Was ancient India the world’s forgotten superpower?

In an episode of Deja Vu, historian and author William Dalrymple examines ancient India’s global influence and why it has been overlooked. Long before European maritime dominance, India’s extensive ocean trade connected it to the wider world. Mathematical ideas from thinkers such as Brahmagupta and Aryabhata helped shape the Renaissance and the modern age. The episode considers how colonialism shifted the balance of power and whether that era was an exception as global influence moves back towards Asia.