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World History CCOT Essay

One of the most dominant examples of world commerce is trade in the Indian Ocean

region from 650 C.E. to 1750 C.E. However, Indian Ocean commerce did not always remain the

same. There were changes in which this topic went through, such as the expansion to other

regions worldwide due to the advancement of technology, and the introduction of the Portuguese

to invade and obtain both power and control, as well as continuities such as the lands fight for

control in order to trade their goods.

The Indian Ocean trade routes in 650 C.E. were just between a few different trading

settlements. However, due to the expansion of world trade, Indian Ocean commerce started

gaining more attention from other societies. It therefore spread with groups such as Arabia,

China, Africa, and the Middle East. This was partially due to an increase in innovative

technology in which helped increase the convenience of travel.

An additional change in which occured in the Indian Ocean region commerce was it's

decline overall due to the introduction of the Portuguese. Around 1500 C.E, the Portuguese

displaced Asian traders who had supplied spices to Red Sea and Persian Gulf ports for onward

sale to Venetian, Genoese and Catalan traders. The main reason that this change was able to

occur is because Portugal discovered a naval route to the Indian Ocean through the southern tip

of Africa. This was one of the ways in which they were able to establish a Portuguese trading

network, and gain control of the trade. This time period within ancient Indian Ocean commerce

is referred to as The Portuguese period, due to the power and influence they had over the trade

routes and people of the Indian Ocean region.

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In conclusion, commerce, specifically trade, in the Indian Ocean region underwent many

changes from 650 C.E. to 1750 C.E. However, there were several aspects in which stayed the

same during this time frame. For example, the entire time that Indian Ocean commerce was

established, lands fought for control and dominance over it. Societies each wanted to trade their

goods in the Indian Ocean region whether it was in order to become more wealthy, powerful, or

stable. India, of course, had a large majority of this control that was sought after for most of the

time.

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Works Cited

Bentley, Jerry H., and Herbert F. Ziegler. Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective

on the past. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2000. Print.

"The Indian Ocean Trade: A Classroom Simulation African Studies Center | Boston

University." African Studies Center RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

.

"The Trading World of the Indian Ocean." The Trading World of the Indian Ocean. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

.

http://www.bu.edu/africa/outreach/resources/indian/