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Indian Cotton Textiles

Type Object Region India Time c. 1–500

India was among the earliest regions to cultivate cotton on a large scale and develop spinning and weaving;…

Timeline

  1. c. 1–200Indus River valley and west coast · IndiaAround the turn of the era, India widely cultivated cotton and developed spinning wheels, looms, and natural dyes such as indigo, forming a cotton textile production system serving both local and export markets.
  2. c. 100–500Ports of India's west coast · IndiaFrom the 1st to 5th centuries, Indian cottons were sold to the Roman Empire and Southeast Asia via Red Sea and Indian Ocean routes; their light, durable quality spurred exchange between Mediterranean and South Asian textile techniques.

Sources