Overview
This lecture covers the Indian Ocean trade network, its significance, major players, technologies, and the impact of merchants and trade on societies and city-states.
Indian Ocean Trade Network: Structure and Scale
- The Indian Ocean trade network was a vast system of routes connecting cities across Africa, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and China.
- It was larger and involved more diverse participants than the Silk Road.
- Key port cities included Zanzibar, Mogadishu, Hormuz, and Canton.
Role of Monsoons in Trade
- Monsoon winds are predictable seasonal winds that made Indian Ocean voyages safer and more reliable.
- Sailors could time trips between Africa and India according to these wind patterns, reducing the risk and cost of trade.
Goods, Participants, and Cultural Exchange
- A wide range of goods were traded, including ivory, timber, silk, porcelain, cotton cloth, gold, spices, rice, and coffee.
- African states exported raw materials, while finished goods came from places like China and India.
- The network included a diverse mix of traders: Africans, Jews, Muslims, Indians, Chinese, and Southeast Asians.
- Notably, Muslim merchants dominated due to their resources for shipbuilding.
- Technology such as the magnetic compass, astrolabe, sternpost rudder, and lateen sail spread through this network.
- Ideas and religions, especially Islam, spread as well, transforming societies such as Indonesia.
Merchants and Power Structures
- Trade was largely self-regulating and peaceful, with terms set by merchants rather than political rulers.
- The trade enabled the rise of city-states like Srivijaya and Swahili coast cities, which taxed goods passing through.
Vulnerability of Trade-Based States
- City-states dependent on trade, like Srivijaya, flourished when trade was strong but declined rapidly when trade routes shifted.
- Trade-based economies are especially sensitive to changes in global demand, routes, and taxes.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Monsoon winds — Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean that enabled predictable and regular maritime trade.
- Astrolabe — Navigational instrument used to determine latitude by measuring stars.
- Lateen sail — Triangular sail that allowed ships to sail against the wind.
- Srivijaya — A powerful merchant city-state in Sumatra that controlled trade through the Strait of Malacca.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the spread of Islam via Indian Ocean trade.
- Study the technological innovations used in Indian Ocean navigation.
- Prepare for discussion on the rise and fall of trade-dependent city-states.