Ancient Trade Routes

ANCIENT TRADE ROUTES

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Ancient Trade Routes

Major geographic regions covered by the Indian Ocean trade routes were China, South East Asia, India, East Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. Each and every region that was covered by the Indian Ocean Trade route contributed at least a unique product to it’s counterpart region. China brought products like Silks, Porcelain, and tea. Mediterranean Basin produced ceramics, wine, gold, quartz, tortoiseshells, and leopard skins. India brought grain, ivory, precious stones, cotton textiles, spices, timber and also tortoise shells. East Africa region brought ivory, gold, quartz, tortoiseshells and leopard skins (Yajnik, 2010). Arabia region delivered goods like frankincense, myrrh, and perfumes. As the merchants from the different regions covered by the Indian Ocean trade route met, ideas were exchanged. Some of these ideas were religious ideas and cultural ideas. A strong example of religious exchange can be seen from the rise of Islamic practices in the East Africa region. Other transactions that took place among the Indian Ocean trade route merchants included Slaves and coins.

The Trans-Saharan trade routes covered a Kingdoms of Sub-Saharan western Africa Desert and Europe.  The primary goods that were exchanged along this trade route were salt and gold. Quite some ideas were exchanged along this trade route that leads to the establishment Timbuktu. The Trans-Saharan Trade route contributed to the prosperity of Islamic religion among the people that were in the region that was covered by the trade route. Also, the idea of using camel to transport goods across the region was introduced an idea that significantly boosted the business (Yajnik, 2010). Artifacts originating from Egypt were also exchanged in the trade route. Other transactions that took place along this trade route included slaves, copper, ivory, fabrics, and some animal skins.

Silk Road mainly covered a great part of China and the Iranian world. The main product that was being exchanged along this route was silk just as the name suggests (Yajnik, 2010). Apart from the silk that made the route famous, merchants also traded inside secrets about different empires and also taught each other unique fighting skills. Other goods that were exchanged included medicines, glass, paper, gold, and spices.

Figure 1. A map showing routes, goods and major cities of the ancient trade routes

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Reference

Yajnik, B. R. (2010). Ancient trade routes.