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While a lot of these finds are new and wonderful, especially that sanskrit inscription, the connections between the civilizations weren't exactly hidden. There
by empath75 2y ago
While a lot of these finds are new and wonderful, especially that sanskrit inscription, the connections between the civilizations weren't exactly hidden. There are references to Hindus and Buddhists sprinkled throughout Greek histories, there were Greco-Buddhist kingdoms in what's now Afghanistan, Ashoka sent missionaries with his Buddhist edicts far west and had them translated into Greek and Aramaic.
I think the development of Christianity and later Greek philosophy has _clear_ signs of influence from Buddhism, and I'm sure the influence was bidirectional. These people talked to each other and they argued with each other and learned from each other. Egypt in particular was a wildly religiously inventive melting pot, and the Hermetic and Gnostic texts _especially_ have signs of influence from eastern religion, and if there were active Buddhist communities in Berineke that were presumably proselytizing, that makes a lot of sense.
I think a lot of people sort of make the assumption that because there are core differences between the religions that there is no influence, but sometimes doctrines only become settled through opposition. It's not always "Yes, and", sometimes it's "yes, but", and the popularity of certain ideas (for example the idea of salvation through personal enlightment) could force various sects to adapt and find similarities, while also differentiating themselves. Christianity is obviously not buddhism or an offshoot of Buddhism, but that doesn't mean that aspects of it weren't a reaction to encounters with Buddhist ideas.
- pegasus 2y agoVery true. For example, Buddha literally made it into Christian tradition, as Saint Josaphat of India: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barlaam_and_Josaphat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barlaam_and_Josaphat
- christkv 2y agoThere was even an Indian Greek kingdom https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Greek_Kingdom https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Greek_Kingdom
- Bluestein 2y ago> Ashoka sent missionaries with his Buddhist edicts far west and had them translated into Greek and Aramaic Smart guy.-
- Spooky23 2y agoIt’s humbling to think of how the pathways of accepted history get blinded by the suppression, or more likely disregard for information that doesn’t align with the framework of religious or cultural belief. Makes you wonder about what things that are crucial and important to us now will be in the dustbin 500 years from now! I was hooked to “Age of Empires” as a kid. I remember asking a teachers and others if Alexander the Great invaded India, and the Romans were building walls in Scotland, why didn’t they bother visiting anyone in India, Ethiopia, etc. The answers were always unsatisfactory to me… I’m glad people are pursuing this knowledge.
- fakedang 2y agoThe Romans were actively involved in the Indian trade. St. Thomas practically started preaching in Tamil Nadu since the beginning of Christ. Even near my hometown, Roman coins are often found regularly every few years or so. If I remember correctly, each peppercorn was equivalent to one Roman gold coin.
- ffgjgf1 2y agoEven in Rome itself a pound of black pepper cost only ~4 days wages for a low-skill laborer
- FlyingSnake 2y ago“The shape of the ancient thought” by Thomas McEvilley goes deeper into this: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/925680 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/925680