Indian Ocean Trade

Monsoon

Seasonal wind patterns in the Indian Ocean that enabled trade by allowing predictable sailing schedules.

Lateen Sails

Triangular sails that allowed ships to sail against the wind, expanding maritime trade routes.

Dhow

A traditional Arab sailing vessel with lateen sails, used extensively in the Indian Ocean trade.

Junk

A large Chinese sailing ship used in long-distance trade across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

Compass

An instrument that uses a magnetic needle to show direction, allowing navigation without landmarks.

Astrolabe

A tool used by sailors to determine latitude by measuring the angle of the sun and stars.

Diaspora

A scattered population whose origin lies in a separate geographic locale; refers to merchant communities who settled in foreign ports.

Syncretism

The blending of different cultural, religious, or philosophical traditions into a new, hybrid system.

Swahili City-States

A group of East African coastal cities that thrived on Indian Ocean trade, blending African, Arab, and Islamic cultures.

Strait of Malacca

A narrow waterway between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra; a vital chokepoint for trade.

Srivijaya Empire

A Hindu maritime empire based in Sumatra that controlled trade through the Strait of Malacca and promoted Mahayana Buddhism.

Majapahit Kingdom

A powerful Buddhist empire in Java that dominated maritime Southeast Asia.

Sultanate of Malacca

A Muslim kingdom founded in the early 15th century in the Strait of Malacca.