Objective The Gupta dynasty dominated South Asia during the 4th and 5th centuries. Their period was marked by political stability and an astonishing florescence in every field of endeavor. The Gupta kingdom and its networks had an enduring impact on India and a profound reach across Central and Southeast Asia in a host of cultural, religious and socio-political spheres. Sometimes characterized as a ‘Golden Age’, this was a pivotal moment in Asian history. The Guptas have received considerable scholarly attention over the last century, as have, separately, the kingdoms of Central and Southeast Asia. Recent advances notwithstanding, knowledge and research activity are fragmented by entrenched disciplinary protocols, distorted by nationalist historiographies and constrained by regional languages and associated cultural and political agendas. Hemmed in by modern intellectual, geographical and political boundaries, the diverse cultures, complex polities and varied networks of the Gupta period remain specialist subjects, little-mentioned outside area studies and traditional disciplinary frameworks. The aim of this project is to work beyond these boundaries for the first time and so recover this profoundly influential dispensation, presenting it as a vibrant entity with connections across several regions and sub-continental areas. To address this aim, three PIs have formed an interdisciplinary team spanning linguistics, history, religious studies, geography, archaeology, Indology, Sinology and GIS/IT technologies. This team will establish a scientific laboratory in London that will generate the synergies needed to delineate and assess the significance of the Gupta Age and its pan-Asian impacts. The project's wider objective is to place Central,South and Southeast Asia on the global historical stage, significantly influence practices in Asian research and support EU leadership in Asian studies. Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-2013-SyG - ERC Synergy Grant Call for proposal ERC-2013-SyG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SyG - Synergy grant Lead Principal Investigator Michael Willis Dr. Coordinator BRITISH MUSEUM Address Great russell street WC1B 3DG London United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Michael Willis (Dr.) Administrative Contact J. D. Hill (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window EU contribution € 5 408 137,80 Beneficiaries (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all BRITISH MUSEUM United Kingdom EU contribution € 5 408 137,80 Address Great russell street WC1B 3DG London See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Michael Willis (Dr.) Administrative Contact J. D. Hill (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD United Kingdom EU contribution € 1 741 833,60 Address 96 euston road NW1 2DB London See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Susan Whitfield (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES ROYAL CHARTER United Kingdom EU contribution € 903 744,00 Address Thornhaugh street russel square WC1H OXG London See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Rachel Lawlor (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window
