Sureshkumar Muthukumaran is a historian of the ancient world. He is a Lecturer in History at the National University of Singapore and has previously taught at University College London and Yale-NUS College.

• ContentsList of Illustrations Preface and AcknowledgmentsAbbreviations Introduction 1. The Historical Context 2. Wool from Trees: Cotton 3. The Golden Grain: Asiatic Rice 4. Persian “Apples”: Citruses 5. Familiar but Foreign: Eastern Cucurbits 6. The Egyptian Bean: The Sacred Lotus 7. A Forgotten Tuber: Taro 8. Timber for God and King: Sissoo 9. How to Turn Tropical References Index

"Based on an impressive collection of archaeological data and textual sources in many languages, Muthukumaran provides an inspiring voyage in space and time. . . . this original and innovative book provides a significant contribution to the growing literature on East-West connectivity in antiquity."

Sureshkumar Muthukumaran is a historian of the ancient world. He is a Lecturer in History at the National University of Singapore and has previously taught at University College London and Yale-NUS College.

• ContentsList of Illustrations Preface and AcknowledgmentsAbbreviations Introduction 1. The Historical Context 2. Wool from Trees: Cotton 3. The Golden Grain: Asiatic Rice 4. Persian “Apples”: Citruses 5. Familiar but Foreign: Eastern Cucurbits 6. The Egyptian Bean: The Sacred Lotus 7. A Forgotten Tuber: Taro 8. Timber for God and King: Sissoo 9. How to Turn Tropical References Index

"Based on an impressive collection of archaeological data and textual sources in many languages, Muthukumaran provides an inspiring voyage in space and time. . . . this original and innovative book provides a significant contribution to the growing literature on East-West connectivity in antiquity."

Sureshkumar Muthukumaran is a historian of the ancient world. He is a Lecturer in History at the National University of Singapore and has previously taught at University College London and Yale-NUS College.

• ContentsList of Illustrations Preface and AcknowledgmentsAbbreviations Introduction 1. The Historical Context 2. Wool from Trees: Cotton 3. The Golden Grain: Asiatic Rice 4. Persian “Apples”: Citruses 5. Familiar but Foreign: Eastern Cucurbits 6. The Egyptian Bean: The Sacred Lotus 7. A Forgotten Tuber: Taro 8. Timber for God and King: Sissoo 9. How to Turn Tropical References Index

"Based on an impressive collection of archaeological data and textual sources in many languages, Muthukumaran provides an inspiring voyage in space and time. . . . this original and innovative book provides a significant contribution to the growing literature on East-West connectivity in antiquity."