Monsoon Maritime Trade Routes

Timeline

1. c. 100–600Red Sea–India's west coast · Arab WorldGreco-Roman merchants used the southwest monsoon to sail from Red Sea ports to India's west coast, then returned on the northeast monsoon, forming an early regular trade circuit in the western Indian Ocean.
2. 1011–1020Malacca Strait–Guangzhou route · East AsiaArab and Indian merchants entered the South China Sea via the Strait of Malacca, trading porcelain, spices, and precious metals with Song ports; meanwhile the Chola dynasty expanded southward, affecting route security from the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia.
3. 1100–1500Entire Indian Ocean · East AfricaDuring the Song, Yuan, and Ming periods, Chinese junks and Arab merchant ships were active across the entire Indian Ocean, with routes extending to the Swahili coast of East Africa; ports such as Quanzhou and Guangzhou became East Asian trade hubs.