English, asked by farminjishan, 1 year ago

explain the role of traders in spreading indian culture abroad

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Answered by ajit9912
1
21.1 SPREAD OF INDIAN CULTURE THROUGH TRADERS,
TEACHERS, EMISSARIES AND MISSIONARIES
In ancient times, traders from India went to distant lands in search of new opportunities in
business. They went to Rome in the west and China in the east. As early as the first century
BC, they travelled to countries like Indonesia and Cambodia in search of gold. They
travelled especially to the islands of Java, Sumatra and Malaya. This is the reason why
these countries were called Suvarnadvipa (suvarna means gold and dvipa means island).
These traders travelled from many flourishing cities like Kashi, Mathura, Ujjain, Prayag
and Pataliputra and from port cities on the east coast like Mamallapuram, Tamralipti, Puri,
and Kaveripattanam. The kingdom of Kalinga had trade relations with Sri Lanka during
the time of Emperor Ashoka. Wherever the traders went, they established cultural links
with those places. In this way, the traders served as cultural ambassadors and established
trade relations with the outside world.
Like the east coast, many cultural establishments have also been found on and near the
west coast. Karle, Bhaja, Kanheri, Ajanta and Ellora are counted among the well known
places. Most of these centres are Buddhist monastic establishments.
The universities were the most important centres of cultural interaction. They attracted
large numbers of students and scholars. The scholars coming from abroad often visited the
library of Nalanda University which was said to be a seven storey building. Students and
teachers from such universities carried Indian culture abroad along with its knowledge and
religion. The Chinese pilgrim Huien-tsang has given ample information about the universities
he visited in India. For example, Huien-tsang describes his stay at two very important
universities— one in the east, Nalanda and the other in the west, Valabhi.
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