Trade Via the Indian Ocean During the Classical Period

Sugar Cane

1000 BCE

Sugar cane started to be traded out of Southeast Asia to India around 1000 B.C.E.

Bananas

1000 BCE

Bananas started to be traded among Southeast Asia nations as early as 8000 - 5000 B.C.E. However, bananas started to show up in Africa around 1000 B.C.E.

The Phoenicians

600 BCE

The Phoenicians dominated much of early trade and travel during the first millennium B.C.E. Phoenician merchants are believed to have circumnavigated the African continent and sailed as far as present day Britain in search of tin. Furthermore, they established several trading colonies, such as Carthage, in addition to, developing the Phoenician alphabet that the Greeks eventually adopted.

Scylax of Caryanda

510 BCE

Scylax made a voyage into the Indian Ocean between 510 - 515 B.C.E., in which, he went exploring in the service of King Darius of Persia. Furthermore, Darius wanted Scylax to investigate the claims he had heard of riches within India, in addition to, discovering the Indus River. Scylax brought back news of the lands he had discovered and encouraged Persia to trade with these lands.

Alexandria

332 BCE

Founded around 332 B.C.E., by Alexander the Great, the capital city of Egypt remained for nearly a millennium. Furthermore, the city served as a hub for international trade that was heavily influenced by Greek, and later Roman, culture.

Nearchus

326 BCE

A captain of Alexander the Great's navy, Nearchus built a fleet of naval vessels to return part of the army back to Babylonia. Nearchus made a journey that started at the mouth of the Indus River, followed the coastline to the Strait of Hormuz, and up the Arabian (Persian) Gulf to the Tigris River.

Berenike

275 BCE

Founded by the Egyptian King Ptolemy II in 275 B.C.E., Berenike served as a harbor to import African elephants from Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Additionally, the port was utilized for extensive trading with India of goods such as cloth, pottery, beads, wood, and bamboo.

Ashoka

254 BCE

Indian emperor that was in power between 271 - 232 B.C.E. Around 254 B.C.E. Ashoka sent groups to promote the religion of Buddhism among foreign cultures such as the Greeks, Kambojas, and Rastrikas.

Cloves

206 BCE

Around 206 B.C.E., the Chinese began to trade cloves with European city-states, such as Rome, as part of the spice trade.

Chhien Han Shu

206 BCE

Meaning, "History of the Han Dynasty," the passage describes early trade with Iran and other ares of the South Sea. Also, the passage describes goods that were exchanged, the recruitment of sailors, and the dangers encountered while traveling on the sea.

Rouletted Pottery

200 BCE

Ceramic pottery has been found in India, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia that suggests other cultures were trading techniques and styles.

Vyadhapura

200 BCE

The capital city of Funan served as a port, in which, Funan's ships controlled trade between China and India. Also, the cities of Funan transferred trade goods from the Indian Ocean and South China Sea ports to more inland trade routes.

Strabo the Geographer

64 BCE

Born in 64 B.C.E., Strabo was the Greek author of "Geography." Furthermore, Strabo would travel to other lands, as far as the Red Sea, to learn about other lands. In addition, Strabo's works describe what the people of the Mediterranean thought about the world outside of their region.