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The Story of India is a BBC TV documentary series, written and presented by historian Michael Wood, about the 10,000-year history of the Indian subcontinent in six episodes. It was originally aired on the BBC in six episodes in August and September 2007 as part of the BBC season "India and Pakistan 07", which marked the 60 years independence of India and Pakistan.

Episode 1 - "Beginnings"See also: Indus Valley Civilization
Michael Wood travels throughout the subcontinent, tracing the richness and diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes. Through ancient manuscripts and oral tales Wood charts the first human migrations out of Africa. He travels from the tropical backwaters of South India through lost ancient cities in Pakistan to the vibrant landscapes of the Ganges plain. Archaeological discoveries in the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex in Turkmenistan by Soviet archeologist Viktor Sarianidi, including horse drawn carts (mentioned in the Rig Veda), cast new light on India's past. Wood also attempts to re-create soma, an ancient drink recorded in the Rig Veda.

Episode 2 - "The Power of Ideas"The second episode in Michael Wood's series moves on to the revolutionary years after 500BC - the Age of the Buddha and Mahavira. Travelling by rail to the ancient cities of the Ganges plain, by army convoy through Northern Iraq, and down Pakistan's Khyber Pass, he shows how Alexander the Great's invasion of India inspired her first major empire in the form of the Maurya kingdom.

Episode 3 - "Spice Routes and Silk Roads"In this episode he traces India in the days of the Roman Empire; the Greco-Roman navigator Hippalus discovered monsoons for the Romans. In Kerala the spice trade opened India to the world, whilst gold and silk bazaars in the ancient city of Madurai were a delight for visiting Greek traders. From the deserts of Turkmenistan Michael travels down the Khyber Pass to Pakistan to discover a forgotten empire, the (Kushan Empire) of Northern India that opened up the Silk Route and at Peshawar built a lost Wonder of the World. The Wonder is nowadays known to people as the "Bare Raja Ka Tila". Also offers an interesting theory about the death of Emperor Kanishka at Mathura.

1080i / DTS HD Master Audio