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1000 BCE
Trade Began
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Period: 1000 BCE to 300 BCE
Indian Ocean Trade Route
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800 BCE
Maritime Technology was developed
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800 BCE
Central hub
The Indian ocean became the central hub to the greatest international trade networks the world has ever seen. -
800 BCE
Eastern African Goods
Gold, Ivory, Sandlewood, Copper, and Slaves -
800 BCE
Arabia and Persia Goods
Wool, muslin fabric, wheat, barley, frankensense, myrh -
800 BCE
India goods
Cotton, dye, indigo, tea, spices, and herbs -
700 BCE
Kingdom of Ghana
It was a major Sudanic trading sight. It was the first to link trans saharan caravan trade. It had declined due to internal fighting. -
618 BCE
Tang and Song Dynasty
Chinese government started to revive under the Tang and Song Dynasties, maritime trade within the region increased. -
600 BCE
language Spread
Swahili, mix of Arabic, Indian, and Bontu -
600 BCE
Religion
Indian merchants brought Brahmin priests, Muslim scholars brought Arab merchants, Christian merchants brought priests. -
550 BCE
Phoenician Ships & Compass
The Chinese invented larger ships and the magnetic compass. This added momentum and growth to trade. Larger ships meant more cargo and spices across the ocean and all over the world.The magnetic compass was to help know which direction they were going. -
510 BCE
Scylax of Caryanda
Scylax of Caryanda sailed the Indian Ocean, he discovered the Arabian peninsula and sailed through the red sea. He also encouraged others to start making trade expeditions. -
500 BCE
Hanno Sailed
Hanno sailed around the western coast of Africa and started new colonies. He founded a trading post off the coast of Mauritania. -
500 BCE
Camel Saddle
The camel saddle was invented for comfort of traveling for trade. -
414 BCE
Swahili Civilization
The city state of Swahili Civilization competed with each other for dominance of the region. Arab empires greatly increased trade in the region as Islam supported trade, causing Islam to spread along the trade routes. -
336 BCE
Alexander the Great
He lead military conquests that won him control of the Persian empire. He founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt which became a very large center for trade. -
330 BCE
Byzantine becomes Constantinople
This serves as a major trading depot for goods going into Europe for several hundred years. -
322 BCE
Mauryan Empire
Became very trade oriented. Greek and West Asian territories were India's best trade partners at this time. -
300 BCE
Routes Connect
Routes connect Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. The Persian, Roman, Han, and Mauryan Empire's used these routes. -
300 BCE
Trans Saharan Network
Trans Saharan Network began. -
300 BCE
Animals & Disease
Animals such as the camel were introduced to North Africa and the Sahara making trade inland more efficient. The Bubonic plague was a major bacterial infection that was spread by fleas from the camels. -
45 BCE
Monsoons
Monsoons made trade possible, blowing strong winds eastward in the summer and westward in the winter. Others learned to trade as soon as they had an understanding of the monsoons.