Crossing Continents: Between India and the Aegean from Prehistory to Alexander the Great

Greece, the Aegean, and India had early contacts dating back to the sixth century BC, with indirect connections diminishing after 1800 BC. These connections involved trade in objects, iconography, and commodities, such as tin and lapis lazuli, forming a larger trade network between the Near East and India. After the Bronze Age, Greece became increasingly aware of India, with the period after Alexander the Great witnessing increased knowledge and interaction between the two regions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2022
Publisher: Oxbow Books

The earliest known interactions between Greece, the Aegean, and India are believed to have transpired during the early sixth century BC. However, there exist indications of earlier indirect connections that can be traced back to the middle of the third millennium BC, although their significance gradually declined after 1800 BC. Initially, these connections involved India's Indus Civilization (Meluhha) and the Near East, subsequently evolving to encompass the societies of the Early and Middle Bronze Age Aegean. These societies were characterized by the emergence of palace-based economies and intricate social structures. These interconnectedness suggests a form of indirect or "trickle-down" contact between the Aegean and India, facilitated by the exchange of objects, iconography, and commodities such as tin and lapis lazuli.

This book presents a holistic perspective, considering the Aegean as an integral component of a broader trade network. This network encompassed not only commodities but also recently discovered objects that acquired value as they accumulated a prestigious ownership pedigree in the Near East and Syro-Palestine. It can be seen as a natural extension of trade between the Near East and India. During the Early to Late Bronze Ages, India played a crucial role as a source of valuable and indispensable commodities destined for the elites and the developing technologies of much of the Old World.

Furthermore, the period following the end of the Bronze Age, leading up to the time of Alexander the Great, is examined in detail. Notably, after the sixth century BC, when Greeks began to gain knowledge about India, significant changes occurred. Within a span of approximately 200 years, India would become widely recognized among scholars and non-scholars alike. This includes individuals who had firsthand experiences of the Persian invasions of Greece or who later served as Macedonian and Greek foot soldiers as they embarked on their eastward marches.

Weight: 402g
Dimension: 170 x 239 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789255546