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2000 BCE
Beginning of Indian Ocean Trading Routes
Trade routes connected Arabia, India, Asia, and East Africa. -
1000 BCE
What was traded?
When trade was new and exciting, simple things were traded. Silk, porcelain, spices, incense and ivory were all traded throughout the Indian Ocean. -
550 BCE
Achaemenid Empire
Persia became involved with the Indian Ocean trade in the mediterranean. -
330 BCE
Mauryan Empire
India begins to contribute to trade in the Indian Ocean. -
300 BCE
Then what was traded?
Empires began to trade more things than just coastal necessities. Things such as Roman coins, Indian treasures, and Persian jewels started to make their way across the Indian Ocean. -
202 BCE
Han Dynasty
China became involved with the Indian Ocean trade system. -
33 BCE
Roman Empire
During the classical period, the Roman Empire also started to become involved with trade in the Indian Ocean. (Mediterranean) -
700
Religion Spread
During trade, word of religion spread through the mouths of merchants rather than by the mouth of missionaries. This allowed the knowledge of different religious cultures to emerge. -
1405
Chinese Ming Dynasty
Since the beginning of trade in the Indian Ocean, China had vessels come to them for they had many goods Empires needed and wanted. However in 1405 the Ming Dynasty sent out the first of 7 expedition ships in order to seek out new trading opportunities. -
1498
Portugese Sailors
Portuguese sailors made their way onto the trading world, however, Europe had nothing to trade because they had no need for wool or cooking pots. -
Dutch East India Company (VOC)
The dutch started to try and gain control and put a monopoly over the trading system on items such as nutmeg and mace. -
British East India Company
Britain then tried to gain control over the trading routes as well. This led to the collapse of the Indian Ocean trading routes because goods were increasing in amount to Europe while Asian trading Empires collapsed.
