Description
An exploration of how the Greeks reacted to and interacted with India from the third to first centuries BCE
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.
About the Author
Richard Stoneman is an honorary visiting professor in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter. His many books include Alexander the Great: A Life in Legend and Xerxes: A Persian Life.
Reviews
"Longlisted for the Runciman Award, Anglo-Hellenic League"
"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"
Book Information
ISBN 9780691217475
Author Richard Stoneman
Format Paperback
Page Count 560
Imprint Princeton University Press
Publisher Princeton University Press
