Ancient Greek Buddhists

For more than two centuries, much of northern India was ruled by Greek kings. Eventually, these kings and many of their Greek subjects converted to Buddhism, with far-reaching historical consequences.
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If you liked this video, you might also enjoy my book “Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans.”
www.amazon.com/Naked-Statues-...
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:16 Alexander in India
2:00 The Indo-Greek Kingdom
3:28 Buddhism in Mauryan India
4:18 Greek converts to Buddhism
5:41 Contacts between India and the Roman Empire
6:46 Buddhism in classical texts
7:32 Buddhism and Greek Skepticism
8:27 The Greek influence on Buddhist art
9:54 Conclusion
Thanks for watching!

[@jwm6314]

It's wild to look at a timeline of overlapping cultures and histories. So many things coexisted in time for such great lengths of time that there's all kinds of intricate connections.

[@jonhall2274]

@Zach it's one of THE BEST channels I've ever came across when it comes to my -history- section of channels. It's so amazing that we have first hand accounts of basically adventures of the unknown(for them anyway). It's so interesting to find cultures that had no clue of the entire globe going to complete opposite of cultures and intermingling, some even living in these places. Plus there's just sooo many accounts, I didn't even know we had this many. It truly is fascinating.

[@abashedsanctimony154]

There does appear to contain elements of many religions that reflect each other amongst the long-surviving religions. The Buddhist sphere appears to be sun worship or a sun rising behind a monk in meditation. Which appears to symbolize enlightenment. Contrast this with any other religions that contain the same symbol and will come to conclude they formed through an adaptation with other religions. And so the coéxist unification of polytheist religions gain those attributes that are common amongst them and can identify them. Yet when looking at where they fall short is what they teach with regards to moral issues. These similar world religions contain a type of balance that gathers light and dark energies and cancels them into a sort of enlightenment. As if that enlightenment equals salvation from any evils that may result from living immorally. However based upon that hypothesis, knowledge alone does not equal salvation. It would be that morality can only be based on a concrete concept of the opposite quality of immorality. And that means a God that is Perfect. Very few religions teach of a God that is Perfect, but rather that of a universal energy that balances out imbalances within our metaphysical realm, which cannot be true if the God is Perfect. That God would not allow imperfection. So there must be a specific religion that teaches God entered into earth and showed us what Perfection is. And the answer to the spiritual aspects that begin to emerge become more clear which religion that is.

[@doc_matter]

@Zach both are all I listen too!

[@heressomestuffifound]

You might enjoy Gore Vidal’s book Creation. Explores this concept via brilliant historical fiction.

[@user-hc9qv9yb9m]

You mean acts of conquering other nations. The Nazis think they are Aryan and the hold the swatsika which all comes from India

[@jonlondon7527]

Somewhere a lonely person uttered the last ever prayer to Zeus. I wonder, did that person live in the Mediterranean or India?

[@ericvosselmans5657]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenism_(modern_religion) apparently, they still do.

[@uninterruptedrhythm4104]

@@ericvosselmans5657 Maybe in ancient times? Or at least medieval times.

[@sydneybriannataaffe1026]

India for sur

[@toldinstone]

I've done a fair amount of reading on the topic (one of the chapters in my book explores the end of Greco-Roman polytheism), so I can confidently say: the Mediterranean. As late as the ninth century, shepherds in remote corners of the Peloponnese were still worshiping the old gods.

[@GoldRusherz]

@@toldinstone That's so interesting! Did greek gods influence the depiction of Hindu gods in any way like they did the Buddha?

[@ameyb9241]

Fun fact: The most famous Greek-Buddhist king of India was Menander who after conversion changed his name to 'Mahendra / Milinda'. He was converted by the Buddhist monk 'Nagasena' after long sessions of discussions. They were compiled in the book called 'Milindapanho' or the Questions of Menander.

[@dynamitebsb4520]

Would like to read it. Thanks

[@harristheodosis5204]

​@Noah Yes of course

[@NationalistBhartiya]

Poor alexender killed by King porus 🗿🗿🗿

[@mnd7381]

​@@NationalistBhartiya nah bro aisa nhi hua. Inha hate mat phela

[@no1reallycaresabout2]

My parents are from Sri Lanka which is majority Buddhist. It blew my mind to learn that a Greek monk was present at the dedication of the Anuradhapura Maha Thupa c. 137 B.C. "From Alasanda the city of the Yonas came the thera (elder) Yona Mahadhammarakkhita with thirty thousand bhikkhus." (Mahavamsa, XXIX)

[@abdulaleem9207]

wow.

[@flyingisaac2186]

30,000 monks from one of Asia's many Alexandrias is fairly notable, astonishing really as a convergence of cultures.

[@PlethonGemistos]

Why does it seem so strange to you? It's a circle. Who are the Greeks? A branch of Indo-Europeans who settled in (occupied) the Greek "peninsula" a few thousand years ago, introducing the Greek language. Since you're Buddhist, you're familiar with Pāli, an Indo-European language, younger than Sanskrit. Greeks settling in India after Alexander is like going to a place that their older cousins had settled much earlier. Even before Alexander, India was not unknown to Greeks. It's possible that Heraclitus had come across the teachings of his slightly older Shakyamuni Buddha. Some of the sayings of the former are eerily similar to those of the latter (ποταμοίς δε τοις αυτοί εμβένομέν τε και ότι εμβένομέν, ειμέν τε και ότι είμεν). Contacts did exist much before the Ashoka period.

[@bhutwheyttherismor86]

I hope to visit the temples of Sri Lanka one day. I dream of one day being a monk myself.

[@thisulwickramarachchi2380]

@@bhutwheyttherismor86 u can become a monk in sri Lanka....

[@minithankappan1226]

Sanskrit plays frequently refer to Yavana Sundaris or Greek beauties who were part of the Ganika community, the ancient Indian equivalent of the Greek Hetairas. In many Indian languages including my mother tongue Malayalam, Yavana Sundari is still used to refer to beautiful women. And there is a famous Malayalam song beginning with the word. And it seems the English word Therapeutic, originally derived from Greek Therapeut, might have been derived from the Pali word Theraputta (Sanskritam Theraputra), meaning a son or follower of the Buddha. There are Theragathas and Therigathas in Pali which refer to psalms by the Buddhist monks and nuns respectively. The Buddhists were great healers and Buddhist rulers even had hospitals for animals established in their kingdoms.

[@hamsadhvani95]

@Kal el Greeks were called Yavanas in Pali/Sanskrit

[@kakalimukherjee3297]

Goddamnit that's such a great insight

[@visi9856]

@Kal el Yavana is the sanskrit adaptation of the word Ionian

[@josefrancis7126]

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF CHRIST THE HEENAYANA BUDHIST?

[@NigelJackson]

And wasn't Pythagoras called Yavanacharya in India? Literally the 'Greek Preceptor'...

[@centipede9467]

This is an insanely interesting aspect of history I didn’t even know existed!!

[@laraerikson1423]

Plenty of artifacts from that era in Pakistan.

[@PlethonGemistos]

Don't worry that you don't know. The less you know the more important you can be in this world. In fact, if you know nothing you could be president of the United States. Bush was one (or two). Trump was another. It didn't bother them that they knew jack shit about history (or geography). The more you know, about history or otherwise, the worse it is--according to some criteria.

[@centipede9467]

@@PlethonGemistos what? I just like learning history man. I recently bought two books and mexican history. Guess im fucked then.

[@dredlew]

@@PlethonGemistos man thats deep.

[@Cyge240sx]

Every textbook in school kept this as a paragraph tops. I knew Alexander invaded India but I was never given context or detail further

[@chungusdisciple9917]

The legacy of Alexander is simply astounding

[@DipayanPyne94]

The most important part of that Legacy is that he was a Monster. So, he obviously ain't someone to be celebrated. If he is celebrated, then Hitler should be, as well ...

[@lasislasfilipinas114]

@@DipayanPyne94 no, what is your people's obsession with comparing any great figure to Hitler?

[@DipayanPyne94]

@@lasislasfilipinas114 Your people ? Lol. What is that supposed to mean ? You are talking to me, just me. I compare Alexander with Hitler coz both were Evil. But yeah, Hitler was way more evil than Alexander ...

[@lasislasfilipinas114]

@@DipayanPyne94 I mean to say "You" rather than "Your" sorry but anyways Alexander is incomparable to the actions Hitler did, thats like comparing Pears to Apples, sure they have some similarities but they are wholey different things, Alexander did not use industrial means to slaughter human beings nor did Alexander advocate for a complete removal of races nor did Alexander seek to destroy religious groups, the only thing they did have in common was the Will to Conquer again Pears to Apples

[@lasislasfilipinas114]

@@DipayanPyne94 Not to mention Alexander's Conquests actually benefited Humanity in so many ways compared to Hitler, Hitler's war led to "Peace" because the World was so tired of fighting but it also led to a new Wars via proxies, to say that the world post WW2 is peaceful is to say that its peaceful because two guys have a gun aimed at each other, Alexander on the other hand essentially created the Silk Road and the Maritime Indian Ocean trade, the superhighway of International trsde even to this day, his conquests led to the Hellenization of the East, creation of Alexadria and although indirectly linked he created the idea of a unified Greece although you can argue that already existed prior

[@olbiomoiros]

As a Greek this is weird yet at the same time amazing to me.

[@PlethonGemistos]

It could appear weird or amazing partly because what people are being taught in Greek schools, e.g. in history, are regurgitated clichés compiled by half-educated people. (This is not unique in Greece.) Besides, history is almost everywhere taught from a nationalistic viewpoint and is never accurate.

[@kushal4956]

Imagine if Greece were Buddhist today instead of Christian. you even have the perfect monasteries for it, they feel very much like the ones in Bhutan

[@Xarmutinha]

@@kushal4956 omg that would be amazing

[@TomorrowWeLive]

​@@kushal4956 that could have led to the whole of Europe becoming Buddhist, instead of Christian. European polytheistic deities, like the Olympian and Norse pantheons, might have been incorporated into Buddhist mythology and iconography like Tibetan ones. Fascinating alternate history.

[@NationalistBhartiya]

Poor alexender killed by King porus 🗿🗿🗿

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

I've long had a fascination with the Greco-bactrian kingdoms and the greek presence in central asia and india. This video of yours is an absolute treat. Great work!

[@luduvugla]

I believe we're fascinated by such topics such as Bactrian kingdom as they are real life examples of what-if crossovers from at first, distant cultures. One other example that chastises the mind is Varangian guard, an example of "what if romans met vikings"

[@laraerikson1423]

You forgot Pakistan as well.

[@JR-wj9bh]

No you dont.

[@rudrajeet814]

@@laraerikson1423 pakistan never existed at that time Pakistan is artifically created nation by brits in 1947 It was akhand bharat( greater India)at that time

[@roblangada4516]

@@rudrajeet814 "Pakistan is artifically created nation by brits in 1947 " To be fair, India is also an artificial construction of British colonialism that would never have existed as a single state without that outside force. Way too many languages, ethnicities, and religions to ever naturally form into a single polity. India would likely still be a bunch of disparate kingdoms otherwise. Pakistan exists *because* Britain tried to smash a bunch of very different cultures, religions, and languages into a single country, and it naturally didn't work out.

[@daveandgena3166]

First my jaw dropped to the floor, and then my head exploded. I had no idea. Thank you.

[@daveandgena3166]

@Cyb3r It was.

[@pardeepparkash398]

In Indian scriptures of the past, like The Ramayana, the Greeks are called Yavanas (originating from 'Ionian')

[@ZingierOne3]

Syncretism is one of the most interesting things about world history

[@DanielSanchez-yi9cr]

We're all more alike than different!

[@Ashitaka255]

Yup, Christianity is full of pagan concepts and iconography. It's likely that the image of God as a sky father type of figure was derived from an indo-european god. All indo-european religions seem to have a sky father type figure, like Zeus, deyus pitar, Tyr etc. Then obviously there are things like Christmas, the yule log etc. Yet, Christianity (and Islam, a simple derivative of Christianity/Judaism) act all high and mighty towards other faiths and how WRONG they must be.

[@braddotson3429]

@@Ashitaka255 I don't see where your argument leads. Many of these Christians & Muslims truly believe they're saving your soul from an eternity in hell. No proof of cultural influence is going to change that

[@SangitA]

@@braddotson3429 its not they wnat to save my soul from hell but its their greed for heven

[@__Hanasei__Levinus__]

@@SangitA well said, few and far between spoke out on how the religious are just so desperate for their salvation to the point of corrupting the original, holy intentions of their beliefs

[@animustraining]

Brownie points for mentioning Kalanos’s self-immolation in Alexandria. Thought this was going to be more generic than that, but you went deep. I would like to mention that the aniconic art hypothesis is widely accepted, but not considered definitive! Early Buddhist icons may have been made of wood and didn’t last (the Agama texts that give instructions on icon making instruct to make them out of wood). The aniconic steles found are typically labeled in their inscriptions as pilgrimage sites, so may not actually be depicting the Buddha’s life events as assumed, and which would explain his absence.

[@AD10894]

Finally, someone who mentions an alternative to the aniconic theory. Dr. Susan Huntington (Professor Emeritus at OSU) has lead this research and provides a compelling case for interpreting these images as pilgrimage sites and not life events.

[@HighKingBob]

Actually he was mentioning Zarmanochegas. Still fascinating nonetheless

[@williammorrison6311]

Not long ago I researched a bit on the origins of Thai Buddhism, and I was fascinated to learn that Theravada iconography is derived from Hellenistic sources.

[@jeanbiroute]

where did you read that?

[@reveranttangent1771]

I want to know too

[@DipayanPyne94]

Well, Greek Iconography itself is Egyptian in Origin. For Evidence, read 'Chapter 5' of 'Pharaohs, Fellahs and Explorers' by Egyptologist Amelia Edwards.

[@Reddy26]

Just because you whites from northern europe didn’t contribute with anything interesting until the middle ages doesn’t give you the right to make outlandish claims. :p

[@anirudh177]

@@Reddy26 What? He might be wrong about Theravada Iconography, but Europeans did contribute a lot in the ancient times.

[@NitroDonkey117]

Incredible. Knowledgeable. Toldinstone, you are the G.O.A.T. of Ancient Roman KZbinrs!

[@mrgummygod]

Is there a big market of ancient Roman KZbinrs?

[@clarencetaylor7455]

Baaaaa!!

[@jakec2229]

@@mrgummygod There should be!

[@billbauer9795]

@@mrgummygod Why wouldn't there be?

[@adizmal]

He's no Historia Civilis, but toldinstone is definitely a great content creator.

[@cheetooreo6636]

The Greco-Bactrian kingdoms have a passing mention in our Indian history books taught at school. This is a great insight into this part of Indian history ! Also, appreciate your accurate pronounciation of Indian names. 😁

[@nimkati5627]

From what I know, in Indian history school textbooks everything except the Mughal empire is mentioned in passing

[@chicawhappa]

@@nimkati5627 I think they're trying to fix that now. I can't believe how 80% of the book is about them, and one paragraph about chola kings, for example.

[@nimkati5627]

@@chicawhappa As far as I know, they learn in detail every Mughal emperor, while South India is mostly ignored. This exaggerated focus on a muslim empire is done because by doing so they believe that they make India look secular and inclusive. I've seen Hindu nationalists joking about that, that according to the secularists, everything prior to Mughals is mythology

[@kieranhurst8543]

it's not taught widely because it undermines modern ideas about indian nationalism

[@northernskys]

Brilliant video. It is sometimes too easy to forget how far afield the merchants and traders, leaders and philosophers, of the Greek, Roman, and even, Egyptian, Empires, and their other related Empires, travelled throughout the Ancient World. And the influences they left, and brought back, from those travels. Keep up the great work.

[@faithlesshound5621]

Our lorry drivers in Europe drive around the whole continent, and occasionally beyond. Do they contribute more than exchange students do to cultural exchange and intellectual ferment?

[@deewesthill4705]

@@faithlesshound5621 As I'm sure you know, in ancient times long-distance traveling was much rarer, more difficult and perilous, and took a much longer time than now. It was not just a bunch of truck drivers breezing through to pick up and deliver loads. So those traveling were those with much more serious goals in mind including large armies, caravans of merchants, scholars, scientists, philosophers and seekers of esoteric knowledge.

[@Rafferty1968]

Marcus Aurelius mentions many Buddhist themes in his Meditations. He must have had some awareness of the teachings, if not directly through the Roman trade routes, then indirectly through Greek texts now lost to us.

[@DipayanPyne94]

Is Buddhism explicitly mentioned in his Meditations ??

[@PlethonGemistos]

Take a look at presocratics and you'll see the similarity between Marcus Aurelius and Buddhist themes. It is not unlikely that there were contacts. Even the slightest indirect contact could have had profound influence in the exchange of ideas. These were times when Judaism (and its subsequent offspring religions) hadn't polluted the atmosphere and so freer thought was possible. To an extent.

[@DipayanPyne94]

Takis, the PreSocratics or the Ancient Greeks, in general, were very different from Buddha. Even the Stoics, who had a lot in common with Buddha, had a very different mindset. Why so ? Well, simply because no Ancient Greek or Roman scholar understood Emotions and Sensations as well as Buddha. And why is that ? Well, that's because the Ancient Greeks just didn't know anything whatsoever about Vipassana, Dhyana, Samadhi etc etc. Ancient Greek thought doesn't lead to the elimination of mental suffering, coz it is obsessed with thinking. Buddha's teachings, on the other hand, are purely suffering oriented. Now, it is likely for the Ancient Greeks to have been influenced by Early Buddhism, via Pyrrho, who spent around 18 months in India and then returned to Greece. Do we have unquestionable evidence for this claim ? Well, not really. But, the Indian influence on Pyrrho did take place. But anyway ...

[@530laflare9]

Absolutely

[@deewesthill4705]

@@DipayanPyne94 Both my knowledge and appreciation of Buddhism and reading Plato's Dialogues helped me overcome my mental suffering.

[@isla25]

I never knew of Greek Buddhists, fascinating video. Thank you.

[@nad1ax2]

The Indo-Greek kingdom lasted for 200 years

[@kakalimukherjee3297]

Your surname means "fear" in my language

[@dann5480]

@@kakalimukherjee3297 he is a European who stands with Ukraine, of course he has fear in his heart.

[@sylheti_fua.]

​@@kakalimukherjee3297 dhur In Bengali there's nothing called "isla" And "bhoy" in Bengali means fear

[@blackrivermusicstudio7648]

Love learning about cultural interactions like this!

[@stevenbaringer7309]

More on the Greeks in Afghanistan PLEASE!! I was there and saw the remnants but would love to know more!!!

[@TheColombiano89]

What remnants?

[@tecumsehcristero]

They're called Bactrians

[@tecumsehcristero]

@@TheColombiano89 the giant statues of the buddha the Taliban wrecked for one

[@BlackLotusVisualArchive]

@@TheColombiano89 A lot of the local Pashtun population are partially descended from Greco-Bactrians, who themselves were a mix of Greeks and Bactrians (a native Iranic people). One of the former residences of Alexander the Great is a Hash-smoking spot now for a lot of local Pashtuns

[@robdoubleyou4918]

There are several episode on the archaeology of the Greco-Bactrian sites on a podcast called “The Ancients”. Particularly Bagram and AI Khanum.

[@sydneybriannataaffe1026]

You have, by far, the most unique and informative videos related to this topic. It’s been such a joy to watch, and I’ve learned a lot! Can’t wait to listen to your book on audio :)

[@endo9384]

I received your book yesterday and it is awesome! Easy to read, yet full of information! Great video as always!

[@nateblubaugh729]

I just want to voice my great appreciation for all of the fantastic quality content that you consistently put out. I always look forward to every new video here because I know I'll learn something new and interesting about antiquity. I'm definitely going to get your book when my college reading schedule isn't so rigorous. Keep up the great work!

[@primordialpouch1139]

I found your channel a couple months ago, watching your growth has been a pleasure, your content is excellent! Thank you!

[@Shep-qc7pi]

I am so happy to see this after recently watching your video on the Bactrian Greeks, and you only eluded to this Greek-India era. Glad to get your take and explanation!

[@hadrianopolis1968]

All your videos are always very interesting, this one in particular. Thank you very much !

[@billiamtrillion]

Amazing video as always. I’m moving currently and this video was a great little break from packing boxes

[@tonimontagna4281]

My geography teacher had told this us once, i was amazed. Very cool that you explain this here.

[@dreamjackson5483]

Amazing as always. Told in stone, Mark Felton, and drachinifel, have to be the historical content on KZbin, and TV. Always top class stuff. Thank you

[@aalexander928]

This video is excellent and I thank you so very much for posting it.

[@carolynreitz2714]

LOVE your book! Best Christmas gift this year!

[@kma3647]

As always, an insightful and interesting look into a bit of history that seems to have been forgotten in the telling over the centuries.

[@TroutBoneless]

great video. I'll be checking out your other content. giving me a lot of stuff to look into

[@kristenlevine3446]

We just loved this video ! I am overjoyed.

[@katipohl2431]

Fascinating. So glad that I subscribed immediately.

[@larsrons7937]

Great video again, thanks! I never knew of the Greeks in Bactria and India until recently when I saw a video from another channel (Kings & Generals?), but not with as many details on Buddhism as you did. 8:09 Buddha's guardian as Hercules appears to live on to this day in a somewhat changed form (in China I believe), I find that so interesting.

[@thisulwickramarachchi2380]

The Buddha didn't have any Guardians.... There were about 10 attempts to kill the buddha in the past & afterwards out of which 5 of ppl who tried to kill the buddha even became monks & got enlightened & some monks asked the buddha to have a guardian to which the buddha replied that it's impossible for anyone to guard the buddha & from the dhamma there's no one in the whole universe who can cause life threats to the Buddha....

[@larsrons7937]

@@thisulwickramarachchi2380 Perhaps Herkules didn't know that?

[@larsrons7937]

@riverbend _"That's strange"_ - what do you find strange?

[@karl1ok]

Now this was a super interesting video, thank you!

[@manjunaths4697]

That's really very informative video about Greek and Budism. Thank you 🙏

[@vestaarcadia]

What an outstanding video. Excellent work.

[@ordinarypete]

Lovely. Informative. Inspiring. Throwing my algorithm comment in.

[@ma32851]

Great content - love this channel!

[@smacpost3]

There's so much to like, and learn, in this one. I think I'll watch it again.

[@kylemichaelreaves]

Thank you for this fascinating essay.

[@jessemkahn]

This is fascinating!! I’d love for more on the interconnectedness of the Mediterranean and the Indian sub-continent.

[@speggeri90]

Hello Toldinstone! A recommendation. I believe an episode on the "Riace warriors/statues" would be interesting to many people. They are such rare artifacts that kinda blow your mind the more you learn from them. Including the clay left inside the statues that still contain the fingerprints of the Greek artists who made them in the 4th century BC. Greatly enjoy your work!

[@toldinstone]

I saw the Riace Bronzes once, and was astonished by their craftsmanship. They would make fine additions to my new series on artifacts!

[@Yovo555]

Very good educational clip. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@TheShekharrohan]

Great Research ... Such videos and insights on Greek Budhists certainly need more followings

[@BrendenFP]

Today I learned something completely new to me. Thank you!

[@Slutuppnu]

Please do an in depth look at the possible influence of Buddhism on Stoicism.

[@badartgallery9322]

My new favorite channel. Subscribed!

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Very interesting, informative and worthwhile video.

[@notevensexy26]

It’s fascinating how inclined towards religious and cultural syncretism ancient peoples were. In a modern age of nationalism and nations touting strong national identities, you can hardly imagine any sort of syncretism the way we see it in the ancient world. Why does the modern world demand such rigid ideologies to function?

[@kigurumii]

when the Abrahamic monotheists took over

[@free_at_last8141]

Very interesting, well done!

[@laynehenriksen7077]

Ive been enjoying your book, thank you!

[@MiaogisTeas]

Glad someone smarter and better connected than I was able to put together the threads I found. I was doing research into this back in 2014, but could never prove my theories.

[@dharmathecreator]

So proud to say my real name is Bodhidharma 🖤 so glad you made this video

[@Neillan]

Always fascinating learning about little known facets of world history, the exact type of thing you *won't* learn in school. Thanks again, Garrett!

[@benbrazaski8470]

This was an awesome one, thanks!

[@jusu8961]

love to see your videos in my notifications

[@adrianvelez4147]

It will never cease to blow my mind how far reaching Greek cultural influence was.

[@phoenixj1299]

It's the other way around. Ancient Vedic traditions spread all over Europe.

[@user-uj2tk2tv3z]

Lmao barbaric people talking about influence 🤣🤣🤣🤣 You do realise that Greek themselves were heavily influenced by surrounding civilization and Greece is not the birthplace of civilization

[@vedicpride]

More like India influenced them

[@thechannelthatdoesnotexist]

@@phoenixj1299 stop being such a insecure indian

[@thechannelthatdoesnotexist]

@@user-uj2tk2tv3z stop bashing other cultures. Insecure indian

[@chino3796]

Thank you, I learned something new today.

[@MikeS29]

I learn so much from your great videos.

[@bobaldo2339]

Very interesting video! Thanks.

[@brothershamus1160]

What an Enlightening video!

[@Jim-be8sj]

Good one. I've been interested in the intersection of Greek and Indian history since I first watched the Micheal Wood documentary on Alexander's conquests. This is like a nice appendix that helps fill in some of the missing tiles of the historical mosaic.

[@byron-ih2ge]

alexander had to retreat from india after indians gave tough resistance

[@171_indranildutta6]

@@byron-ih2ge nope

[@byron-ih2ge]

@@171_indranildutta6 yup

[@YogijiClamzananda]

Important work done here... very concise

[@nancyM1313]

Love the stuff you're doing🙏

[@nancyM1313]

I forgot to add: see Praveen Mohan's channel. He studies lots of temples in India. Cheers~☆☆

[@gregoryferraro7379]

The Bactrian Kingdom is so fascinating.

[@ulfpe]

Thanks, a very interesting video

[@neilfromcork]

Great video. I knew absolutely nothing about this.

[@johnloizos3902]

This has actually blown my mind!

[@FuzzyDunlots]

The mouth of the red sea is so important to ancient trade between Mediterranean cultures and India. Yemen and Djibouti represent the outer limits of both places knowledge of the world. The Horn of Africa is like a cultural keystone between the entirety of the old known world.

[@lopezulises2012]

This subject always makes my brain feel good.

[@skbarua70]

Many Many thanks for express unknown history.

[@Creative_Expression]

Love the title of your book

[@inregionecaecorum]

I find it fascinating that three great philosophers, Siddhartha Gautama, Socrates, and Confucius all lived around the same time

[@prechabahnglai103]

The compatibility of Buddhism and Greek philosophical beliefs at the time probably contributed to the number of Hellenistic Greeks taking up Buddhism. I’ve heard that the idea of past lives was not alien to them as it would have to the later Christians - though some debate weather their early school agrees etc.

[@xaviotesharris891]

You had me at your pronunciation of Seleucid.

[@hawaiisidecar]

Thank you for this.

[@rodanzig]

I'm reading and enjoying your book . Looking in the further reading section I noticed That I have some of the books listed , two of my favorites are "Courtesans and Fishcakes: The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens" by James N. Davidson and "Gladiators: History's Most Deadly Sport" by Fik Meijer . After the Greeks I was always most interested in the Carthaginians and especially Hannibal but there just doesn't seem to be much about them for an amateur . I've read that Hannibal had a couple of educated Greeks with him in Italy during his sixteen years there but unfortunately if they wrote about it nothing survived , what a loss .

[@toldinstone]

I'm very glad that you're enjoying my book!

[@hateterrorists]

Love your book! Will you do an audible version?

[@toldinstone]

Very glad to hear it! The audible comes out on October 26 (though unfortunately I'm not the narrator).

[@byzantinetales]

Impressive story telling !

[@suppiluiiuma5769]

Cool video!

[@TheGabrielbowater]

Wow, fascinating thanks. I was aware of the early Buddhist practice of not representing the Buddha for the centuries after his death, but hadn't come across the idea that the change to represeting in statues etc could have been a Helenistic influence

[@dkjairaj747]

Good and factually correct . From India

[@malkomalkavian]

That last face with the moustache is extremely awesome :)

[@ZERO9630]

Awesome job

[@khp7425]

Emperor Ashoka sent buddhist mission to Grees in 247 b.c.The name of the cheif monk was Maha rakkhita.And he delivered the discourse name "kalakarama sutta"for Greeks.(mahavamsa,12th chapter )

[@Anonymous------]

Ashoka was half Greek. He learned about Buddhism in Greco-Buddhist Ghandara. All the so-called Budhhist sutras in India were fabricated by Indians much later.

[@khp7425]

@@Anonymous------ Emperor Ashoka's mother is Dharma.his father is bindusara.both are mauryan.So it is wrong to sayAshoka is half Greek.And all the buddhist sutras in pali delivered by the buddha himself.And enlightened monks oraly transmitted them 454 years and written down in sri lanka.

[@khp7425]

@@Anonymous------ Ashoka was not half Greek.because his mother Dharma and father was king Bindusara.Both were Maurayans.Buddhist sutras in pali delivered by the Buddha himslf and oraly transmitted by his enlightened disciples for 454 years.And written down in sri lanka for the first time.

[@Anonymous------]

@@khp7425 Buddha Gotama was a Central Asia steppe nomadic tribal Sakan, that is why he was called the Sakamuni. The oldest Buddhist manuscripts written in Sakan language. The biggest ancient Buddhist site is Ghandara, in Persia at the time of legendary Buddha Gotma Sakamuni.

[@Anonymous------]

@@khp7425 Ashoka's grandmother was a Greek princess, this is well documented. Ashoka Pillars made in Greek design with Greek inscriptions.

[@user-if4nx2jn8r]

Really fascinating, I definitely underestimated how much the east and west have come into contact over millenia.

[@nad1ax2]

The Graeco-Indian kingdom lasted two centuries and 30 kings, it synergistically blended Greek and Indian ideas, even coins had Greek and Indian inscriptions on either sides

[@rehanaturabali6626]

Very interesting. Thank you. 😊

[@balloe3466]

very interesting! thanks

[@kaloarepo288]

One of the earliest writings mentioning the Buddha in the West is the Christian thinker Clement of Alexandra who lived in the second century A.D. and is considered a saint by some denominations:he mentions certain Indian philosophers who worship the Buddha because of the sanctity of his life and wisdom of his teachings.

[@Beegeezy144]

It appears to me that people were not as atomized back then. Nowadays, we are very into seeing our religious differences. I think that back then, people were glad to venerate good and righteous teachings without making about, "Well, your God is false."

[@baneofbanes]

Polytheism is better at allowing that.

[@Beegeezy144]

@@baneofbanes Yes, pluralism.

[@vincentmangeaux9419]

Truly fascinating

[@francisjo3]

Absolutely fascinating

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Absolutely fascinating! The past is full of astonishing surprises, the more we uncover, the more whole we become!

[@MonkeyspankO]

Fascinating and "forgotten" slice of history. Just curious, would it be possible to list either sources or some kind of bibliography?

[@enkonu]

i second that, i find very few and scarce resources about the greco bactrian kingdoms

[@toldinstone]

Certainly. My most important secondary source was Richard Stoneman's "The Greek Experience of India." This a comprehensive treatment of the Greeks in India, a bit diffuse for my tastes, but a sold and well-researched overview. You might also enjoy Grant Parker's "The Making of Roman India" - a little long on theory and short on material culture, but still an interesting introduction. Rachel Mairs has written several intriguing books about the Greeks in India and Bactria, and recently edited a sprawling survey of the whole region: "The Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek World." I have to admit that I've only read a few chapters (the book is extremely expensive), but there's no better place to appreciate the current state of the scholarship.

[@MonkeyspankO]

@@toldinstone thank you, I look forward to reading them! Keep up the great content!

[@cholst1]

@@MonkeyspankO and for more of an overview, the wikipedia articles on greco-buddhism, greco-bactrian kingdoms and the indo-greek kingdoms are all pretty good!

[@abashedsanctimony154]

Greeks were philosophers, and there begins the religious question what does it mean to be spiritual in a physical existence. The greatest Greek philosophies lead to stoicism and humility. Socrates believed that a singular God existed that ruled all others. This also seems to be the most credible doctrine based on the eclectic scholarship conclusions. There still remains to argue which is that single religion. Buddhism is a polytheist religion, so this refutes Buddhism as the correct religion to target as the true religion of the single overarching God, Ruler of the universe etc.

[@fastertrackcreative]

I wish my uni tutors were as good at lectures as you do in your videos. They do it in such a dry way it's boring to listen to whereas your videos I could binge for ages. Have you made any audio books?

[@sherylcrowe3255]

Fascinating!