The Indian Ocean Trade

Millets

4000 BCE

Millets is one of the main items that you could find along the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and also near Yemeni and east Africa. A millet is a type of grain so people could grow and trade this for others to use for food. Their is different types of millet grain along different routes in the trade routes.

Gemstones In India

3100 BCE

Indian had a lot of minerals such as gemstones. These gemstones were turned into jewelry, crowns and drinking cups for the rich. India had all types of gems such as sapphires, rubies that they were able to sell as many people traveled to India for this wealth.

Camels and the Gold and Salt Trade

1500 BCE

In the fifteenth century BC camels were used for saddle trading between African Savannah and North Africa. The camels were a big help so merchants could travel with the salt and gold to be able to trade for other goods along the routes.

Kamal (Arab Technologies)

1000 BCE

The Arab navigators created the Kamal which was able to tell Latitude while sailing. You needed to hold the card parallel to the horizon and look at the star to determine the directions. This technology help them sail around the Indian Ocean Routes.

Sugar Cane

1000 BCE

Sugar cane was grown, and the people would such the juice from the stems. Sugar cane was grown in Southeast Asia. Sugar cane was spread to Persia by the end of the Classical Era and was considered a luxury item as well because it was becoming in demand for cooking.

Classical Era

Period: 700 BCE to 100 BCE

This was the era of the Indian Trade Routes from start to finish. Merchants used this route to purchase and exchange goods with other towns people.

Pharaoh Necho II

610 BCE

Pharaoh Necho had the Phoenicians sailors sail the Red Sea and explore the coast of Africa.

Nile River to Red Sea Canal

609 BCE

Pharaoh Necho created a canal that connected the Nile to Red Sea. This was a key component to improved the trade routes.

The Phoenicians

600 BCE

The Phoenicians made glass items, and also imported and exported items along the trade route such as oils, wheat, spices and metals and wood.

Scylax of Caryanda

510 BCE

Scylax is famous for traveling down stream from the Indian ocean to the Arabian . He also sailed West and then went South towards the Red Sea. He told everyone about the trade route and encouraged them to sail the routes. He later wrote a book.

Hanno

500 BCE

Hanno sailed Africa's western coastline. He established many colonies on the coast of Moroccan and on the coast of Mauritania he established a trading post.

Alexander the Great founded the town of Alexandria

332 BCE

This town was a major part of the trade route, as they could use this route to trade art.

Nearchus, (Captain of Alexander the Greats Navy)

326 BCE

Nearchus started to sail at the Indus River and followed along the coast to the Tigris River. When Nearchus arrived at the destination he had waited for Alexander the Great who arrived with a golden crown for Nearchus to celebrate his travels.

Ashoka

254 BCE

This emperor converted to Buddhism and traveled around to spread the religion. While he was in power he was able to make India trad cultures with Asia both the West and Southeast.

Cloves

206 BCE

Cloves were a luxury for cooking and medicinal purposes. This item was traded among various trade routes from Europe to China on a regular basis.

Taklamakan Desert

200 BCE

The Taklamakan desert runs along the "Silk Road." This route was spread out across China.

Zhang Qian

106 BCE

Zhang explored the Silk Road trade routes. He many foreign cultures and lands were available thanks to Zhang helping to open China. After his travels in the Indian trade routes the new name for his route was called "The Silk Road."

Phoenician Technologies

100

Phoenicians built ships that were 65-100 long and 20 feet wide. This was a great deal for the Phoenician sailors as they were able to store a lot of goods to buy and sell. The Phoenicians also painted on the boats so they could see the routes to scare away other boats.

Silk

100

Silk was first discovered in the land of Loulan (China) between the times of the first and third century CE. The silk was very popular along the trade routes and also was high value because the merchants and travelers could use this for clothing. Silk was considered luxury because of the silk production this was how the "Silk Road" got its name

Kushan Gold Coin

150

This coined marked how the trade helped blend the religious and cultural aspects of the people and the land.

Suez Canal

1869

This year the Suez canal was able to connect the Mediterranean to the Red sea, which saved time on shipping goods around the trade routes.