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1000 BCE
Sugarcane
From its origins in South East Asia, sugarcane made its way to India by 1000 BCE. Sugarcane was considered an exotic sweetener that was a luxury reserved for the wealthy and royalty. -
Period: 1000 BCE to 300
Classical Era
In 1000 BCE long-distance trade from Egypt and Mesopotamia may have been in decline according to historians. Trade expanded, however, over the second half of the millennium. Among the strong states that existed during this time were the Mauryan Empire (323-185 BCE) of India, the Persian Empire, the Roman Empire in Europe, and the Han Dynasty in China. -
Period: 900 BCE to 700 BCE
Phoenician Trade Network
Masters at sea, the Phoenicians set up a network of colonies and trade centers across the ancient Mediterranean. Their major trade routes were by sea to the Greek islands, across southern Europe, down the Atlantic coast of Africa, and up to ancient Britain. The Phoenicians' trade network was surpassed by one of its colonies - Carthage, by the Greeks, and then the Romans in the 7th century BCE. -
600 BCE
Bananas
Bananas are believed to initially grow in Malaya Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, and New Guinea. Buddhist scriptures noted Indian traders brought banana plants back with them where they spread through India, Africa, and Polynesia. -
Period: 600 BCE to 300 BCE
Spread of Religion
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism spread across the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia. -
Period: 515 BCE to 510 BCE
Scylax of Caryanda
Scylax was enlisted by King Darius of Persia to explore in search of the riches rumored to be in India and to discover the mouth of the Indus River. Scylax brought news of the regions he encountered which encouraged trade expeditions. He later wrote a handbook for mariners. -
500 BCE
Hanno
A Phoenician admiral from the city of Carthage from the Straits of Gibraltar, or the Pillars of Herakles, around the African coast as far down as present-day Gabon successfully establishing colonies along the Moroccan coast and a trading post on a small island off the coast of Mauritania. -
500 BCE
Saddles
The first horse saddles were in 700 BCE merely cloth padding used to show off the rider's wealth. The first functional saddle was introduced in 500 BCE -
Period: 500 BCE to 100 BCE
Arabian Camel Saddle
The Arabian camel saddle provided both a way for a person to easily ride on the dromedary (one-humped camel) as well as a pack frame to carry heavy loads. -
Period: 431 BCE to 404 BCE
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian war was fought between ancient Sparta and Athens. The war consisted of many undecisive battles until Persia offered funding to build a fleet that could challenge Athens but Sparta would need to recognize Persian sovereignty in Asia Minor. As a result, Sparta finally won the war in a naval battle. -
430 BCE
Plague
Athens was devastated by a plague brought from Egypt via Persia -
400 BCE
The Isthmus of Kra
A narrow strip of land that connects the Malay Peninsula to the continent of Asia, the Isthmus of Kra separates the Indian Ocean from the China Sea. Traders would cross the Isthmus of Kra instead of making the long and dangerous trip around the Malay Peninsula. -
Period: 356 BCE to 323 BCE
Alexander the Great
The king of Macedonia, Alexander the Great expanded his empire over lands in western Asia, Egypt, Central Asia, and the Indus Valley. In Egypt he founded Alexandria which became a major hub for trading and arts. -
332 BCE
Alexandria
Established in 332 BCE by Alexander the Great, this city became a major center for arts and trade. Its ideal location made it the center of trade routes connecting Rome to inner Africa, the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, and Asia. -
300 BCE
Indian Ocean Trade Routes
Long-distance sea trade moved across a web of routes linking East Asia, Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. The seasonal monsoon winds were harnessed by traders from Arabia, Gujarat, and other coastal areas. -
300 BCE
Frankincense and Myrrh
Frankincense and myrrh are the dried sap of trees that grow exclusively in Southern Arabia, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The sap is burned and gives off a pleasant aroma. The popular incense was used for rituals in cultures across the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean and the Near East. They were also used as an insect repellant, as medicine, and for embalming ancient Egyptian mummies. -
300 BCE
Berenike
Berenike was a major international trade center. The Egyptian port city located on the Red Sea traded extensively with India, exchanging goods like cloth, pottery, beads, wood, and bamboo. -
138 BCE
Zhang Qian
Zhang Qian was sent by the emperor Wudi to make contact with the Yuezhi that ruled parts of India and Bactria in Central Asia. His journey was plagued by kidnappings and other delays before he finally reached the Yuezhi. After reaching his intended destination, he decided to continue westward until he reached Central Asia. He returned to China 13 years later and then was sent on a second mission to Southeast Asia. The routes he first crossed would come to be known as the "Silk Road." -
130 BCE
Silk Road
Established by the Han Dynasty of China, the Silk Road is an ancient network of trade routes that linked the regions of the time in commerce. The network opened up trade with the west until the Ottoman Empire closed the routes in 1453 CE. -
100 BCE
Pepper
Native to the Malabar Coast in southwestern India, pepper was a luxury good used for cooking and medicine.
