Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History Magazine.

From the Roman economy and Anka Wat to the spread of Buddhism and the numerical system we still use today.

Ancient India was one of the seed beds of human civilization,

exporting its art, religion, technology and ideas across vast territories

and influencing several Eurasian cultures.

Speaking to Danny Bird on today's podcast,

the best-selling historian William Dalrymple

discusses his latest book, The Golden Road,

which highlights India's profound impact on global history

and uncovers its forgotten role at the heart of the ancient world.

William, your latest book, The Golden Road,

addresses the profound influence of ancient India on the myriad cultures and civilizations of Eurasia.

What was it that attracted you to this period of Indian history?

I've loved this period of history. Ever since I first arrived in India, I was going around the early

Buddhist sites. I remember at the age of 18 visiting

Ajanta and Sanchi and being astonished by these sites, which was so sophisticated at a time when

in Britain, and particularly in Scotland, which is where I was from, you know, you had a few picks

scratching symbols on many years or occasionally an Anglo-Saxon putting up a wobbly church tower.

Well, in the same period in India or even 150 BC long before all that, you had these beautiful murals coming up in cave temples, profound philosophies.

As a teenager, I spent a lot of my time on archaeological excavations,

first in Scotland, then in England. And I always thought I would be an archaeologist and deal

with early history. And I think my teenage self would be very surprised to find that I've actually

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