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Chola Bay of Bengal Trade (1090s)
In the 1090s, Chola merchants and guilds were active on the Bengal Strait–Malacca route, trading spices, cotton cloth, gems, and metalwork in the Ind…
Timeline
- 1091–1095Nagapattinam · Tamil NaduGoods such as cotton cloth, pepper, and pearls were assembled at ports like Nagapattinam, loaded onto ships by Chola chartered caravans, and sailed monsoon routes toward Southeast Asia and the Bengal Delta.
- 1096–1100Strait of Malacca · Strait of MalaccaChola merchant ships crossed the Bay of Bengal to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatran coasts, exchanging spices, camphor, and luxury goods with local and Chinese vessels, continuing the Indian Ocean–South China Sea trade chain.
Sources
- Trade and Statecraft in the Age of the Cholas — Abraham, Meera (1988)
- The Indian Ocean in World History — Pearson, Michael (2003)