World Canonical Texts
| 7. | Mahabharata | Literature | Indian |
| Author: | Anonymous (Vyasa by convention) | ||
| Date: |
Setting in 8~9th c. B.C., text formed between 4th c. B.C. to 4th c. A.D. (I arbitraily assume text substanitally formed in 2th c. B.C., thus the position slightly before Shiji) |
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| Significance: |
Longest poem of the world; setting/origination earlier than Ramayana; includes Bhagavadgita and a version of the Rama story |
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| 8. |
Records of the Grand Historian |
History | Chinese |
| Author: | Sima Qian (145-~86B.C.) | ||
| Date: |
Between 122B.C. (by Sima Qian's father Sima Tan) and 93B.C. (per Sima Qian's own letter Bao Ren An Shu) |
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| Significance: |
First general history of China; origination of the mixed annalistic-biographical structure used in later official Histories; later recognized for its accurate yet elegant ancient prose style (guwen) |
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| 9. | Aeneid | Literature | Greco-Roman |
| Author: | Virgil (70-19B.C.) | ||
| Date: |
Composed between 29-19B.C. |
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| Significance: | Pinnacle of Latin-language literature | ||
| 10. | Bible | Religious / Foundational Classics | Christian |
| Author: | Multiple, such as St. Paul | ||
| Date: |
Old Testament probably 6th c. B.C. or before, majority of new Testament texts completed by 100A.D., canonization in its current form during 4th c. A.D. |
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| Significance: |
Most sold book in world history; includes the Old Testament which is also canonical for Judaism |
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| 11. | Laws of Manu | Philosophy | Indian |
| Author: | Anonymous (putatively Manu) | ||
| Date: |
Between 2th c. B.C. to 2th c. A.D., more probably 2nd c. A.D. (following Patrick Olivelle) |
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| Significance: |
Most important smriti work, as a group considered second in authority to sruti (the Vedas) |
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| 12. | Mulamadhyamaka-karika | Philosophy | Buddhist |
| Author: | Nagarjuna (~150-250A.D.) | ||
| Date: |
Assumed to be ~200A.D. |
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| Significance: |
"Second Buddha"; foundational philosopher of Mahayana Buddhism |
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