Indian ocean trade

Indian Ocean Trade Routes

By eredick001
  • 3000 BCE

    Trade Interaction Begins

    Trade Interaction Begins
    First instances of trade began. Travelers used small boats or canoes to travel between ports.
  • Period: 3000 BCE to 1 BCE

    Identifying Networks

    Civilizations involved in trade using the Indian Ocean in the classical era were China, India, East Africa, Arabia, and Southeast Asia.
  • 2600 BCE

    Trade begins

    Trade begins
    Trade began around this time in a more structured way between the East African civilization of Harappa and the civilization of Mesopotamia. Harappa traded grains such as millet and sorghum in exchange for textiles likely made of wool.
  • 2300 BCE

    Cotton

    Cotton
    India began to use cotton in textiles, replacing wool. Cotton trade between India and Mesopotamia increased.
  • 1600 BCE

    Empires involved in Trade

    Empires involved in Trade
    The empires involved in trade using the Indian Ocean were:
    Mauryan Empire - India
    Han Dynasty - China
    Achaemenid Empire - Persia
    Roman Empire - Mediterranean
  • Period: 750 BCE to 600 BCE

    Spread of Religion

    Foreign merchants and missionaries began to spread religion throughout the area.
    600BCE - 300BCE - Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism
    100CE - 700CE - Christianity
    632BCE - 75CE - Islam
  • 618 BCE

    China silk monopoly

    China silk monopoly
    China began trading silk with the Roman empire. Aristocratic members of society saw silk as luxurious.
  • 600 BCE

    Invention of the Dhow

    Invention of the Dhow
    The invention of the dhow shipping vessel saw more efficient trade begin. The dhow had one or more masts with sails and was great at carrying heavier loads.
  • 500 BCE

    Greek and Roman involvement

    Greek and Roman involvement
    Around 500BCE Greek and Roman sailors began to trade using Indian Ocean trade routes. They would trade goods such as gold, wine, olive oil and ceramics.
  • 326 BCE

    Nearchus

    Nearchus
    A prominent source of knowledge of the trade routes of this time comes from the account of Nearchus, a friend and navel officer of Alexander the Great. He documented his travel with his fleet from the Indus River to the Persian Gulf.
  • 323 BCE

    Discovery of Monsoon System

    Discovery of Monsoon System
    Egyptians discovered the seasonal Indian Ocean monsoon wind systems and adapted that knowledge to made trade safer and more efficient throughout the area.
  • 320 BCE

    Sea lanes used for trade

    Common goods traded at this time period were:
    India - spices and pepper
    Persia and Egypt - grain
    Mediterranean - oil and wine
  • 300 BCE

    Disease

    Disease
    More trade routes were emerging and with the influx of trade, diseases began to spread. Many people who were never exposed to illnesses like smallpox became infected and died.
  • 200 BCE

    Invention of Iateen sail

    Invention of Iateen sail
    The usage of this triangular shaped sail made dhow boats and trade faster and more effective.
  • 78 BCE

    The Periplus of the Erythraen Sea

    The Periplus of the Erythraen Sea
    Around this time a Roman document, written in Greek surfaced with a likely firsthand account of port locations and effective trade routes.