The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean : the ancient world economy and the kingdoms of Africa, Arabia and India

This study of ancient Roman shipping and trade across continents reveals the Roman Empire's far-reaching impact in the ancient world. In ancient times, large fleets of Roman merchant ships set sail from Egypt on voyages across the Indian Ocean. They sailed from Roman ports on the Red Sea to distant kingdoms on the east coast of Africa and southern Arabia. Many continued their voyages across the ocean to trade with the rich kingdoms of ancient India. Along these routes, the Roman Empire traded bullion for valuable goods, including exotic African products, Arabian incense, and eastern spices. This book examines Roman commerce with Indian kingdoms from the Indus region to the Tamil lands. It investigates contacts between the Roman Empire and powerful African kingdoms, including the Nilotic regime that ruled Meroe and the rising Axumite Realm. Further chapters explore Roman dealings with the Arab kingdoms of southern Arabia, including the Saba-Himyarites and the Hadramaut Regime, which sent caravans along the incense trail to the ancient rock-carved city of Petra. The first book to bring these subjects together in a single comprehensive study, The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean reveals Rome's impact on the ancient world and explains how international trade funded the legions that maintained imperial rule. Ancient Evidence Suggests That International Commerce Supplied The Roman Government With Up To A Third Of The Revenues That Sustained Their Empire. Large Fleets Of Roman Freighters Set Sail From Egypt On Voyages To Kingdoms On The East Coasts Of Africa And Southern Arabia. Many Of These Ships Continued Their Voyages Across The Ocean To Trade With The Distant, Resource-rich Kingdoms Of Ancient India. Merchant Vessels From The Roman Empire Left With Wine And Bullion To Return With Cargoes Of Valuable Trade Goods, Including Exotic African Products, Arabian Incense And Eastern Spices. This Book Investigates Contacts Between The Roman Empire And The African Kingdoms, Including The Nilotic Regime Of Meroe And The Aksumite Realm In Ethiopia. It Explores Roman Dealings With Merchants From The Ancient Rock-carved City Of Petra And The Arab Kingdoms Of South Arabia, Including The Saba-himyarites And The Hadramawt Regime. It Also Considers The Roman Naval Base On The Farasan Islands, Guarding The Entrance To The Red Sea, 600 Miles Outside The Empire. Further Chapters Examine Roman Commerce With Indian Kingdoms Including Those Of The Indus Region, The Deccan Plateau And The Southern Tamil Lands. These Contacts Brought Roman Merchant Ships Into The Bay Of Bengal And Along Trade Routes That Led To Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam And Ultimately The Han Empire Of Ancient China. Raoul Mclaughlin. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 266-269) And Index. Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 List of Plates 7 Acknowledgements 8 Abbreviations 9 Ancient Figures and Modern Estimates 10 Ancient Greek and Roman Authors 12 Introduction: The Ancient Economy 18 Chapter 1: Revenue and the Roman Economy 22 Chapter 2: Roman Prosperity 39 Chapter 3: Incense: A Unique Product 49 Chapter 4: The Intermediaries: Petra and the Nabataeans 71 Chapter 5: Beyond Egypt: The Nile Route and the African Kingdom of Meroe 80 Chapter 6: The Red Sea Route 94 Chapter 7: The Scale and Significance of Indian Ocean Trade 109 Chapter 8: International Business 116 Chapter 9: East Africa and the Aksumite Kingdom 134 Chapter 10: Southern Arabia and the Saba-Himyarites 149 Chapter 11: Arabia Felix and the Hadramawt Kingdom 161 Chapter 12: The Indo-Parthians 171 Chapter 13: The Saka and Satavahana Kingdoms 178 Chapter 14: The Tamil Kingdoms of Southern India 193 Chapter 15: The Anuradhapura Kingdom of Sri Lanka and the Far East 217 Chapter 16: The Antun Embassy to China and the Antonine Pandemic 228 Conclusion: Assessing the Roman Economy 239 Appendix A: The Roman Economy 247 Appendix B: Reconstructing Roman Revenues 249 Appendix C: The Expense of the Roman Legions 251 Notes 253 Bibliography 287 Groundbreaking study of a significant yet neglected aspect of Roman success. First in a two-part study of Rome's dealings with the world beyond the traditional horizons of the Classical World which reveals the extent of import of exotic goods and cultural influences to Rome.