# Greek --\> Indian influence: How Early?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greek-indian-influence-how-early/395575
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 12, 2007, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greek-indian-influence-how-early/395575 "2007-03-12T09:05:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2007, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greek-indian-influence-how-early/395575/1 "2007-03-12T09:05:58Z")
I know there was influence on Indian culture from Greece, but how far back does it go?
Is there any evidence of influence going the other direction? Or common influences on both?
-FrL-
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### Author:  [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2007, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greek-indian-influence-how-early/395575/2 "2007-03-12T11:40:04Z")
The very latest date would be when Alexander invaded India about 330 BC
Doing a quick check for a roughly accurate date I found this: [http://opioids.com/timeline/index.html](http://opioids.com/timeline/index.html)
> [@](#):
>
> 330 B.C.
> Alexander the Great introduces opium to the people of Persia and India.
>
> A.D. 400
> Opium thebaicum, from the Egyptian fields at Thebes, is first introduced to China by Arab traders.
Serendipity.