The Golden Road cover art

The Golden Road

How Ancient India Transformed the World

 Preview
Free with 30-day trial
Prime logo New to Audible Prime Member exclusive:
2 credits with free trial
1 credit a month to use on any title to download and keep
Listen to anything from the Plus Catalogue—thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts and audiobooks
Download titles to your library and listen offline
₹199 per month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.

The Golden Road

Written by: William Dalrymple
Narrated by: William Dalrymple
Free with 30-day trial

₹199 per month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for ₹683.00

Buy Now for ₹683.00

About this listen

Bloomsbury presents The Golden Road written and read by William Dalrymple.

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A Waterstones and TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR
A SPECTATOR and History Today BOOK OF THE YEAR

A revolutionary new history of the diffusion of Indian ideas, from the award-winning, bestselling author and co-host of the chart-topping Empire podcast

‘Richly woven, highly readable ... Written with passion and verve’ Spectator
‘Dazzling ... Not just a historical study but also a love letter’ Guardian
‘An outstanding new account ... The most compelling retelling we have had for generations’ Financial Times

India is the forgotten heart of the ancient world.

In the millennium and a half from c. 250 BC to 1200 AD, Indian art, religion, technology, astronomy, music, dance, literature, mathematics and mythology blazed a trail across the world – a Golden Road that stretched from the Red Sea to the Pacific.

Here, William Dalrymple draws from a lifetime of scholarship to highlight India’s oft-forgotten position as the heart of ancient Eurasia. For the first time, he gives a name to this spread of Indian ideas that transformed the culture and technology of not only its ancient world, but of the world as we know it today.

©2024 William Dalrymple (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Ancient Asia India South Asia Southeast Asia
All stars
Most relevant
This is a really good book to understand a history that is probably never discussed or documented. Really covers a diverse range of areas where India played a significant role and influenced for ages to come. Really liked the term Indosphere. It covers very well ‘what happened’, could use a deeper dive on ‘how it happened’

Good book on an untouched topic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I think I’m definitely leaning more toward non-fiction audiobooks these days. Books narrated by the authors themselves have a certain impact, and The Golden Road is no exception. It uncovers little-known aspects of Indian history while diving deeper into the familiar ones.

That said, it’s not an easy listen. The sheer amount of detail can feel overwhelming, but it’s worth the effort. Definetly worth the listen and time. P.S. : Keep your notes app handy, there is a lot you will want to remember and read up more on.

Lost in Details

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Indian numbers and story of them spreading to the world through Arab world along with rise and fall of many invaders so well portrayed. Explanation and expansion of knowledge from India to the world through different religions is explained so well.

Detailed account in a systematic way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A book that brings to light history that is not known widely . it needs to be made a compulsory reading in all India Schools

Depth of research

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
William Dalrymple is a marvellous story teller, and this is a marvellous story! It would be great if the references for the historical events and people are given somewhere - perhaps in the printed book?

Terrific read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews