Indian Ocean Trade Route

By RJHarding
  • 1000 BCE

    Monsoon wind pattern established

    The monsoon wind pattern had been well established and made it possible to navigate the Arabian Sea alongside star navigation. Summer monsoon season lasts from May to September and blows from west to east. The winds change to the opposite direction in the winter months from October to April, thus allowing ships to take advantage of the tailwinds.
  • Period: 600 BCE to 300 BCE

    Religion

    Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism spread across the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia. Pilgrim and missionary travel accounts tell of journeys in search of knowledge, to found religious communities, collect sacred texts and visit shrines. The rise of Judaism and Christianity resulted in migrations of both groups to colonies in Ethiopia, Arabia, and India.
  • Period: 515 BCE to 510 BCE

    Scylax of Caryanda

    Voyaged into Indian Ocean 510-515 BCE for King Darius of Persia in search of riches in India and to find the mouth of the Indus River. Became famous for his voyage and brought news of many regions that encouraged future trade expeditions. He later wrote a mariner handbook, mentioned by famous historian Herodotus.
  • 500 BCE

    The Greeks and Romans

    Greek and Roman sailors and traders entered the Indian Ocean, sent by Darius I of Persia.
  • Period: 500 BCE to 300 BCE

    Chinese/Southeast Asian Goods

    Goods from China and Southeast Asia appear in records of trade with India.
  • Period: 500 BCE to 300 BCE

    Indian imports and exports

    During this time, India exported many goods and imported silver, copper and gold.
  • Period: 500 BCE to 300 BCE

    Prominent States

    Several strong states existed during this time: the Mauryan Empire, the Persian Empire, the Roman Empire, and the Han Dynasty.
  • Period: 500 BCE to 300 BCE

    Roman coins

    Roman coins were found in Indian hoards alongside Indian coins.
  • Period: 500 BCE to 300 BCE

    Goods found at archaeological sites

    Goods such as cloths, ceramics, pottery, metal wares, glass, beads, incense, rare woods, spices, pearls, and coral were found alongside common goods at archaeological sites on the Indian coast.
  • 326 BCE

    Nearchus

    Sent by Alexander the Great, Nearchus traveled from the Indus River to the Arabian gulf.
  • 300 BCE

    Myos Hormos

    Also known as Aphrodite's Hormos. City located at modern day Quseir al Qadim. Was a main port for trade during Ptolomeic and Roman periods.
  • 300 BCE

    Barygaza

    Located in modern-day Bharuch, Gujarat. It was a city at the mouth of the river Narmada in western India and an important sea port one the Indian Ocean Trade Route.
  • 270 BCE

    Arsinoe

    In Northern Egypt, along the canal restored by Ptolemy II connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Considered a main port fron Greek trade
  • 200 BCE

    Korkai

    Was the capital and important port of the Early Pandyan Kingdom. The city was known as a pearl fishery, as mentioned by Pliny the Elder and in the "Periplus of the Erythraean Sea".
  • 27 BCE

    Arikamedu

    Located in Southern India in Kakkayanthope. Known as an "emporium" in the "Periplus of the Erythraean Sea". Known as a main Greek trading post that was started during the reign of Augustus Caesar.
  • 70

    Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

    A trader's handbook written around 70 CE. Written in Greek by Egyptian merchant from Alexandria. Gives a detailed account of trade between Roman Egypt and India and lists all ports of the Red Sea, African Coast and the Arabian Peninsula. It describes the people that lived in these ports, styles of boats used and items imported and exported - copper, wood, pearls, cloth, gold, frankincense.
  • 77

    Natural History

    Book written by Roman author and naturalist Pliny the Elder around 77 CE. It provides evidence of trade between the Roman Empire and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the most detailed Roman works ever written and continued as a major guide for scientists until the Middle Ages. In one excerpt, Pliny recorded that the approach to the Indus River could be seen when out of site of land as a distinctively colored outflow of water and sea snakes could be seen.