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People began to establish small farming communities. They used the water to hydrate their crops and to sail from city to city.
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The Aryan people begin to settle in India. Iron metallurgy took place in Asia, Europe, and Africa. King David establishes Jerusalem as his capital city.
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Iron metallurgy was finally discovered in China. Sea travels helped to spread techniques to new areas.
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The Roman Republic Begins. Rome was well known for their development of roads and land travel, however it was cheaper to transport goods for trade by sea.
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Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquers western Asia and begins the Hellenistic period.
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Silk cloth was discovered in China. Silk was used as a good for trade and was sometimes traded as currency.
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Trade route develops through the Straits of Malacca, linking the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea. This development expanded the area to which goods could be traded.
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1271-1295 Marco Polo travels overland to Fuzhou, China and then sails through the South China Sea and Indian Ocean to Hormuz.
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Bartholomeu Dias becomes the first person to sail past the southern tip of Africa.
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Vasco da Gama circumnavigates Africa, and in 1499, sails first Portuguese ships to India.
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1509-1549 Portuguese begin expeditions to conquer Indian Ocean ports. They take Diu in 1509, Goa in 1510, Malacca in 1511, and Hormuz in 1514. Attempts to take Aden in 1513 fail.
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Portuguese establish a trading post on the island of Macao, China.
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Portuguese link Indian Ocean trade networks to the New World via the Philippines.
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British East India Company begins.
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Dutch East India Company begins.
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British establish trading factory in Calcutta, India.
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Industrial Revolution begins in Britain
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Battle of Plassey gives British territorial power in India.
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Fulton invents commercial steamboat. The commercial steamboat reduced the time used to move people and goods across waterways.
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Britain outlaws slave trade.
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Mechanized cotton production expands in the United States.
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The steam locomotive is introduced in Britain. This expedites the movement of goods over land.
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Migrations of indentured labor begin in Indian Ocean Region.
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Telegraph machine aids rapid communication.
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First mechanized cotton mill opens in India.
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Gold is discovered in South Africa.
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United States builds Panama Canal. The Panama Canal reduces the distance ships have to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, making long distance trade more feasible.
