‘Theravada civilization(s)’? Periodizing its history Return to State of the Field Debates
by Steven Collins
The University of Chicago
January 2013
This is not so much a ‘state of the field’ paper as a series of reflections on what might have been involved in the spread of ‘Theravāda’ Buddhism across South and Southeast Asia, and a suggested periodization of ‘Theravāda’ history, both of which are intentionally polemical. I doubt that many, if any, of my colleagues in the Theravāda Civilizations Project would agree with everything, or even much, or even anything, of what I say. But this is the kind of thing we have been discussing. I am posting it to the website in the hope of stimulating wider reflection and discussion...
