Indian Ocean Timeline

By jelwell12
  • 5000 BCE

    Ancient Fishing Boat

    A boat made of wood was used for traveling shorter distances for fishing, and local trade.
  • 4000 BCE

    Millet

    Millet a grain the was easy to grow in dry conditions and had a great source of nutrition became a popular part of the trade. The grain was used to make things such as bread and flour.
  • 3000 BCE

    Puranas Written

    Puranas which was an oral story that explained stories of Gods was written in scripture to be preserved.
  • 1000 BCE

    First Settlers

    Ayran people begin to settle in India. At the same time, King David makes Jerusalem his capital city.
  • 1000 BCE

    Sugar Cane

    Sugar cane reached India and was considered to be a luxury.
  • 800 BCE

    Nubian Kingdom

    The Nubain Kindom rises at Napata and dominates Egypt.
  • 600 BCE

    Phoenicians

    The Phoenicians dominated trade and travel in the beginning of the millennium. The Phoenicians imported and exported items like wine, olives and olive oil, wheat, spices, metals, honey, and cedar wood.
  • 595 BCE

    Pharaoh Necho II

    Ruled Egpyt from 610-595 BCE and began building a canal linking the Nile River and the Red Sea called the Arabian Gulf by Herodotus.
  • 500 BCE

    Kaveripattanam Disappearance

    Due to a tsunami the popular trade post was destroyed. The trading post was used primarily for luxury goods such as gems, jewelry, pearls, and fine fabrics.
  • 500 BCE

    Hanno

    Set out to explore the western coast of Africa. While traveling he was able to create a trading post on a small island off the coast of Mauritania.
  • 500 BCE

    Camel Saddle

    Camels were used for land travel however they needed more storage and comfort. This is where the camel saddle came into play by allowing passengers a more comfortable ride while also allowing for space to store things.
  • 450 BCE

    Yehawmilk Stele

    The Yehawmilk Stele symbolized the advancement of the alphabet. The writing system was passed to the Greeks and reflects language and alphabet used today.
  • 334 BCE

    Hellenistic Period Begins

    Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquers Western Asia and begins the Hellenistic Period.
  • 254 BCE

    Ashoka

    Ashoka was an Indian Emporer who worked to spread Buddism shortly after converting himself. He carved his very own proclamations into rocks and pillars.
  • 206 BCE

    Cloves

    Cloves were a very important part of the spice trade, connecting the islands of Southeast Asia to the Asian mainland and other distant regions. Cloves were used for cooking and for medical purposes.
  • 106 BCE

    Silk Road

    Zhang Qian set out and explored trade routes. His exploration leads to what was known as being the "Silk Road" and become commonplace for trade.
  • 100 BCE

    Kaveripattanam

    Chola kings of the Tamil state made this the capital after it had become a major port city for ocean trade. Coins were believed to be used at this port after being discovered.
  • 70 BCE

    Periplus Written

    The document gives a detailed account of trade between Roman Egypt and India, listing all the ports on the Red Sea, the African coast, and the Arabian Peninsula.
  • 30 BCE

    Christianity Began

    After Jesus's crucifixion, the religion of Christianity began.
  • 651

    Defeat of Chosroes

    Sassanid Empire rules in Perisa until the defeat of Chosroes by the Arab Muslims. This is the last known event to end the classical period.