Car factories have idled in Belgium and Germany. Spring fashion lines are delayed at a popular British department store. A Maryland company that makes hospital supplies does not know when to expect parts from Asia.

Attacks on ships in the Red Sea are delivering another shock to global trade, coming on top of pandemic-related logjams at ports and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

4.1. Roman Imports from India

Luxuries: The Roman Empire had a significant appetite for luxury items from India. This included products like malabathrum, a plant whose leaves were used to create perfume, as well as ivory, pearls, and precious gemstones. Notably, Pompeii contained a shop dedicated solely to ivory products, showcasing the demand for such exotic materials.

Wild Animals: There was a demand for "exotic" goods, including live animals like elephants and tigers from India.

Spices: Pepper was India's major export to Rome. Large quantities of pepper have been discovered in excavations at Berenike, often stored in torpedo-shaped pottery jars, each weighing more than 10 kg. By the end of the first century CE, Indian pepper had become readily available, although it remained an expensive treat. Pepper was a common ingredient in Roman cuisine, with approximately 80 per cent of the recipes in the Roman cookbook of Apicius including it.

4.2. Roman Exports to India

• The flow of goods from Rome to India was more limited. Pliny the Elder noted that gold was a significant export to India, creating a trade imbalance that posed challenges for the Roman economy.
• However, there are records indicating that Indians developed a taste for Roman wine.
• Some limited trade also involved items like olive oil and Garum, an ancient Roman fermented fish paste, which could be likened to contemporary condiments like Tabasco or garam masala.

5. Trade on the Route Before the Common Era

• Evidence of trade along this route dates back to ancient times, including during the time of Meluha, the Indus Valley Civilization (approximately 3300-1300 BCE).
• However, this early trade appears to have been more localized and coastal, involving smaller quantities of goods.
• In Roman times, this trade expanded significantly, with large cargo ships directly connecting the Indian subcontinent to the Roman Empire.
• The Romans played a crucial role in "industrializing" this trade, driven by their economic capacity to purchase the luxury items that India offered.
• The trade flourished, particularly in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, after the Romans conquered Egypt, which opened up the route to adventurous Roman merchants.

6. Organization of the Trade and Voyage Duration

• The trade along the ancient Red Sea route was highly organized. Merchants in Kerala and shippers in Alexandria engaged in formal contracts.
• Goods were transported in containers, similar to modern shipping practices, where a container would be booked and filled with specific products.
• There are even references to insurance, highlighting the sophistication of this trade network.
• Indian traders recognized the monsoon winds, which blew in different directions in winter and summer due to the heating of the Tibetan Plateau.
• By timing their voyages correctly, they could take advantage of these winds. The journey from India to Egypt, or vice versa, could be completed in about six to eight weeks with the winds behind them.
• However, travellers had to wait for a few months for the winds to change direction.

7. Roles of Indians in the Red Sea Trade

Interest in Seafaring: Indian dynasties displayed a keen interest in seafaring, evident in ancient artwork like the depictions of large double-masted ships in Ajanta caves. Additionally, ships were common symbols of early Indian coins, such as those from the Satavahanas dynasty.

Prominent Role of Indian Sailors: Indian sailors played a prominent role in the Red Sea trade. Graffiti left by Indian sailors, often Gujaratis from Barigaza (modern-day Bharuch), was discovered in the Hoq caves on Socotra Island, a vital stopover at the Gulf of Aden's mouth. These inscriptions, dating from the second to the fifth century CE, were primarily in the Indian Brahmi script, with names like "Vishnu, son of the merchant Ganja" and "Skandabhuti, the Sea Captain." They also featured images of ships, religious symbols, and prayers to deities like Krishna and Radha.

Ownership of Shipping: While historical records suggest that much of the shipping departing from Egyptian Red Sea ports may have been owned by Alexandrian businessmen, it's plausible that Indian merchants and ship owners also had a significant stake in this trade due to the substantial Indian presence in the maritime activities of the period.

8. Comparison with the Silk Road

Silk Road vs. Red Sea Route: The Red Sea trade route, connecting the Indian subcontinent with the Roman Empire through the Red Sea, differs significantly from the concept of the Silk Road. While the Silk Road has gained popularity in modern times, it was entirely unknown in ancient or medieval times. The term "Silk Road" was coined in the late 19th century by Baron von Richthofen, primarily for a proposed railway route.

Historical Accuracy of Silk Road: There is no ancient record, whether from Chinese or Western sources, that mentions the existence of the Silk Road. Even Marco Polo, often associated with this route, never mentions it. The idea of the Silk Road gained prominence only in the 1980s-90s, largely due to its romantic appeal.

Inaccuracy of Silk Road Focus: The Silk Road concept is mostly inaccurate for the Roman period. Instead, during this time, there is no evidence of direct contact or trade between China and Europe. Chinese silk, for example, likely reached Rome through ports in India, travelling overland through Kushana territory in northern India to reach Gujarat and the mouth of the Indus.

9. Emerging Understanding of Indo-Roman Trade

New Evidence and Underplayed History: The recent emergence of a deeper understanding of Indo-Roman trade is attributed in part to the discovery of new archaeological evidence in places like Muziris in Kerala and Berenike in Egypt. Additionally, India has sometimes underplayed its significance as a centre of trade and ideas in the early classical period.

The Significance of the 1st and 2nd Centuries CE: The 1st and 2nd centuries CE represent an intriguing period when India played a vital role in exporting its ideas and luxury goods to the Roman world. This era witnessed the spread of Buddhism to China and the provision of luxury items to Rome. While scholars like Himanshu Prabha Ray have made valuable contributions to this field, there is a need to make their findings more accessible to a wider audience.

10. The Way Forward

• The recent revelations about India's central role in this ancient trade route have opened up numerous questions for exploration.
• For instance, the influence of Buddhist monasticism in India on the development of Christian monasticism in the late Roman period remains a topic of investigation.
• As more information comes to light, researchers can delve further into the connections and impacts of this extensive East-West trade network, shedding new light on the history of these two interconnected worlds.