Indian Ocean Trade

By jdriscoll
  • 5000 BCE

    Lost Caravan City of Ubar

    An ancient caravan city, Ubar was at the center of several trading routes. This city was built from limestone deposits in the area and it is the collapse of caverns below these deposits that likely destroyed the city.
  • 5000 BCE

    Ancient Fishing Boats

    A dug out flat bottomed boat similar to a canoe. These type of boats allowed for travel along the coastlines of the Indian Ocean.
  • 5000 BCE

    Monsoon Season and Patterns of Winds

    The patterns of wind in the Indian Ocean helped the transportation of goods across the ocean to neighboring civilizations. The stormy monsoon season posed a danger to ships transporting goods during this time.
  • 1000 BCE

    Sugar Cane

    Sugar was a type of grass valued for its ability to sweeten. It was often considered to be a luxury good.
  • 700 BCE

    Indigo Dye

    Indigo was a plant used to dye Chinese silk. It was first cultivated in India.
  • 510 BCE

    Scylax of Caryanda

    Scylax of Caryanda was a mariner who sailed for King Darius of Persia. He mad several voyages and explorations in the Indian Ocean region.
  • 500 BCE

    Cinnamon and Cassia

    Cinnamon and Cassia are pungent spices made from the bark of trees. It originated from Sri Lanka and was traded as far as the horn of Africa.
  • 500 BCE

    Camel Saddle

    Camel saddles were first developed in Northern Arabia and made the domestication and use of Camels for transportation practical.
  • 326 BCE

    Nearchus Captain of Alexander the Greats Navy

    Nearchus was a naval officer and commander of the naval forces of Alexander the Great. His transportation and support of Alexander's army helped lead to the expansion of his empire.
  • 300 BCE

    Berenike

    Berenike was an Egyptian port located along the Red Sea. This port was used to import elephants from Africa and cloth and bamboo from Asia
  • 206 BCE

    Silk Road

    The silk road was a major trading route which transported silk from China across Eurasia into Europe and the Mediterranean.
  • 138 BCE

    Zhang Qlan

    Zhang Qlan was a Chinese explorer and early pioneer of the silk road trading route. He traveled as far west as India and Greece opening trade with these civilizations.
  • 100 BCE

    Muziris

    Muziris was an ancient port city located in India. It was important as an Indian-Roman trading port in southern India.
  • 100

    Phoenician Ships

    Phoenician cargo ships or gauloi were relatively large ships capable of carrying large amounts of goods. These types of ships were technologically advanced for their time.