Who started Indian Ocean trade?

The Portuguese under Vasco da Gama discovered a naval route to the Indian Ocean through the southern tip of Africa in 1497–98. Initially, the Portuguese were mainly active in Calicut, but the northern region of Gujarat was even more important for trade, and an essential intermediary in east–west trade.

What factors led to the growth of the Indian Ocean trade?

Factors that led to the growth of the Indian Ocean trade networks include developments in luxury goods, innovations in technology for travel/transport, and new forms of credit/monetization. As well, the reliability of the monsoon winds was another factor that led to the growth of this market.

How was the Indian Ocean Trade Organised?

– The trade was conducted mainly through/ across the Indian Ocean also through the Red sea and Mediterranean Sea. – The foreigners were brought by the dhows towards the Asian continent and from May to October the winds blew towards the East African coast.

How was the Indian Ocean trade Organised?

How long did the Indian Ocean trade last?

roughly 700 years
For roughly 700 years, the Indian Ocean was the center of the greatest international trade network the world had ever seen. First truly rising around 800 CE and maintaining its dominance until the 1500s CE, these networks connected the Afro-Eurasian supercontinent in one massive cycle of trade.

What was the Indian Ocean trade and why was it important?

The Indian Ocean is home to major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. These vital sea routes (i) facilitate maritime trade in the Indian Ocean region, (ii) carry more than half of the world’s sea-borne oil,3 and (iii) host 23 of the world’s top 100 container ports.

Why did Muslims dominate Indian Ocean trade?

But despite this diversity, for the most part, especially on the Western half of the Indian Ocean basin, the trade was dominated by Muslim merchants. Why? Largely because they had the money to build ships, although we will see that in the 15th century, the Chinese state could have changed that balance completely.

In what centuries did the Indian Ocean trade network surge?

In what centuries did the Indian Ocean trade network surge? The Indian Ocean trade network really started to surge between 1000 CE and 1200. The Indian Ocean trade started to surge again in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Who dominated trade in the Indian Ocean?

Muslim merchants
But despite this diversity, for the most part, especially on the Western half of the Indian Ocean basin, the trade was dominated by Muslim merchants. Why? Largely because they had the money to build ships, although we will see that in the 15th century, the Chinese state could have changed that balance completely.