Essay On Indian Ocean Trade

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In the subcontinent of Afro-Eurasia, many changes took place in the means of trade. Its impact on the involved countries over the years helped develop the world into a more international trading network. Some of these changes were caused by trade through the Indian Ocean. Because of this trade, in the years 600 BCE to 1450 CE, the Indian Ocean impacted many aspects of the areas involved with it, such as a flourishing of new types of culture, such as the African culture being altered by Asians, Arabs and Persians. The Indian Ocean trade routes also impacted the spread of religion. The spread of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism were all aided by travelling merchants. The trade impacted the growth of many cities as well. Trade brought in money for lesser empires and cities to help them grown and gain power. Advancements in technology also boomed because of this trade. Tools such as compasses, astrolabes, and new sails were invented to facilitate the navigation of the waters. Countries took advantage of their natural resources as well, trading their own resources with the recourses of the other countries to make a large profit.
Because of Indian Ocean trade in 600 BCE to 1450 CE, on impact on the involved countries was a flourishing in many types of cultures. In Africa, the coast of the continent was heavily influenced by maritime trade. The Indian Ocean trade routes connected many countries together, which caused a diffusion of many cultures (Wood 111). One of the cultures that was impacted heavily by this trade was the African culture (Hinkle). Many times when traders came over from other countries from the trade routes, they would settle in the African trade cities, and intermarry with the natives, which caused a birth...

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...such as Asia (Bernstien 37). Spices, such as pepper, that originated in India and other southeast Asian islands (Regeah).
The Indian Ocean was an essential part of the growth or the political, economic, cultural, and social aspects of the newly-modernizing world in 600 BCE to 1450 CE. Because of the Indian Ocean, many advancements in technology were made, religions were spread, parts of the world grew, and cultures changed. Trade between the Afro-Eurasian subcontinent, spread and growth of many religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, growth of countries and empires in countries such as India, Africa, and Asia, and technology, such as sails, compasses, and astrolabes, were widely impacted because of the trade routes. The routes helped many areas of the world that needed help expand, and aided the world gear towards a more international trade.

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