How does the Indian Ocean differ from the Mediterranean Sea or South China Sea as a trading zone?

The Indian Ocean Trade began with small trading settlements around 800 A.D., and declined in the 1500’s when Portugal invaded and tried to run the trade for its own profit.

As trade intensified between Africa and Asia, prosperous city-states flourished along the eastern coast of Africa.  These included Kilwa, Sofala, Mombasa, Malindi, and others.  The city-states traded with inland kingdoms like Great Zimbabwe to obtain gold, ivory, and iron.  These materials were then sold to places like India, Southeast Asia, and China.  These were Africa’s exports in the Indian Ocean Trade.  These items could be sold at a profit because they were scarce in Asian countries.

At the same time, the East African city-states were buying items from Asia.  Many residents of the city-states were willing to pay high prices for cotton, silk, and porcelain objects.  These items were expensive because they were not available in Africa at the time.  These were Africa’s imports in the Indian Ocean Trade.

The city-states along the eastern coast of Africa made ideal centers of trade.  An important attraction was the gold obtained from inland kingdoms.  The gold was needed mainly for coins, although it was also used for works of art, ornamentation on buildings, and jewelry.  Also, the city-states were easy to reach from Asia by ship because of the favorable wind and ocean currents.  Ships had no trouble docking at the excellent ports and harbors located on the coasts of the city-states, making it easy to unload and load cargo.  Merchants, tired after their long overseas journey, enjoyed the lodging and entertainment offered

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