The Trade Developments and Networks by Way of indian Ocean during the Classical Period
By apurnell_527
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The classical period empires who engaged in the Indian Ocean Trade during the classical era (4th Century BCE to 3rd Century CE included the Achaemenid Empire in Persia, Han Dynasty in China, the Mauryan Empire in India, and the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean. -
The monsoon wind pattern became well established during the first millennium BCE though it may have been discovered as early as 3000 BCE. With the discovery of the seasonal monsoon winds, combined with the ability to navigate by reckoning with the stars, mariners now sailed across the Arabian Sea in open water. -
During the 3rd and 2nd Centuries BCE, Arab and Indian ships had the capability of Sailing across the directly from Southern Arabia to the Malabar (western) coast of India and back. -
In 100 BCE, The Austronesian Mariners in Eastern Indian Ocean could sail to the West. They also reached India and finally settled in Madagascar Island. There is little historical evidence of their return voyages. -
During the classical era, the commonly traded goods were fine silks, porcelain and spices from China. The Chinese on the other side imported goods like ivory, cotton, wool, silver, and gold. -
After the Sailors gained the knowledge of monsoon winds, they later resolved with advancing their sailing experience to minimize the obstacles that they encountered in their voyages. The lateen sails technology helped them by designing the triangle shaped sails that were more maneuverable, the dhow ships and the astrolabe, an instrument that helped them to accurately measure stars for navigation. -
The classical trade in Indian Ocean lead to social interactions and settlements. First, the Austronesian mariners settled in Madagascar as evident from the Malagasy language and growing of crops like coconut, yam, banana, and their unique house construction. In East Africa, the Arab traders settled in Zanzibar and Mombasa where their inter-marriages with local coastline Bantus led to the emergence of the Swahili language, commonly spoken in East Africa. -
A major trend in the Classical Era is the spread of religions. Between 600 BCE and 300 CE, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism spread across the Bengal's Bay to South East Asia. This was as result of missionaries' and Pilgrims' travel accounts as they spread religions across the Indian Ocean trading route. The spread of sacred texts influenced scripts, languages, story-telling, architecture through construction of temples, and establishment of shrines.