Greco-Buddhist Relations in the Hellenistic Far East: Sources and Contexts

This book explores the relationship between the Greeks and Buddhist communities in ancient Bactria and Northwest India from the conquests of Alexander the Great to the fall of the Indo-Greek kingdom circa 10 AD. It argues that despite mutual relationships and interactions, the phenomenon known as Greco-Buddhism never truly occurred and provides an analysis of the main sources for these relations. It combines philological and historical research with postcolonial approaches to the study of the Greeks in India and is a valuable resource for students and scholars working on these areas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 14 April 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive and interdisciplinary study explores the intricate relationship between the Greeks and Buddhist communities in ancient Bactria and Northwest India, spanning from the conquests of Alexander the Great to the fall of the Indo-Greek kingdom around 10 AD. The central thesis of this book challenges the conventional notion of Greco-Buddhism, suggesting that despite the existence of mutual relationships and interactions between the Greeks and Buddhist inhabitants of the Hellenistic Far East, a distinct phenomenon of Greco-Buddhism never truly emerged.

The individual chapters within this book provide a detailed analysis of the primary sources related to Greco-Buddhist relations, encompassing textual, archaeological, and numismatic evidence. Employing a combination of philological and historical research methods, alongside postcolonial approaches to studying the Greeks in India, drawing from sociological research on ethnicity and intercultural relations, this study offers a rich tapestry of information for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of Greco-Buddhist relations.

As a valuable resource for students and scholars engaged in the study of the Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms, both classicists and those specializing in early Indian history, as well as those interested in cultural exchange within the Hellenistic world, this volume provides a solid foundation for further research and exploration in this field.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032193007