-
3000 BCE
Magan Boat
A boat named Magan was made from reeds and clay. It used a square mast and oars to sail. This was used for trade in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere. -
3000 BCE
Monsoon Wind Pattern
The monsoon wind pattern became known -
2800 BCE
Trade between Mesopotamia and Meluhha
Ships from Meluhha carried wood, copper, carnelian, onions and spices and were traded for Mesopotamian wool, grain, paint, leather and oil. This was done through Magan. -
2750 BCE
Copper Trade
Copper was extremely important to ancient civilizations. They used it to make so many things. Copper was imported from Oman, or Magan, into the port of Bahrain, or Dilmun. -
2300 BCE
Magan Trade
Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley traded timber, copper, and stone diorite. This was recorded in Sumerian and Akkadian texts. Then items were used to build things and in art. This was especially important to the kings of Mesopotamia. -
1493 BCE
Queen Hatshepsut
Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt sent out an expedition into the Red Sea and they reached the land of Put, near Somalia. They traded for incense, animals, plants, rare wood, and ivory. -
1000 BCE
The Island of Zanzibar
The island of Zanzibar, off the East African coast, was discovered by traders. -
1000 BCE
Trade slows between Egypt and Mesopotamia
It is believed that long distance trade stopped or slowed between Egypt and Mesopotamia. -
600 BCE
Phoenicians circumvented Africa
The Phoenicians circumvented Africa in a voyage dictated by an Egyptian Pharaoh named Necho. It took 3 years. -
600 BCE
Religion spreads in Asia
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism spread to Southeast Asia through the Bay of Bengal. Story telling and deities were spread between India and Southeast Asia. -
510 BCE
Scylax of Caryanda
Scylax of Caryanda traveled the Indian Ocean to explore the possible riches in India. He also sailed the Indus River, Pakistan, and into the Arabian Sea. He made his way to the Red Sea and to Egypt. He became famous for this voyage, and it produced more trade. -
500 BCE
Greek & Roman Sailors
Greek and Roman sailors and some traders started sailing the Indian Ocean by the orders of Darius I. -
326 BCE
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great sent Nearchus from the Indus to the Arabian Gulf. -
300 BCE
Arabia to Malabar
Indian and Arab ships sailed from Southern Arabia to the Malabar coast of India and back -
250 BCE
Austronesian Sailors to Madagascar
Austronesian ships traveled west and landed in Madagascar. It is believed that they stayed there and never left. -
60
The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
This was a Greco-Roman document which outlined the ports, lands, and trade items in the Indian Ocean. This was extremely helpful for trade in the Indian Ocean. -
70
Trade between Egypt and India
There was trade between Roman Egypt and India via the Red Sea, the African Coast, and the Arabian Peninsula. They traded copper, wood, pearls, cloth, frankincense, and gold. -
77
Trade between Roman Empire and Arabian Peninsula
Frankincense and myrrh, cardamon and cinnamon, and incense were traded between Arabia and the area between Rome and Asia. -
300
Romans Spread Smallpoxs
The Roman civilization constantly reintroduced smallpox back to China through the Silk Road, killing about half of Northern China's population. -
800
Sohar trading in the Indian Ocean
Sohar, in Oman, started trading in the Indian Ocean, and became known for Sindbad the Sailor and its flourishing city. It traded copper, since it was a great source for it. -
800
Arabs Take Control of Trade
By 800, the Arabs had taken control of trade in the Indian Ocean from Tamil merchants. -
960
China Trades
Under the Song dynasty, spices, silk, rice, and sandalwood were traded as well as porcelain. -
1100
The Dhow ship
This ship, called a dhow, was associated with trade on the Indian Ocean. It contained a single mast that turned and a triangular sail. This type of ship is still used today. -
1405
Ming Voyages
The Ming voyages consisted of hundred of ships over 5 voyages, travelled from one end of the Indian Ocean to the other. Admiral Zheng He led the voyage.
