-
(3rd century BCE–1279 CE)
In southern India dazzled travelers with its wealth and luxury, record parades of elephants covered with gold cloth and jewels marching through the city streets. -
Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279)
Dynasties in China emphasized trade and industry. Creating strong trade ties along the land-based Silk Roads, encouraging maritime trade. The Song rulers created a powerful imperial navy to control piracy on the eastern end of the route. -
The Indian Ocean Trade started out with small trading settlements around 800 A.D., and then declined in the 1500’s when Portugal invaded and tried to run the trade for its own profit.
-
The Indian Ocean Trade began with small trading settlements around 800 A.D., and declined in the 1500’s when Portugal invaded and tried to run the trade for its own profit.
-
Umayyad (661–750 CE) and Abbasid (750–1258) caliphates on the Arabian Peninsula provided a great western node for the trade routes, Islam valued merchants, the Prophet Muhammad himself was a trader and caravan leader. Wealthy Muslim cities created an enormous demand for luxury goods as well as languages and religions.
-
Ruled Egypt from 610-595 BCE. Built a canal linking the Nile River and the Red Sea, called the Arabian Gulf by Herodotus. He abandoned the project when realized it gave the Babylonians easy access for attacking Egyptian territory.
-
An important technology that developed during this era was the camel saddle. It was useful in establishing a livelihood for pastoral nomads, people who lead herds of animals to pasture in dry regions, and live from their milk, wool, and meat.
-
Developments in knowledge of geography helped increase exchanges such as trade, which led to greater influences from the East in Parthian art.
-
Srivijaya Empire (7th–13th centuries CE)
Boomed based entirely on taxing trading vessels that moved through the narrow Malacca Straits. -
Persian King Darius I, reigned from 522-486 BCE, restarted the project Pharaoh Necho II began, it was not until 1869 CE that the Suez Canal linked the Mediterranean with the Red Sea and become an important time-saving route for shipping.
-
The Swahili city-states steadily grew and prospered, and soon became a major economic power.
-
His voyages to western oceans expanded China’s political influence in the world. He was able to expand new, friendly ties with other nations, while developing relations between the east-west trade opportunities. The many stops included trading of spices and other goods, plus visiting royal courts and building relations on behalf of the Chinese emperor.
-
Portuguese sailors under Vasco da Gama rounded the southern point of Africa and ventured into new seas. They were eager to join in the Indian Ocean trade since European demand for Asian luxury goods was extremely high. The Portuguese entered the Indian Ocean trade as pirates rather than traders.
-
Rather than insinuating themselves into the existing trade pattern, much like the Portuguese, the Dutch sought a total monopoly on lucrative spices such as nutmeg and mace.
In 1680, the British joined in with their British East India Company, which was to challenge the VOC for control of the trade routes.
