Indian Ocean Trade Timeline

By NicoletteBeers
  • 600 BCE

    Creation of Buddhism

  • Period: 600 BCE to 600

    Disease

    Disease spread from Asia to China and the Mediterranean.
  • 551 BCE

    Confucius

    Confucius was a philosopher who spread his ideas that led to other philosophers, Mencius, Shang Yang, and Laozi, to spread their own ideas.
  • 510 BCE

    Scylax of Caryanda

    Scylax or Caryanda went exploring and landed at Yemeni ports. He encouraged trade expeditions.
  • 484 BCE

    Herodotus

    Herodotus was born. He was a traveler and a historian that spread other people's cultures and customs.
  • 400 BCE

    Spread of Buddhism

    Wandering missionaries had carried the Buddhist faith from central Asia to Sri Lanka and into China and Japan.
  • 334 BCE

    Alexander the Great

    Alexander the Great started his quest to conquer areas in Persia, Asia, India, and the Mediterranean.
  • 332 BCE

    Alexandria and Other Main Cities

    Alexander the Great founded centers of scholarship in Greek learning. Encouraged intermarriage and accommodated various traditions in a multinational empire.
  • 325 BCE

    India is Conquered by Alexander the Great

    Indian artists used Greek themes and mathematical knowledge was exchanged. Greeks converted to Buddhism and Hinduism, often combining them.
  • 300 BCE

    Fall of the Han Empire

    The fall of the Han Empire caused a decline in the Rome-China trading axis.
  • 300 BCE

    Hinduism

    The spread of Hinduism led to a migration of merchants, artisans, servants, and laborers, and achievements in mathematics and the sciences.
  • 200 BCE

    Slavery

    Slavery spread due to Roman agriculture becoming increasingly commercialized.
  • 200 BCE

    Agricultural Advancements

    Roman waterwheels and manufacturing operations spread.
  • 200 BCE

    2nd Century Trading

    Romans bought silks and other processed goods from Asia.
  • 200 BCE

    2nd Century Trading

    Romans traded exotic African animals, skins, and gold.
  • 30

    Death of Jesus of Nazareth

    He spread the beliefs of Christianity.
  • 70

    Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

    A detailed description of the trade between Roman Egypt and India that included all of the ports on the Red Sea, the African coast, and the Arabian Peninsula.
  • 70

    Periplus of the Erythaean Sea

    Copper, wood, pearls, cloth and gold were commonly exchanged during this time between Roman Egypt and India.
  • 100

    Camels

    Camels were introduced to Africa from Asia.
  • 300

    Ubar

    A major trading city for frankincense and incense.