Indian Ocean Trade Timeline

Indian Ocean Trade Begins

800 BCE

Indian Ocean trade begins with small trading settlements

Arab/Muslim Monopolizing trade

750 BCE

This trade brought Hinduism and later Islam to Indonesia.

Religion

600 BCE

Religions begin spreading country to country (Hinduism,, Buddhism, etc)

DHow

600 BCE

These traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with lateen sails were used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region

Persian Empire

550 BCE

The first of these was the Achaemenid Empire established by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC with the conquest of Median, Lydian and Babylonian empires.

Cyrus the Great

539 BCE

Persian King conquered Phoenicia

Scylax's Voyage

510 BCE

Scylax of Caryanda made a voyage into the Indian Ocean from 510-515 BCE. He brought news of new regions that were friendly which encouraged trade expeditions.

Peloponnesian War

431 BCE

Athens and Sparta fought the Peloponnesian War over ownership of a city-state. This cost Athens more than 200 ships, 4500 men and many trading allies. During the 2nd year of this war, a massive plague broke out (Athenian Plague).

The Isthmus of Kra

400 BCE

A narrow strip of land that connects the Malay Peninsula to Asia. fourth century BCE traders from India reached the rest of S.E Asia by crossing the Isthmus of Kra, rather than making the longer and more difficult journey around the entire Malay Peninsula. Crops such as sugar cane, cotton, sesame, and rice were grown for export with irrigation, and became known elsewhere through the Indian Ocean trade.

Alexander the Great

365 BCE

The acquisitions of Alexander the Great laid the groundwork for centuries of interaction and cultural exchanges. He instituted the city of Alexandria in Egypt, which would then become a major center of art and trade.

Mauryan Empire of India

325 BCE

started after Alexander the Great died. Very Powerful.

Frankincense and Myrrh

300 BCE

Frankincense and myrrh were transported by Arab merchants-along with spices, gold, ivory, pearls, precious stones and textiles.

Han Dynasty

206 BCE

Silk traveled overland between Rome and China
during the Han dynasty, but also appeared on the sea route.

Stern Invented

200 BCE

this made travelling by boat much easier

Roman Trade with India

130 BCE

initiated by Eudoxus of Cyzicus kept increasing

Hippalus

45 BCE

Greek navigator discovered the monsoon winds and the route across the Arabian Sea to India around 45 AD.

Aden

1 BCE

convenient port position on the sea route between India and Europe (1st century) Exported perfumes, frankincense and myrrh to Persian cities. Imported precious stones, spices, cotton, timber, and grain from India; Silk, tea, tin, sandalwood from Asia; Wine, gold, olives, glassware, and ceramics from the Mediterranean; Iron, ivory, gold, slaves, and leopard skin from Africa.

Pepper

100

Peppercorns were an important part of the spice trade. The spice was considered so valuable that the ancient Romans used it as a form of money, equal to gold and other precious metals.

Antonine Plague

165

Also known as the plague of Galen, this plague affected a lot of Roman and Indian trade. It was an ancient pandemic brought to the Roman Empire by troops returning from the Near East. Historians suspect it could have been smallpox or measles.

Angkor Borei and Phnom Da

200

Funan's ships dominated territory across the Indochinese peninsula and controlled trade between China and India. The cities of Funan also transferred trade goods from the Indian Ocean and South China Sea ports into inland trade routes.