{"title":"Sureshkumar Muthukumaran","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the captivating world of ancient civilisations and cultural evolution with the esteemed author, Sureshkumar Muthukumaran. Known for his insightful exploration of history, Muthukumaran adeptly transports readers into the past, shedding light on the intricate tapestry of human heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn his remarkable collection, delve into gripping narratives with titles like \u003cem\u003eAncient India\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Tropical Turn\u003c\/em\u003e. These works are not just books; they are gateways to understanding the profound impact of tropical environments on historical developments and societal shifts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether your interest lies in \u003cstrong\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/strong\u003e or you are an aficionado of \u003cstrong\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/strong\u003e, Sureshkumar Muthukumaran’s books offer captivating insights and scholarly reflection. Each read promises a journey through time, offering a profound appreciation for the diverse and complex histories of our world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ancient-india-by-sushma-jansari-9780714124995","title":"Ancient India","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAncient India\u003c\/em\u003e by Sushma Jansari and Sureshkumar Muthukumaran explores ancient India (c. 200 BCE-600 CE) through three of its major religions—Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. It illuminates how these religions reflect political power, artistic innovation, and changes in people's daily lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAncient India was a dynamic, cosmopolitan centre of creativity. The visual traditions of its major indigenous religions were closely interrelated, mirroring political power shifts, daily life changes, and artistic innovations. These three major religions—Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism—originated on the Indian subcontinent and have since become living traditions that impact the lives of billions worldwide through their devotional works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis major new publication traces the development of religious imagery from around 200 BCE, focusing initially on nature spirits, to 600 CE, when images of Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu deities and teachers had become well defined. These images evolved from symbolic forms to human representations, incorporating attributes, divine attendants, and animal vehicles that remain recognisable worldwide and are prevalent across the global diaspora today. Examples of such ancient images are found throughout South Asia and have also influenced Central, East, and Southeast Asia, transforming the religious landscapes of these regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors delve into fascinating topics such as the initial devotional images of the twenty-four jinas (enlightened Jain teachers); the shift from symbolic depictions of the Buddha to those featuring him in human form for the first time; and the formalisation of divine representations and devotional sculpture in Hindu traditions. This beautifully illustrated book uncovers the ancient roots of religious images and depictions that are familiar to many today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853521309932,"sku":"9780714124995","price":110.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/6550773482442.jpg?v=1759207118"},{"product_id":"the-tropical-turn-by-sureshkumar-muthukumaran-9780520390843","title":"The Tropical Turn","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book chronicles the earliest histories of familiar tropical Asian crops in the ancient Middle East and the Mediterranean, from rice and cotton to citruses and cucumbers. Drawing on archaeological materials and textual sources in over seven ancient languages, \u003ci\u003eThe Tropical Turn\u003c\/i\u003e unravels the breathtaking anthropogenic peregrinations of these familiar crops from their homelands in tropical and subtropical Asia to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, showing the significant impact South Asia had on the ecologies, dietary habits, and cultural identities of peoples across the ancient world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the process, Sureshkumar Muthukumaran offers a fresh narrative history of human connectivity across Afro-Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the late centuries BCE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000821661932,"sku":"9780520390843","price":66.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/92bb60bcc39a2f6029abd06008580873_b7c57af2-43ac-48fa-885b-98d215c19ad1.jpg?v=1763323153"},{"product_id":"the-tropical-turn-by-sureshkumar-muthukumaran-9780520390836","title":"The Tropical Turn","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book chronicles the earliest histories of familiar tropical Asian crops in the ancient Middle East and the Mediterranean, from rice and cotton to citruses and cucumbers. Drawing on archaeological materials and textual sources in over seven ancient languages, \u003ci\u003eThe Tropical Turn\u003c\/i\u003e unravels the breathtaking anthropogenic peregrinations of these familiar crops from their homelands in tropical and subtropical Asia to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, showing the significant impact South Asia had on the ecologies, dietary habits, and cultural identities of peoples across the ancient world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the process, Sureshkumar Muthukumaran offers a fresh narrative history of human connectivity across Afro-Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the late centuries BCE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000821727468,"sku":"9780520390836","price":180.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/92bb60bcc39a2f6029abd06008580873.jpg?v=1763323147"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/sureshkumar-muthukumaran.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}