India: Greek preludes, contacts with the Roman Empire and Pliny the Elder's view

Abstract

India has been an inspiration since ancient times to a host of classical authors, providing a space in which distance and remoteness turns fiction into reality. Alexander's quest opens the door to a deeper knowledge of this country and its culture, expanding Hellenism into the East. Also, trade gave insights that demonstrate the existence of constant contact between both cultures as well as a novel artistic synthesis such as the art in Gandhara. Finally, the references of the roman author Pliny the Elder give an in depth description of this town, considered to be a place ofbarbarism.