5.0 out of 5 stars Sea Empires of last 500 years BCE and early CE brought to life, populated, revived

S.H. · May 4, 2025

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } As others have mentioned, Dalrymple"s histories are the best and every single one is worth a read. Some have not loved this one as much.I love this one as much. From decades of tai chi study and years of Sanskrit study I have puzzled over how ever did ideas get around Asia as they did.I knew a monk famously trekked back and forth. I knew Rama and Krishna got around.But how? Who did what first? And what went on when the Shaolin monks began to help the emperor.All Dalrymple's students and readers know the man loves India. But which India? When India? We know he does not like the way the East India Company (and let's face it, Great Britain) treated India.. We know he wants to clarify the record. Here it is. You could make your PhD out of his footnotes. I just wanted to know about the monk and the manuscripts.Here is another thing. The writing is world class. We know that about the author too. The first paragraph of the 7th chapter, one of the most exciting chapters for me, is the best example of that exquisite mastery in plain speak. The other greatest thing here is the insight into the travel on the monsoon winds. Finally, we know.One criticism -- Dalrymple has made a terrible mess of the monsoon wind timeline as well as his proofs of the sea trade timeline. I am scratching through Wikipedia trying to figure it out. He cites a monk contemporary with Buddha commenting on the seafaring gold rush but says 31 BCE for 300 years . . . leaving a gap from Buddha to Battle of Actium.Says the winds blow west for six months and east for six months but traders arrive in summer from east and start home in August. So now I would like for the professor to clarify this.I am reading Xuanzang with great appreciation.BUT the book's main argument for sea trade versus "Silk Road" is too carelessly done. While we might own that the term came later and nobody called it the Silk Road then, we also see that Buddhists built monasteries along the overland trade routes, traded and got very wealthy, offered shelter to wandering monks and not sure about trading merchants or caravans . . . so the overland routes were busy too . . .plus there were robbers and piratesThanks professor. I am happy to know the true story but still your argument has left many questions.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Past Reclaimed

r. · May 16, 2025

The book argues that the primary route connecting Eurasia from 250 BCE to 1200 CE[2] was a route going through India referred to in the book as the "Golden Road"; this route facilitated an Indian sphere of influence, referred under the name Indosphere.The book focuses first on the spread of Buddhism, which from a marginal Indian sect in due course became central to Chinese, Japanese and Korean culture, as well as flourishing elsewhere in the region. It then traces the extraordinary adoption of Hindu and Sanskrit culture by rulers across south-east Asia who were swayed by the prestige of these Indian modes of thought and life. The greatest Buddhist and Hindu temples ever constructed lie not in India itself, but, respectively, at Borobodur on Java, and at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the largest religious structure ever erected anywhere in the world. Finally, The Golden Road tells the gripping story of how fundamental astronomical and mathematical tools such as our modern number symbols, the decimal system, algebra, trigonometry and the algorithm were developed in India and spread across the world and, along with the Indian game of chess, eventually reached the backward cultures of Christian Europe.Dalrymple is a born storyteller, with a wonderful facility for expounding complex events with verve and clarity. Like any successful synthesis, his text draws on vast reading as well as a keen eye for telling details. Yet it’s also a deeply personal work. Before writing a string of acclaimed books about British imperial adventures in south Asia, he was already renowned as a chronicler of its esoteric religious traditions. The Golden Road, teeming with his own evocative descriptions of far-flung cave and forest temples, sculptures and wall paintings, is not just a historical study but also a love letter – to a lost syncretic world of interacting and evolving religious creeds and intellectual movements, when Indian ideas transformed the world.

4.0 out of 5 stars Plenty of Information on an underserved place and time

N.&.G. · May 30, 2025

299 pages of text and maps; 48 pages of color and B&W plates; 62 pages of endnotes; 34 page Bibliography; 2 page Glossary; 2 page "Acknowledgements;" and a ribbon bookmark. The book addresses the contributions to world history of India over roughly the 1st Millennium BCE and 1st Millennium CE. It focuses on trade networks; the origin and spread of Buddhism; the spread of Hinduism; cultural, artistic, and architectural interactions with China, Southeast Asia, the Moslem world, and, to a lesser extent, Rome and the Western World; and its contributions to scientific and mathematical understanding, particularly with regard to the development of "zero" as a mathematical symbol. The book is very well written, but suffers from the need to compartmentalize its numerous topics. There is extensive treatment of the spread of Buddhism to China, but that topic has to be treated apart from the discussion of trade with Rome or the discussion of Southeast Asian architecture. As a result, the book isn't a continuous flow, but, rather, a compilation of topics. I found the book's use of endnotes to be particularly frustrating. Endnotes are great for citations. They enable a reader to go back and either further pursue a topic or check the basis for statements. However, they are terrible when amplifying or clarifying text. The reader must stop the read, flip to the back of the book, find the note, read it, and then locate where he/she is in the text and resume reading. Footnotes merely require looking at the bottom of the page. This book makes extensive use of endnotes for clarification and amplification, greatly chopping up the read. There are a couple of footnotes and I have no idea why they were selected for this treatment as opposed to the many other notes relegated to the back of the book. I highly recommend the book, but be prepared for the division of topics and the use of endnotes.

The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple

T.M. · March 8, 2025

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } William Dalrymple’s The Golden Road is a masterful exploration of India’s profound and far-reaching influence on the world over a millennium and a half. This book is a testament to Dalrymple’s lifelong scholarship and his ability to weave together history, culture, and storytelling into a compelling narrative. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how ancient India shaped the world we live in today.A Vast Empire of IdeasDalrymple meticulously details how India, for over 1,500 years, was not just a cultural powerhouse but also a confident exporter of its civilisation. From art and religion to technology and mathematics, Indian ideas traveled far and wide along what Dalrymple aptly terms the “Golden Road” – a network of trade and cultural exchange that stretched from the Red Sea to the Pacific.The book highlights India’s contributions to global civilisation, such as the creation of the numeral system (including the revolutionary concept of zero), the spread of Buddhism across Asia, and the architectural marvels like Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu temple in the world. Dalrymple also delves into lesser-known but equally significant influences, such as Indian astronomy, music, dance, and mythology, which left an indelible mark on the ancient world.A Global Perspective on India’s LegacyWhat sets The Golden Road apart is its global perspective. Dalrymple doesn’t just focus on India in isolation; he situates it at the heart of ancient Eurasia, showing how Indian ideas interacted with and transformed other cultures. For instance, he explores how Indian trade helped fund the Roman Empire and how Indian religious and philosophical ideas shaped the spiritual landscape of China and Southeast Asia.Dalrymple’s writing is both scholarly and accessible, making complex historical processes easy to understand. His vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling bring the past to life, making the reader feel as though they are traveling along the Golden Road themselves.A Few Practical ConsiderationsWhile the content of the book is exceptional, I did find myself returning the hardback edition in favor of the Kindle version, which was £10 cheaper, and the paperback, which was £12 cheaper. For a book of this length and depth, the digital or paperback formats are more practical and economical, especially for readers who prefer a more portable option.Final ThoughtsThe Golden Road is a brilliant and enlightening read that sheds light on India’s often-overlooked role as a global influencer in ancient times. William Dalrymple’s passion for the subject shines through on every page, and his ability to connect the dots between India’s past and the modern world is nothing short of remarkable.Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a lover of Indian culture, or simply curious about how ancient civilisations shaped our world, this book is an invaluable addition to your library. Just be sure to opt for the Kindle or paperback edition to save a few pounds without compromising on the richness of the content. Highly recommended!

Eine schöne Weitererzählung der 'The Silk Roads' von Peter Frankopan

H.B. · April 29, 2025

Indien als Kulturmotor für den Westen über den Umweg der arabischen Welt im Mittelalter. Eine Phantasie von BJP Anhängern unter Narendra Modi, würde man zunächst meinen. Und doch unabweislich, nach dem was William Dalrymple an historischen Belegen zu einem sehr lesbaren Erzählbogen zusammengefügt hat. Auch wenn die ein oder andere Nebe-These etwas gewagt erscheint ist das Haupt-Argument nach der Lektüre dieses Buches doch schwer von der Hand zu weisen: Indien ist offenbar die Herkunftsregion von Errungenschaften, die nicht nur die Entwicklung vieler Kulturen Asiens befruchtet hat sondern auch Quelle wissenschaftlicher und kultureller Inspiration des Abendlandeswar, weitergeleitet und verbessert durch arabische Gelehrte seit dem frühen Mittelalter. Ein Erbe das zur wissenschaftlichen Entwicklung und später Dominanz des Westens über Indien, den Nahen Osten und ganz Asien geführt hat.

Another marvelous book by the master of Indian history

C.J. · June 10, 2025

Another wonderful book by the master of Indian history. It’s a bit tough to get through with so many names but overall a great book.

Rooted to foundation.

V. · October 5, 2024

A perfect journey mounted on each granular details to cast a right picture. Must read.

Fills in some gaps

A.C. · June 19, 2025

Fascinating and informative. Provides a new perspective which clarifies much of the misconceptions of the past. Corrects the historical record