Indian Ocean Trade

Magan Boat

3000 BCE

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.

Monsoon Wind Pattern

3000 BCE

The monsoon wind pattern became known

Trade between Mesopotamia and Meluhha

2800 BCE

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.

Copper Trade

2750 BCE

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.

Magan Trade

2300 BCE

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.

Queen Hatshepsut

1493 BCE

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.

The Island of Zanzibar

1000 BCE

The island of Zanzibar, off the East African coast, was discovered by traders.

Trade slows between Egypt and Mesopotamia

1000 BCE

It is believed that long distance trade stopped or slowed between Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Phoenicians circumvented Africa

600 BCE

The Phoenicians circumvented Africa in a voyage dictated by an Egyptian Pharaoh named Necho. It took 3 years.

Religion spreads in Asia

600 BCE

Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism spread to Southeast Asia through the Bay of Bengal. Story telling and deities were spread between India and Southeast Asia.

Scylax of Caryanda

510 BCE

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.

Greek & Roman Sailors

500 BCE

Greek and Roman sailors and some traders started sailing the Indian Ocean by the orders of Darius I.

Alexander the Great

326 BCE

Alexander the Great sent Nearchus from the Indus to the Arabian Gulf.

Arabia to Malabar

300 BCE

Indian and Arab ships sailed from Southern Arabia to the Malabar coast of India and back

Austronesian Sailors to Madagascar

250 BCE

Austronesian ships traveled west and landed in Madagascar. It is believed that they stayed there and never left.

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

60

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.

Trade between Egypt and India

70

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.

Trade between Roman Empire and Arabian Peninsula

77

Frankincense and myrrh, cardamon and cinnamon, and incense were traded between Arabia and the area between Rome and Asia.

Romans Spread Smallpoxs

300

The Roman civilization constantly reintroduced smallpox back to China through the Silk Road, killing about half of Northern China's population.

Sohar trading in the Indian Ocean

800

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.

Arabs Take Control of Trade

800

By 800, the Arabs had taken control of trade in the Indian Ocean from Tamil merchants.

China Trades

960

Under the Song dynasty, spices, silk, rice, and sandalwood were traded as well as porcelain.

The Dhow ship

1100

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.

Ming Voyages

1405

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.