ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a broader context for the studied subject, which allows one to look at the relationship of the Greeks with Buddhism in the so-called longue durée of contacts between the East and the West. First introduced is the theory by Karl Jaspers of the so-called ‘Axial Age’ (Achsenzeit), which is regarded here as an intellectual challenge rather than a real phenomenon documented in sources. Then, the early relations between the Greeks and India are shown with an emphasis on the role of the Achaemenid Empire as an intermediary in these relations. In this context, the example of Scylax of Caryanda is carefully studied in order to show the role of Greek historiography in shaping the image of India. Subsequently, the first direct contact of the Greeks with India during the expedition of Alexander is presented with an emphasis on two issues: the cultural baggage of Alexander and his entourage, and his encounters with the ‘naked philosophers’. As regards the Indian context, the state of Indian philosophy before Alexander is presented with an emphasis on the characteristics of Buddhism from its origins to the time of Aśoka, and the presence of the term Yavana in Indian sources.
