2.3 Indian Ocean Trade Routes

Causes of Indian Ocean Expansion

• Spread of Islam

• Increased Demand of Specialized Products

• Slavery

• Environmental knowledge

• Advances in maritime technology

• Growth of states

Causes of Indian Ocean Expansion: Islam

As Islam spread it connected cities along the coast of the Indian Ocean

Causes of Indian Ocean Expansion: Increased Demand

• People wanted Specialized, luxury products

• Every region had a specialization

Indian Ocean Expansion Specialized Products

• india- textiles

• Southeast Asia- Spice Islands

• Swahili Coast- ivory, gold, slaves

• China- silk, porcelain, tea

• Southwest Asia- horses, figs, dates

Causes of Indian Ocean Expansion: Slavery

• Long running trade in Eastern Africa

• Spread African culture and caused diaspora

Causes of Indian Ocean Expansion: Environmental Knowledge

• Monsoon winds helped voyagers plan ahead

• Winds blew out of India in winter

• Into India in summer

• Voyages could be timed

• Increased safety

Causes of Indian Ocean Expansion: Advances in Maritime Tech

• Lateen sails

  • caught wind easily from different directions

  • Arab

• Stern rudder (Chinese) gave boats stability and manueverability

• Dhows

• Astroblade helped determine latitude

Causes of Indian Ocean Expansion: Growth of States

• Malacca

  • Built a navy and imposed fees on ships passing through Strait

  • Wanted to control trade between Europe and Asia

Effects of the Indian Ocean Expansion

• Swahili City-States

• Diasporic Communities

• Significant Cultural Transfers

• Chinese Expeditions

Effects of the Indian Ocean Expansion: Swahili City-States

• Trade brought wealth

• Eastern Africa

Effects of the Indian Ocean Expansion: Diasporic Communitites

• Merchants interacted with surrounding cultures and people

• Arab and West African merchants stayed in Western Indian port cities permanently

• Arab and Persian merchants settled in East Africa

Effects of the Indian Ocean Expansion: Significant Cultural Transfers

• Transfer of knowledge, culture, technology, commerce, religion

• Voyages of Chinese Admiral Zheng He

Effects of the Indian Ocean Expansion: Chinese Voyages

• Admiral Zheng He

• Ming Empire sent seven voyages in 1405

• Wanted to display regained power after Mongols and receive tribute

• Enormous revolutionary ships

• Brought China prestige and new markets

• Exotic treasures and goods

• Some Chinese immigrated

• Controversy began because Confucianism was threatened by the new ways being brought home

• Ming Empire ended Zheng He’s travels and discouraged foreign travel

  • banned builiding ships with more than 2 masts