Timeline of the Indian Ocean Trade during the Classical Period

By Jamie Bowden
  • 1000 BCE

    The early years

    The early years
    Before the Classical Period, small canoes and rafts were used to maneuver between ports. The monsoon winds directed their passage to and from. This means the sailors were forced to wait to go back home and some did not. They set roots instead.
  • 700 BCE

    Second Half of millennium

    Second Half of millennium
    Somewhere between1000 BCE and 500 BCE, different groups of people began to trade on the Indian Ocean adding to the travelers from Arabia to the Indian subcontinent. Goods to include grains, millet, and sorghum which is a type of cereal.
  • 600 BCE

    Religions

    Religions
    During the time period of 600 BCE and 300 BCE, different religions began to spread. The need for knowledge motivated travel and along with travel comes the spread of different beliefs and artifacts. Items such as sacred texts, storytelling material, and other religious items were swapped among the Southeast Asians and Indians.
  • 501 BCE

    Greek and Roman sailors

    Greek and Roman sailors
    Sent by Darius I, the Persian ruler, Greek and Roman sailors and traders began moving along the Indian Ocean for trade.
  • 326 BCE

    Nearchus

    Nearchus
    Alexander the Great ordered Nearchus to leave Indus and go to the Arabian Gulf while other Greeks were sent to sail to India by going around the Arabian Peninsula to Oman.
  • 323 BCE

    Busy exports

    Busy exports
    Goods from China and Southeast Asia in trade routes with India. Indian Ocean was found to be already developed with trade including ports, goods, and lands.
  • 323 BCE

    States = Strong

    States = Strong
    Mauryan Empire, India, Persian Empire, Roman Empire, Europe, Han Dynasty, China were all apart of trade and the proof is in the Roman coins found as well as the findings and/or documentation of beads, spices, pearls, and more products.
  • 300 BCE

    Third century BCE

    Third century BCE
    Around this time, those sailing toward the west landed and set roots in Madagascar. Evidence showing crops and the construction of houses and other evidence shows the first big settlement was not from Africa but from Indonesia, That is roughly four thousand miles away from Madagascar proving the movement and relationships formed between far reach areas.
  • 208 BCE

    Rome and China

    Rome and China
    Products such as silk were transported by way of land and water. They were carried to and from Isthmus of Kra on the Malay Peninsula to reach South China Sea. Some of the products transported included sugar cane, rice, and cotton.
  • 200 BCE

    Second Century BCE, Trade

    Second Century BCE, Trade
    Second Century BCE started on the first day of 200 BCE and ended the last day of 101 BEC. Around the second century BCE, new groups of people entered trade on Indian Ocean which enlarged trade.