Textbook Ancient India and the World - History and Civics Class 6 (Maharashtra

 Page 1


54
11.1 India and the countries of the west
11.2 India and other countries  in Asia
11.1 India and the countries of the west
People of the Harappan civilisation 
had developed trade relations with the 
countries of the west. Ever since then, 
India has had economic and cultural 
exchanges with the outside world. 
Buddhism had spread to Afghanistan and 
to many countries of Central Asia. During 
the period of the Iranian empire, India’s 
contact with the western world increased. 
The Greek historians of that period grew 
more curious about India. Their writings 
introduced India to the western world. 
The routes which were later used by 
Alexander, were opened for trade between 
India and the countries of the west. Under 
the influence of the Greek art of sculpture, 
a new form of art emerged in India during 
the Kushana period.  It is called Gandhara 
school of art. In the Gandhar art school 
images of Gautam Buddha were mainly 
carved. As these images were mostly found 
in the Gandhara region of Afghanistan, 
the style is called the ‘Gandhara style’. 
A sculpture in the Gandhara style on a stupa at 
Hadda in Afghanistan. (Greek costumes, 
amphora and musical instruments)
Around the first or second century CE, 
trade between India and Rome flourished. 
The ports in South India also had a large 
share in this trade. Some articles made 
of bronze were found in the excavations 
at Kolhapur. They have been made in 
Rome. The excavations at Arikamedu in 
Tamil Nadu have also brought to light 
many articles made in Rome. Both these  
places were important centres of trade 
between India and Rome. Many such trade 
centres are mentioned in the literature of 
those times. 
A statue of 
Gautama 
Buddha in a 
museum in 
Paris - in the 
Gandhara Style.
A gold coin of the Roman Emperor 
Augustus found at Arikamedu
11. Ancient India and the World
54
The facial features of the statues made in 
this style are similar to those of the Greek 
people. The early coins that were minted 
in India were also  like Greek coins. 
Page 2


54
11.1 India and the countries of the west
11.2 India and other countries  in Asia
11.1 India and the countries of the west
People of the Harappan civilisation 
had developed trade relations with the 
countries of the west. Ever since then, 
India has had economic and cultural 
exchanges with the outside world. 
Buddhism had spread to Afghanistan and 
to many countries of Central Asia. During 
the period of the Iranian empire, India’s 
contact with the western world increased. 
The Greek historians of that period grew 
more curious about India. Their writings 
introduced India to the western world. 
The routes which were later used by 
Alexander, were opened for trade between 
India and the countries of the west. Under 
the influence of the Greek art of sculpture, 
a new form of art emerged in India during 
the Kushana period.  It is called Gandhara 
school of art. In the Gandhar art school 
images of Gautam Buddha were mainly 
carved. As these images were mostly found 
in the Gandhara region of Afghanistan, 
the style is called the ‘Gandhara style’. 
A sculpture in the Gandhara style on a stupa at 
Hadda in Afghanistan. (Greek costumes, 
amphora and musical instruments)
Around the first or second century CE, 
trade between India and Rome flourished. 
The ports in South India also had a large 
share in this trade. Some articles made 
of bronze were found in the excavations 
at Kolhapur. They have been made in 
Rome. The excavations at Arikamedu in 
Tamil Nadu have also brought to light 
many articles made in Rome. Both these  
places were important centres of trade 
between India and Rome. Many such trade 
centres are mentioned in the literature of 
those times. 
A statue of 
Gautama 
Buddha in a 
museum in 
Paris - in the 
Gandhara Style.
A gold coin of the Roman Emperor 
Augustus found at Arikamedu
11. Ancient India and the World
54
The facial features of the statues made in 
this style are similar to those of the Greek 
people. The early coins that were minted 
in India were also  like Greek coins. 
55
A wall painting in the Sigiriya caves
Alexandria was an important port in 
Egypt. The Arab merchants carried Indian 
goods up to Alexandria. From there, they 
were sent to the countries in Europe. 
Besides Indian goods, the Arabs also 
conveyed Indian philosophy and science 
to Europe. The concept of ‘zero’ is one of 
India’s major contributions to the world. It 
was the Arabs who introduced this Indian 
concept to Europe. 
11.2   India and other countries in Asia
Many countries in Asia were greatly 
influenced by the Indian culture of those 
times.
Page 3


54
11.1 India and the countries of the west
11.2 India and other countries  in Asia
11.1 India and the countries of the west
People of the Harappan civilisation 
had developed trade relations with the 
countries of the west. Ever since then, 
India has had economic and cultural 
exchanges with the outside world. 
Buddhism had spread to Afghanistan and 
to many countries of Central Asia. During 
the period of the Iranian empire, India’s 
contact with the western world increased. 
The Greek historians of that period grew 
more curious about India. Their writings 
introduced India to the western world. 
The routes which were later used by 
Alexander, were opened for trade between 
India and the countries of the west. Under 
the influence of the Greek art of sculpture, 
a new form of art emerged in India during 
the Kushana period.  It is called Gandhara 
school of art. In the Gandhar art school 
images of Gautam Buddha were mainly 
carved. As these images were mostly found 
in the Gandhara region of Afghanistan, 
the style is called the ‘Gandhara style’. 
A sculpture in the Gandhara style on a stupa at 
Hadda in Afghanistan. (Greek costumes, 
amphora and musical instruments)
Around the first or second century CE, 
trade between India and Rome flourished. 
The ports in South India also had a large 
share in this trade. Some articles made 
of bronze were found in the excavations 
at Kolhapur. They have been made in 
Rome. The excavations at Arikamedu in 
Tamil Nadu have also brought to light 
many articles made in Rome. Both these  
places were important centres of trade 
between India and Rome. Many such trade 
centres are mentioned in the literature of 
those times. 
A statue of 
Gautama 
Buddha in a 
museum in 
Paris - in the 
Gandhara Style.
A gold coin of the Roman Emperor 
Augustus found at Arikamedu
11. Ancient India and the World
54
The facial features of the statues made in 
this style are similar to those of the Greek 
people. The early coins that were minted 
in India were also  like Greek coins. 
55
A wall painting in the Sigiriya caves
Alexandria was an important port in 
Egypt. The Arab merchants carried Indian 
goods up to Alexandria. From there, they 
were sent to the countries in Europe. 
Besides Indian goods, the Arabs also 
conveyed Indian philosophy and science 
to Europe. The concept of ‘zero’ is one of 
India’s major contributions to the world. It 
was the Arabs who introduced this Indian 
concept to Europe. 
11.2   India and other countries in Asia
Many countries in Asia were greatly 
influenced by the Indian culture of those 
times.
56
Sri Lanka : King Ashoka had sent 
his son Mahendra and daughter 
Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread 
Buddhism. Their names are mentioned in 
the Buddhist  text ‘Mahavamsa’ written in 
Sri Lanka. Sanghamitra carried a branch 
of the Bodhi tree with her. The Sri Lankan 
tradition believes that the Bodhi tree at 
Anuradhpur in Sri Lanka has grown from 
the same branch. 
There was a great demand in India for 
Sri Lankan pearls and other precious 
stones. In the fifth century CE King 
Kashyap had caves dug out at a place 
called ‘Sigiriya’. The wall paintings in 
these caves bear a resemblance to the 
paintings in the Ajanta Caves. The Sri 
Lankan Buddhist works ‘Dipavamsa’ and 
‘Mahavamsa’ provide information about 
the close relations between India and Sri 
Lanka. They are written in the Pali 
language.
China and other countries : Right 
from the ancient times, India and China 
had established trade and cultural relations. 
Emperor Harshavardhan had even sent an 
ambassador to the Chinese court. Chinese 
silk was known as ‘Chinanshuka’, and 
was in great demand in India. Merchants 
in ancient India supplied Chinese silk to 
western countries. The land route by which 
the silk trade was carried on, was called 
the ‘Silk Route’. Some ancient places in 
India were connected to this route.  
Nala-sopara near Mumbai in Maharashtra 
was one such place. The Chinese Buddhist 
bhikkhus Fa Hien and Yuan Chwang also 
came to India through this silk route.
In the first century CE, the Ming 
Emperor of China invited the Buddhist 
bhikkhus Dharmarakshaka and 
Kashyapmatanga to China. The bhikkhus 
translated many Indian Buddhist texts into 
the Chinese language. This gave impetus 
to the spread of Buddhism in China. Later 
on, Buddhism also reached Japan, Korea 
and Vietnam.
Countries in Southeast Asia : The 
ancient kingdom of ‘Funan’ in Cambodia 
was established in the first century CE.
Evidence is available from Chinese 
traditions that an Indian named Kaundinya 
established it. People of Funan knew the 
Sanskrit language. A stone inscription of 
that period is still in existence. It is in 
Sanskrit. In many other countries of 
Southeast Asia too, small kingdoms 
established by people of Indian origin had 
emerged. These kingdoms helped to spread 
Indian culture in Southeast Asia.
Indian culture had a deep impact on 
the art and cultural life of Southeast Asia. 
Dance-dramas based on stories from the 
two Indian epics ‘Ramayana’ and 
‘Mahabharata’ are popular in Indonesia 
even today. This influence continued to 
increase over the years. In the ancient 
period, the Buddhist religion spread to 
Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. In the 
later years, temples of Lord Shiva and 
Vishnu were also built there.
This year, we have reviewed Indian 
history from 3000 BCE to the eighth 
century CE. Next year, we will study the 
history of India from the ninth century CE 
to the eighteenth century CE. The history 
of this period is known as ‘Medieval 
History’.
Page 4


54
11.1 India and the countries of the west
11.2 India and other countries  in Asia
11.1 India and the countries of the west
People of the Harappan civilisation 
had developed trade relations with the 
countries of the west. Ever since then, 
India has had economic and cultural 
exchanges with the outside world. 
Buddhism had spread to Afghanistan and 
to many countries of Central Asia. During 
the period of the Iranian empire, India’s 
contact with the western world increased. 
The Greek historians of that period grew 
more curious about India. Their writings 
introduced India to the western world. 
The routes which were later used by 
Alexander, were opened for trade between 
India and the countries of the west. Under 
the influence of the Greek art of sculpture, 
a new form of art emerged in India during 
the Kushana period.  It is called Gandhara 
school of art. In the Gandhar art school 
images of Gautam Buddha were mainly 
carved. As these images were mostly found 
in the Gandhara region of Afghanistan, 
the style is called the ‘Gandhara style’. 
A sculpture in the Gandhara style on a stupa at 
Hadda in Afghanistan. (Greek costumes, 
amphora and musical instruments)
Around the first or second century CE, 
trade between India and Rome flourished. 
The ports in South India also had a large 
share in this trade. Some articles made 
of bronze were found in the excavations 
at Kolhapur. They have been made in 
Rome. The excavations at Arikamedu in 
Tamil Nadu have also brought to light 
many articles made in Rome. Both these  
places were important centres of trade 
between India and Rome. Many such trade 
centres are mentioned in the literature of 
those times. 
A statue of 
Gautama 
Buddha in a 
museum in 
Paris - in the 
Gandhara Style.
A gold coin of the Roman Emperor 
Augustus found at Arikamedu
11. Ancient India and the World
54
The facial features of the statues made in 
this style are similar to those of the Greek 
people. The early coins that were minted 
in India were also  like Greek coins. 
55
A wall painting in the Sigiriya caves
Alexandria was an important port in 
Egypt. The Arab merchants carried Indian 
goods up to Alexandria. From there, they 
were sent to the countries in Europe. 
Besides Indian goods, the Arabs also 
conveyed Indian philosophy and science 
to Europe. The concept of ‘zero’ is one of 
India’s major contributions to the world. It 
was the Arabs who introduced this Indian 
concept to Europe. 
11.2   India and other countries in Asia
Many countries in Asia were greatly 
influenced by the Indian culture of those 
times.
56
Sri Lanka : King Ashoka had sent 
his son Mahendra and daughter 
Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread 
Buddhism. Their names are mentioned in 
the Buddhist  text ‘Mahavamsa’ written in 
Sri Lanka. Sanghamitra carried a branch 
of the Bodhi tree with her. The Sri Lankan 
tradition believes that the Bodhi tree at 
Anuradhpur in Sri Lanka has grown from 
the same branch. 
There was a great demand in India for 
Sri Lankan pearls and other precious 
stones. In the fifth century CE King 
Kashyap had caves dug out at a place 
called ‘Sigiriya’. The wall paintings in 
these caves bear a resemblance to the 
paintings in the Ajanta Caves. The Sri 
Lankan Buddhist works ‘Dipavamsa’ and 
‘Mahavamsa’ provide information about 
the close relations between India and Sri 
Lanka. They are written in the Pali 
language.
China and other countries : Right 
from the ancient times, India and China 
had established trade and cultural relations. 
Emperor Harshavardhan had even sent an 
ambassador to the Chinese court. Chinese 
silk was known as ‘Chinanshuka’, and 
was in great demand in India. Merchants 
in ancient India supplied Chinese silk to 
western countries. The land route by which 
the silk trade was carried on, was called 
the ‘Silk Route’. Some ancient places in 
India were connected to this route.  
Nala-sopara near Mumbai in Maharashtra 
was one such place. The Chinese Buddhist 
bhikkhus Fa Hien and Yuan Chwang also 
came to India through this silk route.
In the first century CE, the Ming 
Emperor of China invited the Buddhist 
bhikkhus Dharmarakshaka and 
Kashyapmatanga to China. The bhikkhus 
translated many Indian Buddhist texts into 
the Chinese language. This gave impetus 
to the spread of Buddhism in China. Later 
on, Buddhism also reached Japan, Korea 
and Vietnam.
Countries in Southeast Asia : The 
ancient kingdom of ‘Funan’ in Cambodia 
was established in the first century CE.
Evidence is available from Chinese 
traditions that an Indian named Kaundinya 
established it. People of Funan knew the 
Sanskrit language. A stone inscription of 
that period is still in existence. It is in 
Sanskrit. In many other countries of 
Southeast Asia too, small kingdoms 
established by people of Indian origin had 
emerged. These kingdoms helped to spread 
Indian culture in Southeast Asia.
Indian culture had a deep impact on 
the art and cultural life of Southeast Asia. 
Dance-dramas based on stories from the 
two Indian epics ‘Ramayana’ and 
‘Mahabharata’ are popular in Indonesia 
even today. This influence continued to 
increase over the years. In the ancient 
period, the Buddhist religion spread to 
Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. In the 
later years, temples of Lord Shiva and 
Vishnu were also built there.
This year, we have reviewed Indian 
history from 3000 BCE to the eighth 
century CE. Next year, we will study the 
history of India from the ninth century CE 
to the eighteenth century CE. The history 
of this period is known as ‘Medieval 
History’.
57
* * *
Exercise
1. Name the following.
(1) Places where articles made in Rome
were found.
(2) A new style of art that emerged during
the Kushana period in India.
(3) The language of the books,
Mahavansa and Deepvansa.
(4) A country to which Buddhism had
spread in the ancient period.
2. Think and expand/elaborate :
(1) Indian culture had an impact on
Southeast Asia.
(2) The spread of Buddhism in China
became easier.
3. What would you do if you are
encouraged in your favourite hobby ?
4. Describe a picture.
A picture of the Gandhara style sculpture
on a stupa in Hadda, Afghanistan is
given in this chapter. Observe it and write
about it.
5. Find out more about -
(1) The Gandhara style of art
(2) The Silk Route
6. Mark the countries of Southeast Asia
mentioned in the chapter on an outline
map.
Activity : 
Obtain information about a form of art of 
your choice and present it in your class.