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Red Sea Trade Route

Type Object Region East Africa Time c. 100–700

Maritime trade route connecting the Mediterranean world, Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and Indian Ocean, transshipping spices, ivory, gold, and sil…

Timeline

  1. c. 500–600Gulf of Aden–entrance to the Red Sea · Gulf of AdenThe Byzantine Empire traded through Egypt's Red Sea ports with Aksum, Yemen, and Indian ports; monsoon-driven ships carried spices, frankincense, ivory, and luxury goods, and trade taxes became a major revenue source for these states.
  2. c. 600–700West coast of the Arabian Peninsula · Arabian PeninsulaSasanian Persia and then Arab forces intervened in Red Sea shipping; ports such as Mecca and Jeddah rose in importance, and the traditional route pattern via Aksum–Yemen began to be reorganized—trade continued but the leading powers changed.

Sources