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The Golden Road

How Ancient India Transformed the World

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The Golden Road

By: William Dalrymple
Narrated by: William Dalrymple
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents The Golden Road written and read by William Dalrymple.

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A Waterstones and TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR
A SPECTATOR and History Today BOOK OF THE YEAR

A revolutionary new history of the diffusion of Indian ideas, from the award-winning, bestselling author and co-host of the chart-topping Empire podcast

‘Richly woven, highly readable ... Written with passion and verve’ Spectator
‘Dazzling ... Not just a historical study but also a love letter’ Guardian
‘An outstanding new account ... The most compelling retelling we have had for generations’ Financial Times

India is the forgotten heart of the ancient world.

In the millennium and a half from c. 250 BC to 1200 AD, Indian art, religion, technology, astronomy, music, dance, literature, mathematics and mythology blazed a trail across the world – a Golden Road that stretched from the Red Sea to the Pacific.

Here, William Dalrymple draws from a lifetime of scholarship to highlight India’s oft-forgotten position as the heart of ancient Eurasia. For the first time, he gives a name to this spread of Indian ideas that transformed the culture and technology of not only its ancient world, but of the world as we know it today.

©2024 William Dalrymple (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Ancient Asia India South Asia Southeast Asia Ancient History Middle Ages China Imperialism Middle East Nepal Ancient Greece
All stars
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I liked the detail and the narration. it had stuff that I never knew before.

writing and research

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A great history, powerfully written and read by the best living historian of India and its region.

A wonderful history of one of civilizations best kept secrets

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Eye opening…and optimistic that cultures can intermingle successfully. Hope for the future of the world.

Wonderful book.

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Profound insight into the origins of ideas and the trajectory of world affairs then and to the future.

A lesson in making history accessible and engaging

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