-
Trade between Africa and Asia was increasing. Cities along the African coast such as Kilwa, Malidini and others began to flourish. They obtained gold, ivory and iron and traded with India, Southeast Asia and China.
-
The Indian Ocean Trade started in about 800 A.D. and declined in about 1500 when Portugal invaded and tried to run trade themselves.
-
During this time was the rise of the Abbasid caliphate, which ruled most of the Muslim world.
-
Islam was spread.
-
The rise of the Umayyd caliphate took place during this time. They began the process of spreading Islam throughout Asia, Africa and Europe.
-
The Cholar empire in Southern India had many transportation improvements which included traveling on elephants covered in gold and cloth.
-
Camels were introduced to North Africa and the Sahara, which made trade inland more efficient.
-
In the 400s, the Aksumite emperor Ezana spread Christianity into Ethiopia.
-
Buddhism spread from India to Southeast Asia during this time by merchants.
-
Ivory, gold, iron goods, slaves, leopard skins, toirtose shells, and quartz were all transported from East Africa.
-
Frankincense, myyrh, and perfumes were all transported goods from Arabia during this time.
-
Grain, ivory, precious stones, cotton textiles, spices timber and tortoise shells were all transported goods from India during this time.
-
This was the timespan that African trade began to flourish especially in Zimbabwe, and traders passing through there had to pay a tax on their goods. They traded goods such as cloth, pottery, and manufactured goods for gold, ivory, and furs.
-
The bubonic plague broke out in China in the 1930s and spread by trade to areas that participated in the Indian Ocean trade.
-
The Chinese invented larger ships and the magnetic compass, which added more commercial growth. Larger ships allowed for more cargo and the compass allowed them to know which direction they were traveling.
-
Zheng He was a famous Chinese explorer who made seven voyages to the Indian Ocean region from 1405-1433.
-
Understanding of the monsoons was a high technological advance in the Indian Ocean trade. It helped sailors to be safe and made traveling a lot easier.
-
The Russian voyager who was on first Indian trading vessel that reached India from China.
-
In 1498, mariners made their first appearance on the Indian Ocean. This caused Portuguese sailors to venture into new seas.
-
Portuguese tried to take over and tried to run trade for its own profit.