Flourishing of Red Sea Spice Trade

Timeline

1. 1351–1355Aden · Arabian PeninsulaMerchant ships from India's west coast and Southeast Asia gathered and dispersed at Aden, Dhofar, and other ports, transshipping pepper, spices, and luxury goods to the northern Red Sea. Monsoon patterns guaranteed an annual sailing cycle, keeping trade active through the mid-14th century.
2. 1352–1358Port of Jeddah · Red SeaThe Mamluk Sultanate established customs stations at Red Sea ports such as Jeddah, Yanbu, and Aidab, taxing transiting goods and providing a measure of security. Caravans carried goods overland from the ports to Cairo, then distributed them to European markets via the Nile–Mediterranean route.
3. 1355–1360Alexandria · EgyptAfter the Black Death's impact, European demand for spices and medicinal goods gradually recovered, with Venetian and Genoese merchants purchasing goods via Alexandria and Cairo. In the mid-to-late 1350s the Red Sea route once again became one of the main axes of East–West trade.