Indian Ocean Trade Development

Classical Era

1000 BCE

The Classical Era lasted from 1000 BCE to 300 CE. The Indian Ocean trade routes connected Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa,

Sugar Cane

1000 BCE

Sugar Cane originated in Southeast Asia and was introduced to India

Bananas

1000 BCE

Bananas were first grown by people on the island of New Guinea. Bananas traveled to India, and may have reached Africa by around 1000 BCE.

Phoenician Ships

1000 BCE

The Phoenicians were traders in the ancient world for the period between 1000 B.C.E. and 600 B.C.E. Phoenician ships were sturdy cargo ships built by Phoenician merchants. These ships were designed to transport large amounts of goods.

Silk

600 BCE

China introduced silk in the trade system

Mediterranean Network

600 BCE

Mediterranean Network in the Roman Empire (600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E)

Trans-Saharan Network

600 BCE

Trans-Saharan Network lasted from 600 to 1450 C.E. Travelers crossed the Sahara desert which increased the trade in gold, salt, ivory and slaves.

Gold, Salt, Ivory and Slaves

600 BCE

The trade of gold, salt, ivory and slaves became popular when caravans began crossing the Sahara desert.

Achaemenid Empire

550 BCE

Achaemenid Empire, also called the First Persian Empire, was an ancient Iranian empire based in Western Asia (550–330 BCE)

Iron

500 BCE

Iron was introduced to China.

Hanno

500 BCE

Hanno was an admiral from the Phoenician city of Carthage. He sailed around the western coast of Africa. Hanno was sent to explore Africa. He established several colonies along the Moroccan coast. He also established a trading post on a small island off the coast of Mauritania.

Camel Saddle

500 BCE

Camel saddles was an important technological advancement during this era. It was developed in Northern Arabia between 500 and 100 BCE. It was useful for people who led herds of animals.

Alexander the Great

332 BCE

Alexander the Great founded Alexandria in 332 BCE. Alexandria was a city in Egypt that became a major trade center.

Nearchus

326 BCE

Nearchus was an explorer and officer in the navy of Alexander the Great. He helped build a naval fleet to take part of the army back to Babylonia (over 15,000 men).

Mauryan Empire

324 BCE

Mauryan Empire compromised the majority of South Asia and extended over 1.9 million square miles (324–185 BCE)

Indian Ocean Trade Route

300 BCE

The Indian Ocean trade routes connected Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. beginning at least as early as the third century BCE.

Ashoka

271 BCE

Ashoka was one of the most famous Indian emperors. He ruled between 271-232 BCE. He converted to Buddhism and worked to spread the religion.

Han Dynasty

202 BCE

Han Dynasty in China was the second imperial dynasty of China and is considered a golden age in Chinese history (202 BCE–220 CE)

Zhang Qian

138 BCE

Zhang Qian was a pioneer of the 'Silk Road' trade routes. He helped introduce China to other foreign lands and cultures. In 138 BCE, he was sent by the emperor Wudi to meet Yuezhi but the gathering didn't go as planned because Zhang Qian was captured.

Silk Road

130 BCE

The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes, established during the Han Dynasty of China (130 BCE-1453 CE)

Disease on the Silk Road

130 BCE

Researchers found infectious disease in feces from the Silk Road. They found that the feces contained eggs from the Chinese liver fluke, a parasitic worm.

Strabo (born)

64 BCE

Strabo was a Greek traveler. He was the author of "Geography." He traveled around the world to read the scholarship of others. This helped him collect and compare sources to get the best state of knowledge about the known world.

Roman Empire

33 BCE

Roman Empire was around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, North Africa and West Asia (33 BCE–476 CE)