Echoes Of India: A History Podcast

The Season 1 Finale of Echoes of India is a rollercoaster ride through 600 years of Indian history, of the rise and fall of empires and ideas until the eve of the Gupta Empire in 300 CE. From art to religion to language, the finale sets the stage for the beginning of early medieval India with the Gupta and Vakataka empires in Season 2, starting March 27th. Notes and sources are at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-12 Or get in touch with Anirudh @AKanisetti on Twitter or @aniruddhadevaraya on Instagram! You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the same time that Christianity and other savior cults emerged in West Asia, ancient India had its own Buddhist savior. This was Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. This is his story, a story of life in ancient India's most cosmopolitan region. Notes and sources are at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-11 Or get in touch with Anirudh @AKanisetti on Twitter or @aniruddhadevaraya on Instagram! You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Central Asian king revered by Indians as the Second Ashoka? This is the story of the ruthless conqueror Kanishka, who led the Kushan Empire to its apogee, and ruled over most of North India - but also built the world's most splendid Buddhist stupa. Notes and sources are at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-10 Or get in touch with Anirudh @AKanisetti on Twitter or @aniruddhadevaraya on Instagram!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the story of the rise of the Kushan Empire: the most powerful South Asian state since the fall of the Mauryan Empire. Episode 9 of Echoes of India brings to life the remarkable religious syncretism of one of the ancient world's most globalized regions, at a time when the Silk Roads had grown to encompass most of the Eastern hemisphere. Notes and sources are at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/episode-9 Or get in touch with Anirudh @AKanisetti on Twitter or @aniruddhadevaraya on Instagram!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the story of the jewel of ancient South India: the great Tamil trading city of Puhar. Episode 8 of Echoes of India brings to life a city sung about in poetry for thousands of years, at a time when one of the most important elements of Indian history was emerging: the international merchant corporation. If you have questions for Anirudh, follow him on Twitter @AKanisetti or on Instagram @aniruddhadevaraya Notes, sources, credits and a transcript of the episode can be found at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/episode-8See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Buddhism catch on in South India? Episode 7 of Echoes of India explores the life of the Andhra teacher Nagarjuna, called a "Second Buddha", his fascinating philosophy of "zeroness", and the ancient South Indian dynasty who built Roman-style theatres in the 2nd century CE. If you have questions for Anirudh, follow him on Twitter @AKanisetti or on Instagram @aniruddhadevaraya Notes, sources, credits and a transcript of the episode can be found at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-7See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explore the evolution of Sanskrit and Prakrit as languages of power and culture in ancient India. Discover the use of language as a form of power by the Sathavahana dynasty. Unravel the conflicts, alliances, and love poetry that shaped the ancient dynasties. Understand the impact of Sanskrit and Prakrit on the creation of states and social hierarchies.

Explore the history and art of South Indian Buddhism, focusing on the magnificent Amaravati school of art and the construction of the immense white stupa. Learn about the influence of Buddhism on urbanization and cultural development in Andhra Pradesh. Discover the development of different sects, debates, and doctrinal issues within Buddhism. Delve into the intricate carvings and sculptures of the Amravati stupa, which reflect a blend of Romanesque altars, Gandharan influences, and Buddhist symbolism.

1900 years after she was carved, an Indian ivory statuette was uncovered in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. How did she come there, and how much had the world changed since the eruption of Vesuvius buried her? This is her story: a story of the globalization of the ancient world, a story of the vast diversity and complexity of the world that our ancestors called home. Episode 4 of Echoes of India looks back on the first three to paint a picture of a planet in flux, as economic webs weave together ancient civilizations in a pattern of interaction and innovation that is strikingly reminiscent of the world we know today. Hear the explosion of Vesuvius, the great markets of Alexandria, and the booming thunder of the monsoons that blew trading fleets to the shores of India. If you have questions for Anirudh, follow him on Twitter @AKanisetti or on Instagram @aniruddhadevaraya Notes, sources, credits and a transcript of the episode can be found at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-4See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explore the powerful queens of the Deccan who reshaped an empire. Discover how matrilineal inheritance defined their rule and the political significance of figures like Gautami and Nayanika. Delve into the rich tapestry of trade, Roman connections, and enacting rituals that fortified their legitimacy. Experience the fierce competition with the Shakas and Gautamiputra's quest for revenge, leading to dramatic conquests. These queens didn't just rule; they laid the foundations for a complex and evolving society in ancient India.