Indian Ocean Monsoon Trade

Timeline

1. c. -100–400Red Sea entrance—India's west coast · Arabian SeaUsing the southwest monsoon to sail south from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to India's west coast, then returning on the northeast monsoon, forming an early transoceanic sailing trade cycle, with pepper and gemstones as the main goods.
2. c. 800–1100Basra—Hormuz—Calicut · KeralaArab and Persian merchants dominated the western Indian Ocean routes, establishing trading houses in Hormuz, Aden, and South Indian ports, settling accounts in silver dirhams and cotton cloth, and connecting to the East African ivory trade.
3. 1101–1110Chola Empire ports (around Pondicherry) · Tamil NaduBetween 1101 and 1110 the Chola Empire still controlled the ports of the South Indian east coast; monsoon ships carried spices and pearls north to Arabia, and via the Strait of Malacca exchanged porcelain and copper coins with Song merchant vessels.
4. c. 1100–1500Kilwa · TanzaniaMonsoon trade carried East African gold, ivory, and slaves into the Indian Ocean network; Swahili city-states such as Kilwa became key nodes linking the interior with Arab and Indian markets.