W.11
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- Indian ocean trade was a pretty one sideded affair before the greeks and indian merchants dominated the trade
- Indian merchants from Gujarat gave birth to indian ocean trade when they sailed from Gujarat to arabian peninsula first (Oman, Bahrain/dilmun) and then mesopotamia.
- In 1200 BC Gujarati merchants had already established trade networks in Yemen (diamond drilled beads from gujarat/kambakht area), black peppers have been found in Pharaoh’s tomb indicating direct or indirect trade of south indians in western asia. Ophyr according to one theory is India and denotes Abhiras of Gujarat
- In 500-400 BC Indians sailed to SEA and established trades with SEA (Thailand and malay peninsula, cambodia, south veitnam etc) or earlier still. Arthashastra describes an indian naval for protecting Kingdom’s shipping from either piracy or rival kingdoms. Megasthenes mentions Mauryan naval force as part of its military, mauryan seals, ringstones have been found from veitnam to Thailand. Kalingas were active in SEA trade, the Indians were also referred to as Kalingas, Bengalis were active as well, Bengal’s PMC coins have ship marks but they are dated to maurya or post maurya period, but claimed to be from Pre Mauryan era.
- in 200-100 BC greek used an indian sailor to sail to india probably to cut indian hegemony in the Indian Ocean trade.
- Greek trade paved way for roman trade, Chinese also started conducting trades with india, but its unclear if their records mention marine trading or land based trade. Persians also became active and persian traders brought nestorian christianity to india, arrival of jews in south india shows that there was active west asian involvement in the indian ocean trade with India.
- Indian beads dated 300 BC-300 AD have been found from Yayoi period of Japan, chinese pilgrims like Fahien used indian ships to sail back to china, this shows that indian shipping dominated the eastern trades. Gujarati (Bharuch) inscriptions have been found in Socotra island, Yemen.
- The Guptas practically replaced chariots with ships as part of chaturanga 'four arms of indian miltary' in the 6th century. Gupta inscriptions have been allegedly found from Thailand and indonesia, Gupta era was used in Myanmar, showing their dominance in SEA politics.
- According to an african scholar indian established their settlements in Mozambique in 1st millennium AD.
- After the Guptas the Arabs probably started dominating but even though Indian influence led to hindu buddhist periods in SEA, some scholars opine that Islam also became predominant in SEA due to Gujarati merchants activities more so than arabs themselves. There are hindi word borrowings in Malay language, or hindi borrowings which itself were borrowed from portugese words for instance almari (was portugese hindi borrowing which was later borrowed into Bahasa Malay)
- Chola naval expeditions in SEA was first of its kind in the ocean, chola period ship bells have been found in newzealand. Cholas established kingdoms as far as philippines.
- Vasco de Gama sought indian help in guidng him to india (very similar story like greek commencement of indian ocean trade with india), this shows indians dominated Indian ocean trade even in the 14th-15th century.
- One record of Aurangzeb's efforts to make a formidable indian navy in 18th century when socotra sees Gujaratri inscriptions again, aurangzeb also used his naval might to keep east indian company in check.
- heavy indian influence in east africa, indian mango chutney is popular in Israel etc
- Maratha navy kept the europeans in check but internal infighting paved way for european colonization.
- Indian merchants from Gujarat gave birth to indian ocean trade when they sailed from Gujarat to arabian peninsula first (Oman, Bahrain/dilmun) and then mesopotamia.
- In 1200 BC Gujarati merchants had already established trade networks in Yemen (diamond drilled beads from gujarat/kambakht area), black peppers have been found in Pharaoh’s tomb indicating direct or indirect trade of south indians in western asia. Ophyr according to one theory is India and denotes Abhiras of Gujarat
- In 500-400 BC Indians sailed to SEA and established trades with SEA (Thailand and malay peninsula, cambodia, south veitnam etc) or earlier still. Arthashastra describes an indian naval for protecting Kingdom’s shipping from either piracy or rival kingdoms. Megasthenes mentions Mauryan naval force as part of its military, mauryan seals, ringstones have been found from veitnam to Thailand. Kalingas were active in SEA trade, the Indians were also referred to as Kalingas, Bengalis were active as well, Bengal’s PMC coins have ship marks but they are dated to maurya or post maurya period, but claimed to be from Pre Mauryan era.
- in 200-100 BC greek used an indian sailor to sail to india probably to cut indian hegemony in the Indian Ocean trade.
- Greek trade paved way for roman trade, Chinese also started conducting trades with india, but its unclear if their records mention marine trading or land based trade. Persians also became active and persian traders brought nestorian christianity to india, arrival of jews in south india shows that there was active west asian involvement in the indian ocean trade with India.
- Indian beads dated 300 BC-300 AD have been found from Yayoi period of Japan, chinese pilgrims like Fahien used indian ships to sail back to china, this shows that indian shipping dominated the eastern trades. Gujarati (Bharuch) inscriptions have been found in Socotra island, Yemen.
- The Guptas practically replaced chariots with ships as part of chaturanga 'four arms of indian miltary' in the 6th century. Gupta inscriptions have been allegedly found from Thailand and indonesia, Gupta era was used in Myanmar, showing their dominance in SEA politics.
- According to an african scholar indian established their settlements in Mozambique in 1st millennium AD.
- After the Guptas the Arabs probably started dominating but even though Indian influence led to hindu buddhist periods in SEA, some scholars opine that Islam also became predominant in SEA due to Gujarati merchants activities more so than arabs themselves. There are hindi word borrowings in Malay language, or hindi borrowings which itself were borrowed from portugese words for instance almari (was portugese hindi borrowing which was later borrowed into Bahasa Malay)
- Chola naval expeditions in SEA was first of its kind in the ocean, chola period ship bells have been found in newzealand. Cholas established kingdoms as far as philippines.
- Vasco de Gama sought indian help in guidng him to india (very similar story like greek commencement of indian ocean trade with india), this shows indians dominated Indian ocean trade even in the 14th-15th century.
- One record of Aurangzeb's efforts to make a formidable indian navy in 18th century when socotra sees Gujaratri inscriptions again, aurangzeb also used his naval might to keep east indian company in check.
- heavy indian influence in east africa, indian mango chutney is popular in Israel etc
- Maratha navy kept the europeans in check but internal infighting paved way for european colonization.
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