India and the Silk Roads: The History of a Trading World by Jagjeet Lally

India and the Silk Roads: The History of a Trading World by Jagjeet Lally is a richly researched exploration of India’s pivotal role in the Silk Roads network, tracing how commerce, culture, and ideas flowed across Asia through centuries of interaction. Moving beyond the traditional focus on China and Central Asia, Lally highlights India as a dynamic hub of global trade and exchange. Synopsis Lally examines the vast web of routes that connected India to Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, showing how merchants, pilgrims, and travelers carried not only goods—such as textiles, spices, and precious stones—but also religions, technologies, and cultural practices. Drawing on archival sources, material culture, and regional histories, the book situates India within the wider story of Eurasian trade, emphasizing both its economic vitality and its role as a cultural crossroads. Lally also challenges Eurocentric perspectives, repositioning India as central to the making of global history. Key Features & Themes

• India at the Crossroads: How India functioned as a vital hub in the Silk Roads.
• Trade Networks: Exchange of commodities, currencies, and technologies across Asia.
• Cultural Flows: Spread of religions, languages, and ideas along commercial routes.
• Interconnected Worlds: India’s links to Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
• Revisionist Perspective: Reframes the Silk Roads story with India at its center.

Why Read It?

• Provides a fresh perspective on the Silk Roads by focusing on India’s central role.
• Combines economic, cultural, and political history into a global narrative.
• Essential for readers interested in South Asian history, trade, and global interconnectedness.
• Challenges dominant narratives and offers a more inclusive view of world history.

India and the Silk Roads is a groundbreaking study that repositions India within the history of global exchange, revealing its vital role in shaping the networks that linked Asia and the wider world.