Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Maritime SystemMaritime System

How important was it really?How important was it really?

Origins of Contact and Origins of Contact and TradeTrade

Records from 2,000 BCE Records from 2,000 BCE Regular trade between Mesopotamia, Regular trade between Mesopotamia,

islands of Persian Gulf, Oman and islands of Persian Gulf, Oman and Indus RiverIndus River

Used familiar routes for several 100 Used familiar routes for several 100 yearsyears

Established by a multilingual, Established by a multilingual, multiethnic society of seafarersmultiethnic society of seafarers

Where did trade take place?Where did trade take place?

Three distinct locationsThree distinct locations

– Southern China Sea Southern China Sea – Eastern coast of India to the islands of Eastern coast of India to the islands of

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia – Western coast of India to the Persian Western coast of India to the Persian

Gulf and the eastern coast of AfricaGulf and the eastern coast of Africa

Key PointsKey Points

No visible role in the rise and fall of No visible role in the rise and fall of kingdoms/ empireskingdoms/ empires

Created increasingly strong Created increasingly strong economic and social ties economic and social ties

Regular, seasonal winds didn’t Regular, seasonal winds didn’t remain unnoticed remain unnoticed

Key Points Cont’dKey Points Cont’d

Indian OceanIndian Ocean– Triangular sailsTriangular sails– Without oars (used Without oars (used

the wind)the wind)– Planks pierced, tied Planks pierced, tied

togethertogether– B/c of monsoons, B/c of monsoons,

long time at sealong time at sea– Little contact with Little contact with

homeland homeland

MediterraneanMediterranean– Square SailsSquare Sails– Long banks of oars Long banks of oars

(get around islands (get around islands and small harbors)and small harbors)

– Nailed vessels Nailed vessels togethertogether

– Rarely left sight of Rarely left sight of landland

– Maintained contact Maintained contact with their home citieswith their home cities

World around Indian Ocean developed differently from the world of the Mediterranean

Impact of Indian Ocean Impact of Indian Ocean TradeTrade

Demand continued tradeDemand continued trade Many ports Many ports

– In Southern India and Arabian peninsula- In Southern India and Arabian peninsula- isolatedisolated

– In Eastern India densely populatedIn Eastern India densely populated At times social impact despite their At times social impact despite their

usual lack of political powerusual lack of political power

Impact Cont’dImpact Cont’d

WomenWomen– Seldom accompanied men on travelsSeldom accompanied men on travels– Men married local women in port citiesMen married local women in port cities– Families thus established bilingual and Families thus established bilingual and

biculturalbicultural– Crucial role as mediators between Crucial role as mediators between

culturescultures– Introduced men to different cultures, Introduced men to different cultures,

which they took to other areas on their which they took to other areas on their travelstravels