2.3 Exchange in the Indian Ocean

Astrolobe

A navigational instrument used to determine latitude by measuring the position of stars.

Calicut

A major port city on the southwest coast of India that played a central role in spice trade networks.

Diaspora

The dispersion of a group of people from their homeland into other regions.

Gujarat

A region in western India known for its active merchant communities and participation in Indian Ocean trade.

Indian Ocean Basin

The maritime region connecting East Africa, the Middle east, South Asia, and Southwest Asia through trade routes.

Indian Ocean slave trade

The movement of enslaved Africans across the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and Asia.

Lateen sails

Triangular sails that allowed ships to sail against the wind and improved maneuverability.

Malacca (Meleka)

A major southeast Asian port city that controlled the strait of Malacca and became a key hub in Indian Ocean trade.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal wind patterns in the Indian Ocean that facilitated predictable maritime trade.

Spice Island

The Indonesian islands (especially the Moluccas) known for producing valuable spices such as cloves and nutmeg.

Stern rudder

A steering device mounted at the rear of a ship that improved navigation and control.

Swahili city-states

Independent trading cities along the East African coast that blended African, Arab, and Persian infulences.

Zheng He

A Chinese admiral of the MIng Dynasty who led large maritime expiditions across the Indian Ocean in the early 15th century.