1. Indian Influence
- Kerry Paul
- May 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 7
How India shaped the world: I recently visited India to explore how this country has evolved and what drives it today. Over a span of 1,450 years—from around 250 BC to 1200 AD, a period known as the Common Era — India had a profound impact on the world through its religion, trade, science, technology, mathematics, and culture. Notably, Indian influence spread not through military conquest but through the power of its ideas.
India’s Influence
There is evidence that India engaged in maritime trade with Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf region as early as the Indus Valley Civilization, 4,600 years ago. However, it was around 250 BC—approximately 2,250 years ago—that India's maritime trade from its west coast to Red Sea and Persian Gulf ports significantly expanded, continuing for the next 600 years. When the Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th and 6th centuries, Indian traders shifted their focus eastward, leading to a significant Indian influence in Southeast Asia.
India’s geography played a crucial role in its dominance in maritime trade. The Indian subcontinent lies at the centre of the monsoon wind system, where winds blow in one direction for six months and then reverse for the next six. Skilled sailors used these monsoon winds to time their voyages, ensuring a following wind for faster travel. As a result, India became a pivotal hub in an extensive network of maritime trade routes.
By the 7th century, Buddhism had spread to China, leading to a brief period of Indianization in the region.
By the 13th century, Indian mathematical and astronomical advancements had travelled through the Arab world and reached Europe, influencing scientific thought.
However, later in the 13th century, the Mongol conquests across Eurasia curtailed Indian influence while simultaneously creating opportunities for the Silk Road, which connected China to the Mediterranean. At the same time, the Muslim Mughal invasions of Northern India restricted trade routes to the west, further diminishing India's direct influence in global commerce.
Your next read in the series: 2. Westward Expansion to the Middle East
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