The presence of the past: Tradition,creativity and identity in the architecture of medieval Bengal

Abstract

Requiring an architecture to address their specific needs, the ruling class in Sultanate Bengal could only use local artisans who adapted their skills, building materials and styles to the tastes of their patrons. Thus, a new regional style flowered that was watered by two traditions, one from West Asia, the other rooted in Bengal, destined to be widely adopted even in medieval temple architecture.