Indian Ocean Timeline

First Interactions

5000 BCE

Incense trade began on water from Oman on the southern Arabian Peninsula- First trade in waters

Ubar

2800 BCE

A site that historians believe may be a city mentioned in the scriptures, or holy book of Islam, the Qur'an. Ubar acted as a center for incense transport and sale. The spread of Incense was prized in India, in the Mediterranean region, and in east Africa.

Classical Era Start

600 BCE

The Classical Era was from 600 BCE to 600 CE

Iron and Silver Start

600 BCE

Iron metallurgy was introduced to China and silk was introduced to the trade system. China exported the silk and this silk was highly prized in India, the Middle East, and the Roman Empire.

Greek Currency

600 BCE

The Greek coin currency was introduced and affected trade with a new currency.

Classical Era Monsoons

Period: 600 BCE to 600

Dhows and Lateen sails along with knowledge of Monsoon winds allowed long distance trading. From the western Mediterranean to the South China Sea carried goods of one civilized core to be exchanged with the other.

Development of Confucius

551 BCE

Confucius developed concepts about society, education, and government that continued to be followed in China. Confucianism, became widely popular in Chinese culture and society after the 2nd century B.C. with the five classics becoming the core of education. The ideas and values would spread throughout the world.

Alexander The Great

550 BCE

Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire and extended Greek control over lands in western Asia, Egypt, Central Asia, and the Indus Valley. He also founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt, which became a major center of art and trade.

Scylax of Caryanda

510 BCE

Scylax of Caryanda made a voyage into the Indian Ocean from 510-515 BCE. King Darius of Persia sent Scylax on his voyage. He sent him on this voyage because he hear rumors of riches and wanted to discover the mouth of the Indus River. His voyage made him famous and brought news of the regions which encouraged trade expeditions.

Hanno

500 BCE

Hanno sailed around the western coast of Africa. He was sent to explore Libya, the ancient Greek name for Africa. He successfully established several colonies along the Moroccan coast, in addition to a trading post on a small island off the coast of Mauritania.

Persian War Start

500 BCE

Athens agreed to aid the city-states of the Asia Minor, upsetting their rivals the Persians. Darius the Great began attacks on the Greek mainland.

Start of Greeks and Romans

500 BCE

Greek and Roman sailors and traders entered the Indian ocean after 500 BCE. They were sent there by Persian Ruler Darius I. This is important because it added more goods and innovations.

Camel Saddle Start

500 BCE

The camel saddle was developed in Northern Arabia between 500 and 100 BCE. The frame held the saddle over the hump with two pieces of wood or rope on each side of the hump parallel with the camel's backbone. It allowed for the camels to carry more of a load which made trading and traveling a lot easier for the people.

The Peloponnesian War Start

431 BCE

The Peloponnesian War was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League. The destruction of Athens fleet ended the war, and Athens surrendered the following year. The war reshaped the Greek Civilization. Sparta was leading power and poverty was widespread effecting international relations.

Athenian Plague

426 BCE

The Athenian Plague was a massive plague that killed 1/3 of the population, including Pericles.

Alexandria Founded

332 BCE

Alexandria was founded around 332 BCE by Alexander the Great and remained the capital of Egypt for nearly a millennium. The city was heavily influenced by Greek, and later Roman, culture.

Mauryan Rule

Period: 321 BCE to 185 BCE

During the period of Mauryan Rule, there was a great expansion in trade between main centers of civilization in Eurasia and Africa.

Start of Hinduism

300 BCE

Hinduism is a religion or also known as a way of life. Science was also spread in the form of Hindi numerals to the Arabian Peninsula.

Trans Saharan Trade Founded

300 BCE

The establishment of a land-based trade route in Northern Africa that cut though the Sahara Desert. This allowed trading to be done more effectively. It used camels for transportation of goods which also made it more efficient.

Frankincense and myrrh

300 BCE

Frankincense and myrrh trading served as a driving force to open Indian Ocean Trade. During the Classical Era, they were transported by Arab merchants-along with spices, gold, ivory, pearls, precious stones and textiles.

Berenike

300 BCE

Berenike, an Egyptian port city located on the Red Sea that was a major center of international trade from the third century BCE until its decline in the sixth century CE. The city traded extensively with India, exchanging goods like cloth, pottery, beads, wood, and bamboo. During the Roman Empire, spices, myrrh, frankincense, pearls, and textiles were all shipped through Berenike to Alexandria and Rome.

Ashkoa

271 BCE

Ashoka was one of the most famous Indian emperors. He ruled from 271-232 B.C.E In 271 BCE Ashoka encouraged contact that contributed to the establishment of trade relations. He did this by sending religious envoys abroad.

Cloves

206 BCE

Cloves were traded regularly along routes stretching from Europe to China. Early written records from the Han dynasty in China described how court officials kept cloves in their mouths to sweeten their breath while talking to the king. The spice was also imported by the Romans, eventually spreading to southern Europe. Cloves were a very important part of the spice trade, connecting the islands of Southeast Asia to the Asian mainland and other distant regions.

Invasion of North India

200 BCE

In 200 BCE there was an invasion of North India. Invasions were by Central Asian Tribes, Bactrian Greeks, Sakas, and Kushans. They then established a dynasty.

Buddhism Founded

200 BCE

Buddhism spanned the Indian and Chinese cultural realms of Asia by moving across the trade routes. Many Indian merchants became Buddhists.

Angkor Borei and Oc Eo

Period: 200 BCE to 500

Funan's ships controlled trade between China and India, and dominated territory across the Indochinese peninsula. The cities of Funan also transferred trade goods from the Indian Ocean and South China Sea ports into inland trade routes.

Zhang Qian

138 BCE

Zhang was sent by emperor Wudi to make contact with the Yuezhi to form an alliance. His second mission to Southeast Asia he introduced Chinese culture and technology to the lands he visited and brought back foreign music, dance forms, and foods.

Pearls Founded

100 BCE

Pearls were a popular jewelry style in the Roman Empire around 100-200 BCE. They are n ideal trade good because they took up very little room on ships or caravans. Pearls were commonly used for jewelry and decoration, or to ground up into powder for medicine.

Diseases Started

100 BCE

Commons diseases in Rome and China were smallpox, measles, and bubonic plague. The Roman Empire and China's population dropped because of those things. It also caused the Han and Roman Empires to weaken.

Peppercorns Founded

100 BCE

Peppercorns were an important part of the spice trade. The spice was considered so valuable that the ancient Romans used it as a form of money, equal to gold and other precious metals.

Chinese Script

400

Chinese script introduced. Affected trade communications and writings.