Classical Era Indian Ocean

By mjeun
  • 1000 BCE

    Iron Metallurgy Pt. 1

    Iron metallurgy is known in Western Asia, Southeastern Europe, North Africa. Production of iron created advanced metallurgy that aided the military and farmers. Better agricultural tools allowed for less and more efficient labor.
  • 1000 BCE

    Sugar Cane

    From its origins in Southeast Asia, by 1000 BCE, sugar cane had reached India, where it was cultivated on a larger scale. It had many uses in cooking, and became a popular good.
  • 1000 BCE

    Bananas

    Bananas were cultivated in places in Southeast Asia, then traveled to India, and reached Africa by 1000 BCE. Bananas spread as a crop and a food into China, and may have been known in parts of the Middle East.
  • 800 BCE

    Nubian Kingdom

    The rise of Nubian Kingdom at Napata set the stage for Nubia to take over Egypt about 100 years later. The Nubian Kingdom caused lifestyles and customs started to be changed as the tribe became more integrated. This allowed for a variety of cultural goods to be made and exchanged.
  • 750 BCE

    Persian Migration

    Persians migrate to Iran from Asia. This migration brought about a cultural exchange and an exposure to different goods and languages.
  • 650 BCE

    Iron Metallurgy Pt. 2

    Iron metallurgy was introduced to China and silk was introduced to the trade system. Silk was extremely versatile and was a popular trading good.
  • Period: 563 BCE to 483 BCE

    Buddhism

    Buddhism expanded in the Indian and Chinese areas of Asia by moving subsequently across various trade routes. Most Indian and Chinese merchants became Buddhist because of how frequently they were exposed to the religion.
  • Period: 551 BCE to 479 BCE

    Confucianism

    Confucius developed concepts about society, education, and government that continued to be followed in China. Confucianism, became widely popular in Chinese culture and society after the 2nd century B.C. with the five classics becoming the core of education. The ideas and values would spread throughout the world.
  • Period: 510 BCE to 515 BCE

    Scylax of Caryanda

    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.
  • 500 BCE

    Saddles

    The saddle was useful in establishing a livelihood for pastoral nomads, people who lead herds of animals to pasture in dry regions, and live from their milk, wool, and meat. It also allowed animals to carry heavy loads. It made trading as well as traveling a lot easier.
  • 500 BCE

    Greek and Roman Traders

    Greek and Roman sailors and traders entered the Indian Ocean after 500 BCE, sent there by the Persian ruler Darius I. They traded ceramics, gold, olive oil, and wine.
  • 431 BCE

    Peloponnesian War

    Wars from 431 to 404 BCE between Athens and Sparta for dominance in Southern Greece. This resulted in Spartan victory but failure to achieve political unification of Greece.
  • 400 BCE

    Isthmus of Kra

    The Isthmus of Kra is a narrow strip of land that connects the Malay Peninsula to the continent of Asia. As early as the fourth century BCE, traders from India reached the rest of Southeast Asia by crossing the Isthmus of Kra, rather than making the longer and more difficult journey around the entire Malay Peninsula.
  • Period: 400 BCE to 300 BCE

    Kingdom of Meroe in Nubia

    The kings of Meroë ruled as pharaohs of Egypt. There was a need to be nearer to the main grazing area, where the rainfall zone was located. In addition, the transfer of the centre of the state gave a new impulse to the development of cattle‐​breeding. Meroë also had the mineral ores and fuels needed to produce iron on a large scale. That technology, and its extensive trade with Egypt and the Mediterranean, allowed Meroë to flourish.
  • 338 BCE

    Alexander the Great

    Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire and extended Greek control over lands in western Asia, Egypt, Central Asia, and the Indus Valley. He also founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt, which would become a major center of art and trade. He brought greek art and culture into contact with many foreign lands. His conquests laid the foundation for centuries of interaction and cultural exchanges.
  • Period: 334 BCE to 323 BCE

    Hellenistic Period

    Alexander the Great begins Hellenistic Period. This era marked increase in trade between western India and the Roman east by sea. The expansion of trade was made possible by the stability brought to the region by the Roman Empire, allowing for new explorations and the creation of silver and gold coinage.
  • 300 BCE

    Hinduism

    The religion Hinduism is also considered as a lifestyle and culture. The expansion of trade and imports/exports using the Indian Ocean allowed for the diffusion of different cultures and religion such as Hinduism. Along with Hinduism, science was also spread in the form of Hindi numerals to the Arabian Pennisula.
  • 300 BCE

    Oil and Resins

    Frankincense and myrrh trading served as a driving force to open Indian Ocean Trade. During the Classical Era, they were transported by Arab merchants-along with spices, gold, ivory, pearls, precious stones and textiles.
  • 264 BCE

    Punic Wars

    Wars fought between Rome and Carthage to establish dominance in the Western Mediterranean. The war was won by Rome on 3 separate occasions.
  • Period: 206 BCE to 220

    Han Dynasty

    Han Dynasty rules China. The Han Dynasty was founded by Luises Bang. The Han era brought the growth of great cities, the expansion of trade and the mercantile classes, and a new surge of inventiveness.
  • 138 BCE

    Zhang Qian

    Zhang Qian's first mission was to make contact with the Yuezhi to form an alliance relationship. Later Qian traveled back to Southeast Asia where he introduced Chinese culture, Lifestyle and Technology to the islands and mainlands he visited. Upon returning Zhang Qian was able to bring back different music, foods, dance forms and art forms.
  • 100 BCE

    Diseases

    Due to various trades being made now through the Indian Ocean, more diseases were transported along with goods that were traded and transported.
  • 100 BCE

    Pepper

    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.
  • Period: 4 to 30

    Jesus and Christianity

    The crucification of Jesus marked the start of Christianity. Church officials and missionaries travelling in the Indian Ocean had to rely on commercial shipping, as other means of maritime passage were simply not available, and overland travel along was impractical.
  • 400

    Compass

    The compass, originally created in China was created to initially be a device used for divination and later used for navigation. The earliest compasses were composed with spoons that contained lodestone (a material that contains magnetite, a natural magnetic substance). Others made compasses using a magnetized needle and placing it in a bowl of water. The creation of the compass allowed for better direction when sailing the ocean. Easy direction made trade more easier and abundant.