Indian Ocean during the Classical Era

By eileencatalina
  • 4500 BCE

    Religions Spread (6000 to 3000 BCE)

    Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism spread across the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia.
  • 3000 BCE

    Monsoon Winds

    Mariners began to sail across the Arabian Sea in open water due to the discovery of the seasonal monsoon winds and ability to navigate with the stars.
  • 3000 BCE

    Austronesian mariners

    Also during the third and second century BCE, Austronesian mariner sailed toward the West. They reached India, and settled on the East African island of Madagascar.
  • 1000 BCE

    Sugar Cane

    Sugar cane was introduced to India from Southeast Asia.
  • 1000 BCE

    Bananas

    Brought from Southeast Asia, Bananas were also introduced to India and Africa during this time.
  • 1000 BCE

    Trade becomes clearer

    Trade in the Indian Ocean became clear along with more written records and artifacts.
  • 1000 BCE

    Long-Distance Trade (1000 BCE- 300 CE)

    Long-distance trade expands greatly.
  • 1000 BCE

    Egypt and Mesopotamia

    Trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia declined due to long-distance trade.
  • 750 BCE

    Persians Migrate

    Persians begin to migrate from Iran to Asia
  • 600 BCE

    Silk and Iron

    Iron and silk was traded into India from China.
  • 600 BCE

    Currency

    The Greek coin was introduced.
  • 500 BCE

    Cinnamon

    Arriving from the Gulf of Aden from the monsoon winds.
  • 500 BCE

    Saddles

    Saddles were created and began use.
  • 500 BCE

    Greek and Roman

    Sent there by the Persian ruler Darius I, Greek and Roman sailors and traders entered the Indian Ocean
  • 326 BCE

    Nearchus

    Sent by Alexander the Great, Nearchus explored the Indus to the Arabian Gulf. Other Greeks also sailed to India and around the Arabian Peninsula to Oman
  • 100 BCE

    Peppercorns

    Apart of the price trade, Romans used peppercorns, an important spice, in place of currency and other valuable goods.
  • 1000

    Periplus of the Erythrean Sea

    In the first century CE, the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea named many ports, lands, and goods in the Indian Ocean, including information about the east coast of Africa and of India.
  • 1000

    China and Southeast Asia (1000 BCE-300 CE)

    Goods from China and Southeast Asia began to be kept on record of trade with India during this time
  • 1000

    Indian Ocean Trade and Developments (1000 BCE- 300 CE)

    India exported many goods, and imported silver, copper, and gold.

  • Indian and Arab ships

    During the third and second centuries BCE, Indian and Arab ships are known to have sailed directly from Southern Arabia to the Malabar coast of India and back.