4. The Destruction of Nalanda University
Once renowned as a center for Buddhist and scientific scholarship, Nalanda University in India attracted students from across Asia. In the 12th century, Turkic invaders set fire to its vast library, destroying countless manuscripts on philosophy, medicine, and astronomy.
The loss of Nalanda’s texts dealt a heavy blow to both Buddhist learning and the wider intellectual exchange in Asia. This single act of destruction erased centuries of accumulated wisdom and disrupted the spread of knowledge throughout the region. Read more about Nalanda University
