It was actually India, not China, that was the greatest trading partner of the Roman Empire. During this era, it’s clear that sea travel was the fastest, most economical and safest way to move people and goods in the pre-modern world, costing about a fifth of the price of equivalent land transport. The Golden Road of early east–west commerce, in other words, lay less overland, through a Persia often at war with Rome, and much more across the open oceans, via the choppy waters of the Red Sea  and the Indian Ocean. Listen as William and Anita discuss the trade links between India and Ancient Rome.

To fill out the survey: survey.empirepoduk.com

To buy William's book: https://coles-books.co.uk/the-golden-road-by-william-dalrymple-signed-edition

Twitter: @Empirepoduk

Email: [email protected]

Goalhangerpodcasts.com

Assistant Producers: Anouska Lewis and Evan Green

Producer: Callum Hill

Exec Producer: Neil Fearn

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