2.3: Exchange in the Indian Ocean 1200-1450 A

Indian Ocean linked societies by sea

• Largest sea based trade network before Atlantic in 1500s

• Stretched from China all the way to East Africa

Ships were larger so they could also trade bulk goods

• Didn’t have to prioritize selling luxury goods

• Porcelain from china, spices from SEA, cotton/spices from india, ivory/gold from East Africa

• Bulk goods were crops such as wheat, sugar, rice

Monsoon winds

• By this period they had figured out patterns of wind so used seasonal winds to power ships

Maritime innovations

• Magnetic compass

• Astrolabe calculated latitude

• Chinese Junks: Large flat bottom ships with square sails with trunks to carry goods

Growth of Indian Ocean Trade Routes

• Existed before 1200 but saw greatest growth in 1200-1450

  • During Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties

  • China saw great economic prosperity and export

• Also grew due to Islam

  • Islam is positive to merchant activity

  • Large islamic empires led to large area of land being positive towards trade

Indian Ocean Changing Culture

• SEA was right in middle of Indian Ocean Trade Routes so controlling islands was very important

• Srivijaya Kingdom (c.600-c.1200)

  • Buddhist empire that controlled trade in Indonesia along key trade routes and cities

Swahili Civilization

• Civilization emerged in 8th century as a series of commercial city-states

  • Traded gold, ivory, slaves

  • Merchant class emerged, swahili commercial centers flourished

  • Each city state had its own king so it wasn’t centralized

  • Islam became dominant religion in area from muslim merchants

  • Swahili language fusion of native Bantu language and Arabic