Indian Ocean Trade

By zfadipe001
  • 6000 BCE

    Farming Around the Indian Ocean

    Farming Around the Indian Ocean
    Around 6000 BCE farming emerged around the Indian Ocean around the Nile and Tigris-Euphrates rivers. barley, wheat, and rice were the earlier crops followed by yams and bananas.
  • 4000 BCE

    Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Began Trading By Sea

    Artifacts and inscriptions dating from 4000 BCE and 3000 BCE support that trading occurred along the shores of Mesopotamia and the Arabian Gulf. The rising of civilization caused the need for resources which in turn inclined the need for trade. Wood, stone, jewelry, and items for war were common items for trade.
  • 3000 BCE

    Way of Travel

    Way of Travel
    In order to increase the efficiency of trade, plank ships were made this helped coasting over long and short distances to carry goods easier.
  • 1300 BCE

    The Seasonal Monsoon

    The seasonal monsoon winds, combined with the ability to navigate the stars allowed travel through wider and more open seas possible.
  • 1100 BCE

    Clearer Picture of Trade

    By 1000 BCE, a clearer picture of trade is attributed to written records and dated artifacts. Around this time it is suspected that long-distance trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia ceases.
  • 600 BCE

    Trading Religions

    With trade, came the spread of different religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism spread throughout Southeast Asia. Many in search for knowledge collected sacred texts, found religious communities, and found shrines.
  • 500 BCE

    New Traders

    New Traders
    By 500 BCE, the Greeks and Romans entered the Indian Ocean, sent there by Darius I.
  • 618

    The Tang and Song Dynasties

    The Tang and Song Dynasties
    Under the Song and Tang Dynasties, maritime trade grew rapidly. As trade was established, so was an in imperial navy to protect traders from pirates.
  • 618

    Guangzhou

    Guangzhou
    4000 ships per year visited the port of Guangzhou. The port became a cosmopolitan place for the mixing of religions. This became a large community and many places of worship were established here.
  • 960

    Specific Goods

    Spices, silk, sandalwood, and rice were traded. Tea and porcelain became a luxury to trade.
  • 1405

    The Ming Dynasty

    The Ming Dynasty
    The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) restored Chinese rule, after the invasion of the Mongols in the 13th century. in 1405 they began the great maritime adventure of the Ming Voyages under Admiral Zheng He. There were 5 voyages with hundreds of ships that visited ports from one end of the Indian River to the other.
  • 1498

    The Atlantic Slave Trade

    The Atlantic Slave Trade
    The Portuguese experimented voyages around West Africa, which led them into the Indian Ocean. This unfortunately resulted in the Atlantic slave trade. Increased sailing experience and knowledge also allowed passage into the Americas.

  • European Dominance

    European Dominance
    By the 1600s, the Europeans became more dominant in the Indian Ocean. They developed finance, banks, improved ships and weapons, and supported the rulers of the lands in which they traded.