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Ancient World

The Greek Experience of India: From Alexander to the Indo-Greeks

An exploration of how the Greeks reacted to and interacted with India from the third to first centuries BCE

Paperback

Price:
$32.00/£28.00
ISBN:
Published (US):
Jun 8, 2021
Published (UK):
Jun 29, 2021
Pages:
560
Size:
6.13 x 9.25 in.
Illus:
52 b/w illus. 6 maps.
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When the Greeks and Macedonians in Alexander’s army reached India in 326 BCE, they entered a new world. The plants were unrecognizable, the customs of the people various and puzzling. Alexander’s conquest ended with his death in 323 BCE, but the Greeks would settle in the Indian region for the next two centuries. From observations about botany and mythology to social customs, The Greek Experience of India explores how the Greeks reacted to and constructed life in India during this period. Richard Stoneman offers a valuable look at Megasthenes, ambassador of the King Seleucus to Chandragupta Maurya, and provides a discussion of Megasthenes’ now-fragmentary book Indica. Stoneman considers the art, literature, and philosophy of the Indo-Greek kingdom and how cultural influences crossed in both directions. The Greek Experience of India is a masterful account of the encounters between two remarkable civilizations.

Awards and Recognition

  • Longlisted for the Runciman Award, Anglo-Hellenic League
  • A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year