Treasures of the Indus

Episode 1

Pakistan Unveiled

India (and East India) are not just named after the Indus, its basin with four major rivers ('Punjab' from Greek penta) is also the home region of the subcontinent's oldest civilization, named Harappa after its main city site, contemporary of Pharaonic Egypt and Mesopotamia but more egalitarian, without grand palaces, rather merchant republics confederated in a loose empire. They had Hindu and Buddhist cultures, but were strongly influenced by the sort annexation to the Hellenistic empire of Alexander the Great, resulting in an Indo-Greek culture in suck kingdoms as Gandhara, which were rich on the Silk Road. That wealth would attract many invaders, especially from Central Asia and Afghanistan, which also imported Islam and mainly Persian influence as exemplified by the grand capital Lahore.