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The Power of Ideas

Episode 2 of 6

Michael Wood shows how Alexander the Great's invasion of India inspired her first empire and how Buddha's ideas were turned into political reality by an emperor.

Michael Wood's epic series moves on to the revolutionary years after 500BC - the Age of the Buddha. Travelling by rail to the ancient cities of the Ganges plain, by army convoy through northern Iraq and on down the Khyber Pass, he shows how Alexander the Great's invasion of India inspired her first empire. Michael visits India's earliest capital, Patna, and using archaeology, legend and 'India's Rosetta stone', he shows how the ideas of the Buddha - 'India's first and greatest protester' - were turned into political reality by an Indian emperor who sowed the seeds of 'the most dangerous idea in history'.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 28 Oct 201223:30
BBC Four

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Beginnings

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Spice Routes and Silk Roads

See all episodes from Michael Wood: The Story of India

Credits

PresenterMichael Wood
DirectorJeremy Jeffs
ProducerRebecca Dobbs

Broadcasts

  • Fri 31 Aug 200721:00
    BBC Two Scotland, England, Northern Ireland (Analogue) & Northern Ireland only
  • Fri 31 Aug 200721:30
    BBC Two Wales & Wales (Analogue) only
  • Fri 7 Sep 200721:00
    BBC Two England & Scotland only
  • Mon 1 Oct 200700:55
    BBC One except Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales & West Midlands
  • Tue 2 Oct 200701:05
    BBC One Northern Ireland
  • Sat 6 Oct 200701:35
    BBC One Scotland
  • Thu 7 Feb 200820:00
    BBC Four
  • Sun 28 Oct 201220:00
    BBC Four
  • Sun 28 Oct 201223:30
    BBC Four