This comparative study examines technical devices from Greco-Roman Alexandria alongside those from the Indian cultural area, focusing on the period between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE, during a peak in maritime trade between Egypt and South Asia, highlighting key figures in Western engineering.
Cultural Exchange between East and West in an Age of Upheaval
The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus tells us about a legation of the so-called Serendivi to the Roman Emperor Julian in the year 362 CE. It is still disputed among scholars whether these envoys came from present-day Sri Lanka. This study focuses on finding possible evidence for this assumption. For this purpose, a more detailed analysis of the circumstances in the East and West shortly before and shortly after the middle of the 4th century CE is carried out. What is certain is that the legates from the East that visited the Roman Empire in the 4th century CE witnessed an age of Upheaval. The outcome of which the cultures in the West and East were decisively shaped up to our time.
The study examines segment XII of the Peutinger map, focusing on ancient India. It highlights the subjective representation of the region, reflecting limited knowledge of its road network. Additionally, it draws parallels to contemporary events, including the effects of a pandemic in the 2nd century CE.
The Peutinger Table, based on a Roman road map, illustrates key trade centers in southern India, reflecting the long-distance trade network with Rome. This study examines 2nd century CE historical events in both regions, highlighting the impact of climatic changes and epidemics on social processes and parallels in their developments.
This analysis challenges the assumption that place names in Claudius Ptolemy's geographical guide refer to regions in Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. Instead, it reveals that these maps from the late Middle Ages depict the territory of modern-day Myanmar, highlighting significant changes and continuities in settlement history and landscape.