.M. Houben, "Linguistic Paradox and Diglossia: the emergence of Sanskrit and Sanskrit Language in Ancient India", Open Linguistics, DE GRUYTER OPEN, 2018, Historical Sociolinguistic Philology, 4 (1), 1-18. https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01807465
- A. Aklujkar, "The Early History of Sanskrit as Supreme Language", in J. E.M. Houben (ed.), Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, ed. by J. E.M. Houben, Leiden-New York-Koln, E.J. Brill 1996, 59-85.
- Sh. Pollock, "The Sanskrit Cosmopolis, 300-1300: Transculturation, Vernacularization, and Question of Ideology", in Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, ed. by J. E.M. Houben, Leiden-New York-Koln, E.J. Brill 1996, 197-247.
As to the Sanskrit language:
- Video material from A.M. Ruppel, The Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit, 2017: https://www.cambridge-sanskrit.org/video-resources/
As to orality and literacy:
- H. Falk, GOODIES FOR INDIA. Literacy, Orality, and Vedic Culture, in Wolfgang Raible (Hrsg.), Erscheinungsformen kultureller Prozesse, Tübingen: Gunter Narr Verlag, 1990, pp. 103-120.
- B. Lo Turco, Propagation of written culture in Brahmanical India, in Scripta. International Journal of Codicology and Paleography, 6 (2013): pp. 85-93.
For further material and news students should also regularly refer to the Introduction to Sanskrit Culture and Language page of myAriel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is oral and lasts approximately 30 minutes. Top grade 30/30 'cum laude' (pass grade: 18/30). In case of a ppt presentation, held during the lessons, individually or in small groups, about an agreed topic, it will contribute to the vote. In actual fact, the oral exam focuses both on literary and linguistic issues, debated during the classes, and on the topic of the presentation - if held. The assessment consists of two/three questions on the topics of the Historical and Literary outlines, and one/two questions on topics of the Linguistic outline. The exam aims to verify: knowledge of the cultural context in which Sanskrit language and literature developed; understanding of the relationship between linguistic and literary phenomena and ideological aspects; ability to expose (in English) the contents of the course, effectiveness in summarising the required data, use of appropriated and clear terminology.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
L-OR/18 - INDOLOGY AND TIBETOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Rossi Paola Maria Antonietta
Professor(s)