Indian Ocean Trade Timeline

By margherita.jamie
  • 3000 BCE

    3000 BCE

    Between towns and trading post along coastlines from Arabia to the Indian subcontinent, travelers would travel in small canoes
  • 2600 BCE

    2,600 BCE – 1,900 BCE

    Millet and sorghum grains imported from the East African coast were part of the cuisine of the Harappan civilization, which stretched across today’s Pakistan and northern India. The Harappan's likely received woolen textiles in exchange.
  • 2300 BCE

    2,300 BCE – 1,760 BCE

    India produced and traded cotton textiles, replacing wool clothing worn in most countries
  • 1500 BCE

    1500 BCE

    The Dutch and English E. India had the most impact on the Indian Ocean Trade Network, not the portuegese
    European Imperialism had the effect on Indians, large numbers of Indians went to E. Africa as merchants, and contract laborers for opportunities
  • 1200 BCE

    1200 BCE

    Because most traders were Islam, the official language was arabic
  • 900 BCE

    900 BCE

    Imports and trades from Asia were cotton, silk, and porcelain objects.
  • 700 BCE

    700 BC

    Chinese Invent Gunpowder
    The Chinese invented gunpowder, mostly used for fireworks, but it was traded with other regions a few years later.
  • 700 BCE

    700 BCE

    Cultures like India & E Africa were represented along the Indian Ocean Trade Network Chinese workers and merchants went into SE Asia, they were both transformed by migrant groups Merchants brought in priests to serve spiritual needs but also to spread Religion
  • 601 BCE

    601 BCE

    The indigo plant was a valuable plant. Chinese silks were also dyed with indigo during this period. As the name shows, indigo was first cultivated for dye in India
  • 600 BCE

    600 BCE

    The dhow was a sailing vessel utilized on these trades routes to transport merchandise. When coupled with the lateen sail (c. 200 CE) it made for an efficient mode of transport.
  • 600 BCE

    600 BCE- 750 BCE

    Foreign merchants and missionaries spread religion.
    Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism - 600 BCE - 300 BCE
    Christianity - 100 CE - 700 CE
    Islam - 632 CE - 75- CE
  • 500 BCE

    500 BCE

    Greek and Roman sailors and traders enter the Indian Ocean
    Traded ceramics, glassware, wine, gold, olive oil.
  • 362 BCE

    326 BCE

    A naval officer for Alexander the Great who led his fleet from the Indus River to the Persian Gulf.
  • 332 BCE

    332 BCE

    Alexandria's ideal location along both the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile River made it the center of trade routes connecting Rome to inner Africa, the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, and Asia.
  • 323 BCE

    323 BCE

    Ptolemies learned about monsoon system in Indian Ocean.
  • 323 BCE

    323 BCE

    Sea lanes joined Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean into one network.
    India traded spices and pepper.
    Persia and Egypt traded grain.
    Mediterranean traded wine and oil.
  • 150 BCE

    150 BCE

    The Kushan coin was one of the coins used to trade along the Indian Ocean network. The rule of the Kushans linked the seagoing trade of the Indian Ocean with the commerce of the Silk Road through the long-civilized Indus Valley.
  • 130 BCE

    130 BCE

    The three main Roman ports involved with eastern trade were Arsinoe, Berenice and Myos Hormos.
  • 130 BCE

    130 BCE

    The regional ports of Barbaricum, Sounagoura Barygaza, Muziris in Kerala, Korkai, Kaveripattinam and Arikamedu on the southern tip of present-day India were the main centers of this trade, along with Kodumanal, an inland city. Roman trades included figured linens, topaz, coral, storax, frankincense, vessels of glass, silver and gold plate, and a little wine.
  • 118 BCE

    118 BCE

    Greek explorer who traveled the monsoon wind system of the Indian Ocean bringing back cargo of precious stones and aromatics. His second trip was a failure as he disappeared on the return voyage.
  • 63

    63 BC

    Expansion of trade due to the Pax Romana.
    Begun under the rule of Augustus Caesar, a period of peace in the Roman Empire allowed trade to flourish.
  • 78

    78

    The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
    A guide to travel and trade in the Indian Ocean by a first century merchant.
  • 161

    161- 180

    Spread of epidemic disease
    The Han Empire and the Roman Empire suffered large-scale outbreaks of epidemic disease, likely due to contact with merchants.