Indian Ocean Trade

By dianabrewer20
  • 8000 BCE

    The First Cities

    People began to establish small farming communities. They used the water to hydrate their crops and to sail from city to city.
  • 1000 BCE

    King David Establishes Jerusalem as Capital

    The Aryan people begin to settle in India. Iron metallurgy took place in Asia, Europe, and Africa. King David establishes Jerusalem as his capital city.
  • 600 BCE

    Iron Metallurgy in China

    Iron Metallurgy in China
    Iron metallurgy was finally discovered in China. Sea travels helped to spread techniques to new areas.
  • 507 BCE

    The Roman Republic Begins

    The Roman Republic Begins. Rome was well known for their development of roads and land travel, however it was cheaper to transport goods for trade by sea.
  • 334 BCE

    Alexander the Great

    Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquers western Asia and begins the Hellenistic period.
  • 206 BCE

    Silk

    Silk
    Silk cloth was discovered in China. Silk was used as a good for trade and was sometimes traded as currency.
  • 500

    Trade Develops

    Trade route develops through the Straits of Malacca, linking the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea. This development expanded the area to which goods could be traded.
  • 1271

    Marco Polo's Travels

    1271-1295 Marco Polo travels overland to Fuzhou, China and then sails through the South China Sea and Indian Ocean to Hormuz.
  • 1486

    Bartholomeu Dias

    Bartholomeu Dias
    Bartholomeu Dias becomes the first person to sail past the southern tip of Africa.
  • 1497

    Vasco da Gama

    Vasco da Gama
    Vasco da Gama circumnavigates Africa, and in 1499, sails first Portuguese ships to India.
  • 1509

    Portuguese Attempt Taking Indian Ocean Ports

    1509-1549 Portuguese begin expeditions to conquer Indian Ocean ports. They take Diu in 1509, Goa in 1510, Malacca in 1511, and Hormuz in 1514. Attempts to take Aden in 1513 fail.
  • 1556

    Trading Post on Macao, China

    Portuguese establish a trading post on the island of Macao, China.
  • 1564

    Ocean Trade Networks

    Portuguese link Indian Ocean trade networks to the New World via the Philippines.

  • British East India Company

    British East India Company begins.

  • Dutch East India Company

    Dutch East India Company begins.

  • Trading Factory in Calcutta, India

    British establish trading factory in Calcutta, India.

  • Industrial Revolution

    Industrial Revolution begins in Britain

  • Battle of Plassey

    Battle of Plassey gives British territorial power in India.

  • Steamboat

    Steamboat
    Fulton invents commercial steamboat. The commercial steamboat reduced the time used to move people and goods across waterways.

  • Slave Trade Ends in Britain

    Britain outlaws slave trade.

  • Mechanized Cotton

    Mechanized cotton production expands in the United States.

  • Steam Locomotive

    Steam Locomotive
    The steam locomotive is introduced in Britain. This expedites the movement of goods over land.

  • Migrations of Indentured Labor

    Migrations of indentured labor begin in Indian Ocean Region.

  • Communication gets Faster

    Communication gets Faster
    Telegraph machine aids rapid communication.

  • Cotton Mill in India

    Cotton Mill in India
    First mechanized cotton mill opens in India.

  • GOLD

    GOLD
    Gold is discovered in South Africa.
  • Period: to

    Panama Canal Built

    United States builds Panama Canal. The Panama Canal reduces the distance ships have to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, making long distance trade more feasible.