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Between 5,000 to 1,000 BCE, while considered the Ancient Era, was ultimately when trade began to emerge along the coasts and rivers of the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean system developed out of the gradual integration of earlier regional networks.
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Ubar is believed to have been one of the biggest cities for incense transport and sale from around 2800 BCE to 300 CE. The incense trade began as early as 5000 BCE by sea and land from here.
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The trade in the Indian Ocean is more evident during this time frame because of the artifacts and records that are able to tell us so. Mariners were more confident in their voyages as monsoon wind patterns became well established and navigation was better understood.
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Arab ships are known to have sailed directly from Southern Arabia to India and back. Around this same time, Austronesian mariners also reached India and settled on the East African island of Madagascar. Evidence comes from the Malagasy language, crops like banana, coconut, and yam were first of the trade.
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The trade in the Indian Ocean span from Southeast Asia, Arabia, India, and East Africa. Eventually, trade included China, growing the trade industry even more.
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The Indigo plant was a valuable plant found in documents as early as 700 BCE, in Babylon, and also later mentioned in Greek and Roman sources. It became a popular trade, as the Chinese used it to dye their silks.
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The Greek coin currency was introduced and used in trade.
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Trade shipping in the Indian Ocean was done by various means: dhows, sailboats, dry-cargo carriers, and tankers. In the beginning small, lateen-rigged sailing vessels called dhows were predominant.
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A major story of the Classical Era is the spread of religions. Between 600 and 300 BCE, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism spread across the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia.
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The Achaemenid Empire in Persia was a major empire involved in the Indian Ocean trade.
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Scylax of Caryanda made a voyage into the Indian Ocean from 510-515 BCE. He was famous for this voyage because he brought news the regions he found that encouraged trade expeditions. Scylax later wrote a handbook for mariners, and was mentioned by Herodotus the Greek historian.
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Greek and Roman sailors and traders are said to have also joined in on the Indian Ocean trade some time after 500 BCE sent there by the Persian ruler Darius I.
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Alexander the Great was the King of the Macedonian/Greek empire from 336 B.C.E. until his death in 323 B.C.E. He lead military conquests that won him control of the Persian empire.He founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt, which was a major city for trade.
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The Mauryan Empire in India was a major empire involved in the Indian Ocean trade.
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Frankincense and myrrh (incense from the dried sap from trees) trading served as a driving force to open Indian Ocean Trade. During the Classical Period, they were transported by Arab merchants-along with spices, gold, ivory, pearls, precious stones and textiles.
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The Han Dynasty in China was a major empire involved in the Indian Ocean trade.
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Diseases that broke out and were spread by way of the Indian Ocean trade during the Classical Period were smallpox, measles, and the bubonic plague. These impacted China and Roman population the worse, resulting in many deaths.
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The Roman Empire was a major empire involved in the Indian Ocean trade.
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The end of the Classical Period was 300 CE when Portugal invaded and tried to run the trade for its' own profit. 300 CE is the beginning of the Medieval Period.
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The Kamal was a key navigational tool developed around 900 CE that used by Arab navigators in the Indian Ocean.
