The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World

William Dalrymple traces South Asia's role in shaping world civilization across more than fifteen centuries. During this period, India exported its diverse culture—including art, religions, technology, astronomy, music, dance, literature, mathematics, and mythology—along trade routes stretching from the Red Sea to the Pacific, which Dalrymple calls the Golden Road. The book examines how Indian ideas transformed the ancient world and continue to influence our modern one. Examples include the Hindu temple at Angkor Wat, the spread of Buddhism to China, trade networks that supported the Roman Empire, and the numerals used globally today. Through this account, Dalrymple presents ancient India as a major cultural and economic power whose contributions have been largely overlooked.