How do empires rise? Why do they fall? And how have they shaped the world around us today?
William Dalrymple and Anita Anand explore the stories, personalities and events of empire over the course of history.
India’s transformation of the ancient world is indisputable, and tangible evidence of this can be found in the magnificent Hindu and Buddhist temples scattered across the landscapes of South East Asia. But what was the process by which India transported its vast empire of art, culture, architecture, technology, religion and even writing to South East Asia? The story largely derives in the ascent of international trade from India across the Bay of Bengal, to places like Malaysia, Thailand and even China. The formidable Pallava dynasty transmitted the famous tradition of Indian temple building far beyond the borders of India, along with majestic notions of Hindu kingship, and the burgeoning Indian renaissance in art and poetry that flourished from the 6th century. But who were the Pallavas, rulers of southern India and architects of a cultural revolution?
Join Anita and William as they discuss one of the most extraordinary cultural and architectural exports of all time, and the birth of one common, mighty Indosphere in the East.
To fill out the survey: survey.empirepoduk.com
To buy William’s book: https://coles-books.co.uk/the-golden-road-by-william-dalrymple-signed-edition
Twitter: @Empirepoduk
Email: empirepoduk@gmail.com
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Assistant Producers: Anouska Lewis and Tabby Syrett
Producer: Callum Hill
Exec Producer: Neil Fearn
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It was actually India, not China, that was the greatest trading partner of the Roman Empire. During this era, it’s clear that sea travel was the fastest, most economical and safest way to move people and goods in the pre-modern world, costing about a fifth of the price of equivalent land transport. The Golden Road of early east–west commerce, in other words, lay less overland, through a Persia often at war with Rome, and much more across the open oceans, via the choppy waters of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Listen as William and Anita discuss the trade links between India and Ancient Rome.
To fill out the survey: survey.empirepoduk.com
To buy William’s book: https://coles-books.co.uk/the-golden-road-by-william-dalrymple-signed-edition
Twitter: @Empirepoduk
Email: empirepoduk@gmail.com
Assistant Producers: Anouska Lewis and Evan Green
Producer: Callum Hill
Exec Producer: Neil Fearn
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
