Red Sea Spice Trade

Timeline

1. 1520–1525Port of Jeddah · Red SeaAfter conquering Egypt in 1517, the Ottomans controlled the Suez–Red Sea passage and ports such as Jeddah. Indian Ocean spices could be shipped north via the Red Sea to Cairo, then carried overland or by Mediterranean route to the empire's heartland and Europe, continuing the Eastern trade system of medieval times.
2. 1526–1528Aden–Jeddah route · Red SeaAround 1526, Arab and Indian Muslim merchants continued to operate seasonal voyages from Aden to Jeddah, carrying pepper, spices, and cotton cloth. Ottoman authorities collected tariffs and provided a measure of port security, keeping Red Sea trade at a considerable scale despite Portuguese eastward pressure.
3. 1520–1530Indian Ocean · East AfricaPortugal controlled bases such as Goa and Malacca, diverting some spices directly to Europe and forcing the Red Sea routes to adjust prices and shipping lanes. The Ottomans and local Egyptian authorities maintained the residual advantages of the traditional trade network by strengthening port management and keeping ties with Indian ports such as Gujarat, adding variables to the multi-centered pattern of the global spice trade.