Trade Networks by Way of the Indian Ocean During the Classical Period

Sugar Cane

1000 BCE

By 1000 B.C.E., sugar cane had reached India, as a luxury and medicinal good. By the end of the Classical Era, it was known throughout the Persian Empire as a substance used for cooking and to make things sweet. (Indianoceanhistory.org, 2020)

Iron Age

1000 BCE

The Iron Age and the production of iron made tools slowly made its way across the globe. With the increased amount of iron tools, farming, hunting, and battles were made easier and increased.
Iron swords, cups, and shields were available for trade.(History.comEditors,2019)

Kamel

900 BCE

Arab navigators used the Kamel to determine the latitude at sea by observing the distance between the horizon and a particular star. (Cartwright,2016)

Persian Cash Economy instituted in Egypt

525 BCE

The introduction of a coin economy system lead to easier trade transactions. (Mark,2017)

Darius i Ruled the Persian Empire

522 BCE

The Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great. The Empire was the largest in history. (History.comEditors,2019)

Scylax of Caryanda

510 BCE

Scylax, an explorer for King Darius of Persia, was sent on a voyage by the king to learn more of the riches of India and the mouth of the Indus River. Scylax is remembered for this voyage as it brought news of this exceptional region, which encourages trade expeditions. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Roman Republic Begins

507 BCE

(Stearns, Adas, Schwartz,&Gilbert,2015)

Camel Saddles

500 BCE

Camel Saddles were an important technology developed in North Arabia. This allow for longer travel and transportation of goods.(Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Alexander the Great

336 BCE

Alexander the Great with his military companies conquered many lands, and with it brought forth Greek art, culture in contact with many foreign countries. He was initiating the Hellenistic period. The Hellenic period influenced art, science, politics, and literature. The bringing together of different countries would lay the foundation for societies across the globe for centuries of interactions and cultural exchange. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Ashoka the Great

304 BCE

Ashoka turned Buddhism into the state religion of India encouraged Buddhist missionary activity.(Violatti,2014)

Incense Trade

300 BCE

The city of Ubar is essential in the incense trade by transport and sale between 2800 B.C.E.- 300 B.C.E.

Importing of Elephants

275 BCE

King Ptolemy of Egypt began the importing of elephants in 275B.C.E.(Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Angkor Borei

250 BCE

Angkor Borei was a major shipping port around 250 C.E. The capital city of Funan ships controlled trade between China and India. They also transported goods from the Indian Ocean to South China sea into inland trade routes.(Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

The Spice Trade

206 BCE

Spice trade began in Southeast Asia, and Asia's mainland around 206 B.C.E. Cloves was an essential part of the spice trade, imported by the Romans, and spread into Europe. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Han Dynasty

206 BCE

The Han Dynasty rules in China.
(Stearns, Adas, Schwartz,&Gilbert,2015)

Zhang Qian

106 BCE

Zhang Qian was an early diplomat from China who is said to have found the Silk Road trade route. Qian was sent on a mission to make contact with the Yuezhi and form an alliance. He was kidnaped and delayed. Upon his release, he continued West. Where he encountered cultural influences of Greece and India, when he returned to China and shared his discoveries, a second mission followed, he traded Chinese technologies for different dance, music, and foods like grapes. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

70 BCE

The trade ports on the African coast and Arabian Pennisula on the Red Sea encouraged trade between Rome, Egypt, and China. Cooper, wood, pearls, cloth, and gold are among the goods traded in these ports.

Caesar Augustus Rules the Roman Empire

31 BCE

(Stearns, Adas, Schwartz,&Gilbert,2015)

Indigo

7 BCE

Indigo was a plant used to dye fabric. This plant and the dying process introduced in Babylon in 7th-century B.C.E.

Polaris

7 BCE

The navigational tool the Polaris was first used by the Phoenicians while traveling across vast oceans when the land was not visible. Equipt with the knowledge of the position of the sun and stars and the direction of the winds and tides, the Polaris allowed long-distance travel and trade with foreign countries. (Cartwright,2016)

Bay of Bengal

4 BCE

The Bay of Bengal supplied the many riches of India to other countries through trade. The Capital in the region was Kaveripattinam. This capital city was home to a significant shipyard and many warehouses. Gemstones like sapphires, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and garnet are found throughout this region. They also traded other natural resources like coral, sandalwood, and pearls. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Sir Lanka

3 BCE

The spread of the Indian religion Buddhism was a significant contributor to increased trade in the region. Sri Lanka was a major port that connected Rome, Africa, Persia, and East Asia. Sir Lanka was famous for the spice cinnamon. Cinnamon was a common spice that would have also been apart of The Spice Road. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Silk Road

2 BCE

By the 2nd century B.C.E., overland trade routes had been established through China, Central Asia, India, Middle East, and the Mediterranean. Silk was a luxury item that was traded within this region regularly. This route spanning a large portion of land through the Taklamakan desert would become known as Silk Road. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Arikamedu Trade Center

2 BCE

Arikamedu trade center located off the Southeast Coast of India was important for trade with Rome. Rome imported ceramics through Arikamedu. Other goods traded in Arikamedu were pottery and glass beads. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Frankincense and Myrth

2 BCE

Frankincense and Myrth are both derivatives of tree sap. These trees are grown exclusively in South Arabia, Ethiopia, and Somalia. These incense are Considered to be a high-value luxury and transported by Arab merchants on the Incense Road to the North Mediterranean Gaza, where it would ship to the Roman Empire and Asia. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Isthmus of Kra

1 BCE

By the 1st century B.C.E. goods were regularly being transported across the Indian Ocean overland through the Isthmus of Kra up into China. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Pepper

1 BCE

Pepper introduced in the first century in India as a luxury good. Pepper was a spice often traded on The Spice Road.

End of 1st Century B.C.E.

1 BCE

The vast expansion in international trade has begun between the Roman Empire, the Parthian Empire, the Kushan Empire, the Nomadic Confederation of the Xiongnu, and the Han Empire. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Parthian Stations

1 BCE

Parthian Stations by Isodorus of Carax is a written document published around the 1st century B.C. as an account of the overland trade route and ports between the Near East and India. (Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Millet

1 BCE

Millet is a grain with a high nutrition, easy to grow crop. It can flourish in dry climates. It is the first domesticated wild grass in East. This crop spread by way of the Indian Ocean.(Indianoceanhistory.org,2020)

Sturdy Cargo Ships

1 BCE

Birth of Jesus of Nazareth

4

(Stearns, Adas, Schwartz & Gilbert,2015)

Christianity Begins

30

Christianity begins to take off after the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.

Christian Missionaries

30

Christianity dominated all other religions in Greco-Roman society. Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, North to ancient Britain, and as far East as India.(Knox,2016)