Indian Ocean Trade Cultural Impact

Causes of Indian Ocean Trade

During the time of trade between the Greek Ptolemaic Kingdom and India (around the first half of the second century BCE), sailors of the Kingdom could gain knowledge of the seasonal monsoon winds by exchanging goods. This increased trade between the two and later in other places.

The exchange of goods and services became a meaningful way to show wealth and power within a kingdom; for example, the Roman emperors would pride themselves on being clothed in Chinese silk and burning expensive incense from the southern Arabian peninsula. Trade developed due to financial needs; if civilizations had goods or services they could capitalize on, they wanted to sell them for something equally or more beneficial.

Fig. 2 Silk Embroidery from China

Indian Ocean Trade History

4th century BCE to 3rd century AD - During the Classical Era, the major empires involved in Indian Ocean trade were the Achaemenid empire of Persia, the Mauryan empire of India, the Han Dynasty of China, and the Roman empire in the Mediterranean.

400 to 1450 CE - During the Medieval Era, the Indian Ocean trade experienced significant changes. The volume of the goods they exchanged and the number of participating civilizations increased heavily and led to the economic flourishing of China. The efficiency of sea trade was also enhanced during this time due to new and advanced maritime technology.

Fig. 3 Chinese Junk ship

Expansion and increase in trade led to a rise of cities as significant trade hubs; they became the collection points for items bought in bulk to sell, the crossroads of major trade routes (both land and sea), and created the connections between different trading zones. Major empires during this time were the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates of the Arabian Peninsula, the Tang and Song Dynasties of China, the Chola empire of southern India, and the Srivijaya empire of what is now Indonesia, and even the Angkor civilization of Cambodia.

For centuries, several major empires bloomed, particularly those in Arab and Chinese territories. Each empire quite peacefully allowed outsiders to enter their cities to trade. However, this would all change with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1498.

Exchange in the Indian Ocean

In 1405, the emperor of the new Ming Dynasty of China sent out the first of seven expeditions to visit all of China's trading partners around the Indian Ocean. Foreigners were more than happy to make the journey to China for fine silk and porcelain, so the emperor thought that making the journey themselves would be an honorable gesture.

Zheng He

With an estimated 317 ships and 23,000 men, the Ming treasure ships were led by Admiral Zheng He. They traveled through Southeast Asia, India, and three of his ships, making it as far as the Swahili coast of Africa.

Fig. 5 - Etching of Zheng He's voyages.

Unlike the European voyages of the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Chinese expeditions were not driven by a need to conquer or convert; they were diplomatic and intended to impress others with the wealth and superiority of China.

When other societies saw this, Zheng He knew the people would become willing to pay tribute to China for the right to purchase the luxuries of silk and porcelain. Over only two years, 1431-1433, Zheng He had settled twenty diplomatic and tributary relationships across the Indian Ocean!

Unfortunately, when the power in China shifted to a new emperor, Zheng He's voyages were forced to end. China now wanted to focus on internal developments rather than reaching out into the world, so Zheng He's funds were withdrawn, and his large treasure ships were banned.

Cross-cultural Exchange in the Indian Ocean Trade Route

The main religions spread across the Indian Ocean: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and later Christianity. However, Islam heavily encouraged trade since the prophet Muhammed was a merchant himself. Trade and Islam led to the development of powerful city-states along the eastern coast of Africa.

Swahili Coast City-States

Although the city-states welcomed merchants of Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, and Confucian descent, they remained incredibly tolerant while staying mainly Muslim (due to the dominant presence of Arab merchants).

Gold, ivory, and exotic animals were transported from sub-Saharan Africa to port cities for trade. One of the most important cities was Kilwa, as that was the farthest south a merchant ship could sail during monsoon season.

As Islamic sailors followed the path of goods through the Indian Ocean, the Buddhist kingdom of Srivijaya in Indonesia became an essential location for spreading Buddhism during the Song Dynasty of China. This is how Islam reached southeast Asia!

Conclusion

The existence of trade in the Indian Ocean led to what is referred to as "diasporic" communities, meaning "to disperse." Merchant diasporic communities were groups of people living in a common culture outside of their native homelands; examples of these communities are Jews living in Muslim Cairo or Muslims living in Hindi Calicut. It was inevitable that these communities would be created, as many merchants often migrated to their host societies.

Trade helped civilizations exchange goods and services and diversified their cities and empires with language, knowledge, and religion.