Michael Wood's fascinating journey through the history of the Indian subcontinent, the first history of India on western television, chronicles the incredible richness and diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes; outlines the originality and continuing relevance of its ideas; and relates some of the most momentous and moving events in world history.
Photo Gallery
Explore "The Story of India" through this interactive photo gallery that weaves together a series of interrelated themes, events, and individuals that helped shape India's history.
The world's largest democracy and a rising economic giant, India is now as well known in the U.S. for its mastery of computer technology and its business and industrial strength as it is for its many-armed gods and its spiritual traditions. But India is also the world's most ancient surviving civilization, with unbroken continuity stretching back into prehistory.
Beginning with incredible images of a Jain festival that takes place once every twelve years, Wood sees the Buddha as India's first protester, follows the invasion of India by Alexander the Great and ends with the birth of the first great Indian empire.
The theme of the episode is the power of ideas in Indian history, and among the people Michael Wood meets is His Holiness the Dalai Lama who explains why Buddhism is still relevant today.
