2.3 The Indian Ocean Trade Network

Definition and Scope of the Indian Ocean Trade Network

• The Indian Ocean trade refers to a network of sea routes that connected various states throughout Afro-Eurasia through commercial exchange.
• While this network was in use long before the specific time period, it experienced significant expansion starting around $1200$.

Causes for the Expansion of the Indian Ocean Trade Network

• The Collapse of the Mongol Empire ($14^{th}$ Century):

  • During the reign of the Mongols, trade along the Silk Roads flourished because the entirety of the land-based network was controlled by Mongol power, ensuring safety and ease of travel.
  • When the Mongol Empire began to fall apart, the safety and ease of travel along the Silk Road declined.
  • This instability led to a greater emphasis on maritime trade within the Indian Ocean. The term maritime is defined as sea-based (literally "if you're on a boat").

• Innovations in Commercial Practices:

  • Practices previously used on the Silk Road were applied to sea trade.
  • The development of money economies and the ability to purchase goods on credit made trade easier, thereby increasing the use of these sea routes.

• Innovations in Transportation Technology:

  • Navigation Improvements: Improvements were made to existing technologies such as the magnetic compass, which allowed sailors to determine their direction in the middle of the ocean. The astrolabe was also improved, providing a tool to measure stars for accurate reckoning of location.
  • The Lateen Sail: The increased use of the lateen (triangular) sail allowed ships to take wind from almost any direction, significantly increasing maneuverability.
  • Monsoon Winds: Trade was facilitated by an increasing knowledge of monsoon winds, which predictably blew in different directions depending on the time of year. Combining this knowledge with navigational innovations allowed for the rapid expansion of maritime trade.
  • Shipbuilding Improvements:
  • Chinese Junk: This was a massive ship capable of carrying "metric but-loads" of cargo. Its size was significant enough to intimidate other merchant vessels.
  • Dhows: Arab traders had used dhows for centuries, but during this period, they were made bigger and better, allowing them to haul more cargo destined for trade in distant markets.

• The Spread of Islam:

  • Islam is a belief system that is historically friendly to merchants, noted by the fact that the Prophet Muhammad himself was a merchant.
  • Just as Islam facilitated connectivity across land-based routes, it also encouraged and facilitated increased trade along sea-based routes.

Nature of Goods Traded

• Silk Road vs. Indian Ocean Trade:
  • The Silk Roads were limited primarily to luxury goods because common items were not worth the cost and effort of transport on the back of a camel across vast distances.
  • Due to the increased capacity and "girth" of trading ships, the Indian Ocean network allowed for more common items to be shipped and sold in bulk.
• Specific Commodities:
  • Bulk items: Cotton textiles and grains.
  • Luxury and high-demand items: Gold, ivory, and indigo.

Effects of the Indian Ocean Trade Growth

• Growth of Powerful Trading Cities:

  • Swahili City-States: Located on the east coast of Africa, these states became wealthy and powerful because they were strategically positioned to benefit from trade. They imported gold, ivory, and enslaved people from the interior of Africa to sell to visiting merchants. As converts to Islam, they used their wealth to build magnificent mosques and public works.
  • Malacca: The capital city of the Sultanate of Malacca on the Malay Peninsula. It controlled the Strait of Malacca, which was the eastern entry and exit point for the entire network. Leaders taxed ships passing through these waters, resulting in immense wealth and regional power.
  • Gujarat: Located on the west coast of India, it served as a midpoint between East/Southeast Asia and Africa. Utilizing a massive coastline and rich agricultural inland areas, it traded cotton textiles and indigo for gold and silver from the Middle East. Like Malacca, Gujarat authorities taxed ships entering and leaving their ports.

• Increased Establishment of Diaspora Communities:

  • Definition: A diaspora (related to the word "disperse") is a group of people from one place who establish a home in another place while retaining their original cultural customs.
  • Examples: Chinese merchants established permanent communities in Southeast Asia; Arab and Persian merchants settled in East Africa.
  • Role in Trade: These communities acted as a "connective tissue" for the network. For instance, Chinese merchants living in Southeast Asian ports would interact with local governments and merchants to facilitate trade for visiting Chinese ships.

• Cultural and Technological Transfers:

  • Cultural and technological exchanges occurring over trade routes are considered as significant as the exchange of physical goods.
  • As merchants traveled, they brought their religions, languages, and technologies, which influenced the cultures they encountered.

Case Study: Admiral Jung-ha (Zheng He)

• Admiral Jung-ha was commissioned by China's Ming Dynasty to explore the Indian Ocean and enroll other states into China's tributary system.
• Fleet Scale: On his first voyage, the fleet included approximately $300$ ships with crews totaling more than $27,000$ men.
• Technological Transfers: Jung-ha's ships were equipped with advanced military technology, specifically gunpowder cannons, which were subsequently adopted in many of the regions he visited.
• Political Influence: The Ming Dynasty's insistence on state-led trade partnerships caused various states around the Indian Ocean to take more significant, active roles in organized trade.