Unit 2.3 Exchange in the Indian Ocean

Spread of Islam

-Encouraged travelling & learning = Expansion of Islam = Created trading relationships b/w Muslim Persians & Arabs w/ East Africa, East Asia, South Asia, & Southeast Asia in Indian Ocean

• Emporias: Cambay, Calicut (spices)

  • Diasporic Communities: Waiting for favorable winds, intercultural towns (Buddhists, Jews, Muslim Arab/Persian merchants in East Africa & India) spread ideas thru intermarriage

• Malacca: Navy & tax on Strait of Malacca b/w Indian & Chinese routes

  • 1511: Portuguese takes over, but overlooking of surrounding conflicts = diversified trade routes

Innovations

-Was essential to growth of Indian Ocean trade

• Monsoon Winds: Knowledge moved ships farther from coast

  • Lateen Sails: Arab merchants = triangular shape easily caught winds from different directions

  • Wooden Dhows: Small Arab/Indian/Persian ships that held 400 tons dominated

  • Junks: Chinese ships w/ stern rudder gave ships more stability & maneuverability for 1k tons

• Astrolabe: Muslim innovation told distance from equator

Specialized Products from India

-Increased demand = Increased jobs & economic prosperity

• High-Quality Cotton Textiles: Made w/ Hand Roller Cotton Gins & Spinning Wheels in cottage industries, they were preferred over European sheep’s wool

• Sugar: Initially expensive & overshadowed by honey, Gupta Indians’ method of turning juice to crystals spread to China, Venice, & Middle East & made easier to store/transport

• Spice Trade: Pepper

• Extra: high-carbon steel for knives/swords, tanned leather, & stonework

• Iron from Ganges, Copper from Deccan Plateau, Salt from coasts

Spice Trade

-Classical Indian Ocean dominated by Indians’, Jews’, Phoenicians’, & Ethiopians’ dhows w/ Greeks & Romans getting spices from Incense Route b/w Yemen & Mesopotamia

• Islam: Dominated by Arabs; Jews who carried spices to Europe were replaced by Venice & Genoa

• Kerala: “Spice Garden of India” in which source of spices were hidden w/ tales, inspired Christopher Columbus

Specialized Products from Southeast Asian Islands

-“Spice Islands” traded fragrant nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, & cardamom

• Matrilineal society w/ many female merchants

Srivijaya Empire

-Est. by Buddhist conqueror Dapunta Hyang w/ army of 20,000 & 100s of elephants/horses; capital Palembang

• Successive Conquests: Controlled trade b/w East Africa & Philippines

• Borobudur: Temple of nine stacked platform w/ dome on top, decorated w/ relief panels & Buddha statues.

Malay Diaspora

In: Sri Lanka

Products: Nutmeg, pepper, cloves

Specialized Products from China

-Porcelain: Perfected glazing, extremely high temperatures, & spread to south for its kaolin clay; Copies in Korea & Japan could not match

-Silk: Accredited to Empress Xi Ling-Shi; luxury fabric first reserved to elite & eventually accessible to all classes; executed if spread process of manufacturing

-Lacquerware

-Tea: Al-sakh leaves

Chinese Diaspora

In: Southeast Asia, Africa

Products: Cotton, tea, silk, metals, opium, salt

Zheng He

-Muslim admiral sent on expeditions by Ming Emperor Yongle to expand tributary states w/ 300 ships of 28,000 ppl

• New markets & migration to SEA & elsewhere, temporarily stopped pirates

• Expensive voyages concerned Confucian scholars who deemed foreign cultures inferior

  • son Zhu Gaozhi ends travels & punishes building ships of more than two masts

Specialized Products from Southwest Asia

Horses, figs, dates, incense

Indian Ocean Slave Trade

-Enslaved Eastern African “Zanj” sold to North Africa, Middle East, & India & transported to islands like Madagascar

• Occupations: Seaports/shipping, soldiers, or household servants

• Communities: Could develop relationships w/ free laborers & marry in Islamic communities, spreading music, customs, & language

Kievan Rus

-Lack of desire for European goods until Italian merchants became the most prosperous thru selling enslaved ppl from Eastern Black Sea

• Non-Muslim Slaves: Desired by Middle East & Persia for military & sugar plantations

Muslim Diaspora

In: China, Indian Ocean Basin, Europe

Products: Silk, paper, porcelain, spices, gems, woods, gold, salt, amber, furs

Sogdian Diaspora

In: From Samarkand in main caravans along Silk Roads, China

Products: Silk, gold, wine, linens

Jewish Diaspora

In: China, India, Europe

Products: Glass beads, linens, dyes, spices

Swahili City States

-Spread of Islam = traditional mud/clay architecture → mosques & wealthy coral/stone homes

Specialized Products from Swahili Coast

Mombasa, Mogadishu, & Sofala traded enslaved ppl, gold, & ivory