Int'l Commerce, Snorkeling Camels, and The Indian Ocean Trade: Crash Course World History #18

Summary

In this episode of Crash Course World History, John Green explores the Indian Ocean trade system, known as the Monsoon Marketplace, which connected diverse cultures and economies from 700 CE to the 15th century. Highlighting its scale and significance, Green discusses the role of predictable monsoon winds in facilitating trade, the diverse participants including Muslim merchants, and the peaceful nature of commerce. The video also touches on the spread of Islam, the importance of trade choke points like the Strait of Malacca, and the rise and fall of merchant states, emphasizing the precarious nature of economies dependent on trade.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Indian Ocean trade was a vast network of interconnected port cities around the Indian Ocean Basin, including Zanzibar, Mogadishu, Hormuz, and Canton.
• 📚 The trade system was more extensive and diverse than the Silk Road, yet less famous due to the lack of a catchy name.
• 🕊️ The Monsoon Marketplace, as the trade system was humorously named, was characterized by peaceful and self-regulated trade among various cultures and religions.
• 🌪️ The predictable monsoon winds played a crucial role in facilitating trade by providing reliable sailing routes between April and September, and back between November and February.
• 📈 Trade peaked between 1000 CE and 1200 CE, declined during the Pax Mongolica, and surged again in the 14th and 15th centuries.
• 🏺 The Swahili coast cities, Islamic empires, India, China, and Southeast Asia were major players in Indian Ocean trade, with Europe joining later.
• 📚 The trade involved a wide variety of goods, from raw materials like ivory and timber to finished products like silk, porcelain, and cotton cloth.
• 🛳️ Muslim merchants predominantly dominated the trade due to their financial capacity to build ships, although Chinese state involvement threatened this balance in the 15th century.
• 🌐 The trade system was self-regulating, with terms set by merchants responding to market demands rather than political rulers.
• 🔧 Technology and ideas, including the magnetic compass, astrolabe, and the spread of Islam, traveled along with goods through the Monsoon Marketplace.
• 🏛️ The decline of certain city-states like Srivijaya highlights the vulnerability of polities reliant on trade, as economic shifts can lead to political instability.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script provided?

The main focus of the video script is the history of trade in the Indian Ocean, discussing its significance, the role of monsoons in facilitating trade, and the diverse players involved in this trade network.

What is the 'Monsoon Marketplace' mentioned in the script?

The 'Monsoon Marketplace' is a term used to describe the Indian Ocean trade system, which was a network of trade routes connecting various port cities around the Indian Ocean Basin, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas.

Why is the Indian Ocean trade less famous than the Silk Road according to the script?

The Indian Ocean trade is less famous than the Silk Road because it does not have a catchy or 'snazzy' name, and it was not dominated by any particular state or group, making it less centralized and thus less historically noted.

What role did monsoons play in the Indian Ocean trade?

Monsoons played a crucial role in the Indian Ocean trade by providing predictable and reliable wind patterns that allowed sailors to plan their voyages with certainty, reducing the risk associated with maritime trade.

How did the Pax Mongolica impact Indian Ocean trade?

During the Pax Mongolica, overland trade became cheap and safe due to the Mongols' influence, which led to a decline in Indian Ocean trade as it became less necessary.

Who were the main participants in the Indian Ocean trade according to the script?

The main participants in the Indian Ocean trade were Swahili coast cities, Islamic empires in the Middle East, India, China, Southeast Asia, and various groups including Jewish people, Africans, and others who set up trading communities as middlemen.

Why were Muslim merchants particularly dominant in the Indian Ocean trade?

Muslim merchants were particularly dominant in the Indian Ocean trade because they had the financial resources to build ships and establish trade networks, although the script notes that this balance could have been changed by the Chinese state in the 15th century.

What was unique about the self-regulating nature of the Indian Ocean trade?

The self-regulating nature of the Indian Ocean trade was unique because the terms of trade were set by the merchants and market demands rather than by political rulers, and the trade was largely peaceful without the need for state navy protection.

How did the Indian Ocean trade facilitate the spread of Islam?

The Indian Ocean trade facilitated the spread of Islam by connecting regions through trade, allowing for the religion to be adopted by rulers and elites for both religious and economic ties with their trading partners, as seen in the case of Indonesia.

What is the significance of the Strait of Malacca in the Indian Ocean trade?

The Strait of Malacca is significant in the Indian Ocean trade as it acted as a choke point for trade, allowing cities that controlled the strait to tax passing ships, leading to the rise of powerful merchant states like Srivijaya.

What lessons can be learned from the rise and fall of trade-based city-states like Srivijaya?

The rise and fall of trade-based city-states like Srivijaya teach us that reliance on trade can be a weak foundation for a polity, as it makes a city vulnerable to economic fluctuations and the potential for traders to find alternative routes or locations with lower taxes.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Indian Ocean Trade Overview

John Green introduces the topic of Indian Ocean trade, emphasizing a shift from traditional history's focus on rulers to a system-based approach. He humorously notes the lack of a catchy name for this trade network, which is less famous than the Silk Road but was larger and involved more diverse participants. The 'Monsoon Marketplace' is highlighted as a system that thrived between 1000 and 1200 CE, declined during the Pax Mongolica, and then surged again in the 14th and 15th centuries. Key players included Swahili coast cities, Islamic empires, India, China, and Southeast Asia, with Europe notably absent. The predictable monsoon winds facilitated reliable trade routes, reducing risk and promoting commerce.

05:05

🏺 Trade Dynamics and Cultural Exchange in the Monsoon Marketplace

This paragraph delves deeper into the dynamics of Indian Ocean trade, illustrating the diversity of participants and the range of goods exchanged, from raw materials to finished products. The trade was not dominated by political rulers but by merchants responding to market demands, leading to a peaceful and self-regulating system. The spread of technology and ideas, such as the magnetic compass, the astrolabe, and the lateen sail, is highlighted, along with the spread of Islam to regions like Indonesia. The paragraph also discusses the rise and fall of trade centers like Srivijaya and the Swahili city-states, emphasizing the vulnerability of polities reliant on trade and the influence of merchants on historical development.

Keywords

💡Indian Ocean trade

Indian Ocean trade refers to the historical network of maritime trade routes connecting various port cities around the Indian Ocean Basin. It was a system that facilitated the exchange of goods between people who had them and those who wanted them and were willing to pay. The video emphasizes that this system was larger and more diverse than the Silk Road but less famous due to the lack of a catchy name. Examples from the script include the mention of port cities like Zanzibar, Mogadishu, Hormuz, and Canton being part of this trade network.

💡Monsoon Marketplace

The term 'Monsoon Marketplace' is a creative name suggested in the script for the Indian Ocean trade system, highlighting the importance of the monsoon winds in facilitating predictable and reliable trade routes. The monsoon winds allowed for regular sailing seasons, which in turn made trade less risky and more economically viable. The script uses this term to describe the trade system that thrived between 1000 CE and 1200 CE, declined during the Pax Mongolica, and surged again in the 14th and 15th centuries.

💡Silk Road

The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West, famous for the exchange of goods like silk. In the script, it is compared to the Indian Ocean trade to illustrate the latter's scale and diversity. The Silk Road is mentioned to contrast with the less well-known Indian Ocean trade, emphasizing that despite being less famous, the Indian Ocean trade was more extensive.

💡Monsoons

Monsoons, in the context of the script, refer to the seasonal winds of the Indian Ocean that played a critical role in the trade system. The monsoon winds are described as predictable and reliable, allowing sailors to plan their voyages according to the wind patterns. This predictability reduced the risks associated with maritime trade, making the Indian Ocean trade more accessible and efficient.

💡Swahili coast cities

Swahili coast cities were part of the Indian Ocean trade network and acted as important trading hubs. The script mentions these cities as participants in the trade, indicating their role in the broader economic and cultural exchanges of the region. They were involved in trading a variety of goods, including ivory, timber, and grain, which highlights their integral part in the Indian Ocean trade.

💡Islamic empires

Islamic empires in the Middle East, India, and other regions are highlighted in the script as significant participants in the Indian Ocean trade. These empires contributed to the diversity of the trade network and were involved in the exchange of various goods, from luxury items to bulk commodities. The script also notes that Muslim merchants played a dominant role in the trade, largely due to their financial capacity to build ships.

💡China

China is mentioned in the script as a key player in the Indian Ocean trade, known for exporting valuable goods such as silk, porcelain, and books. The script also suggests that the Chinese state had the potential to alter the balance of the trade network in the 15th century, indicating the country's significant influence and involvement in the trade system.

💡Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is portrayed in the script as a region integral to the Indian Ocean trade, particularly for its export of spices, foodstuffs like rice, and black pepper from Sri Lanka. The script emphasizes the region's contribution to the diversity of goods available for trade and its role in the economic prosperity of the trade network.

💡Merchants

Merchants are depicted in the script as the driving force behind the Indian Ocean trade, setting the terms of trade based on market demands rather than political whims. The script highlights the self-regulating nature of the trade and the peaceful nature of the merchant ships' operations, which contrasts with the common perception of trade being dominated by states and rulers.

💡Technological exchange

The script discusses the spread of technology through the Indian Ocean trade, such as the magnetic compass from China, the astrolabe popularized by Muslim sailors, and the triangular lateen sail. These technological advancements facilitated navigation and ship maneuverability, contributing to the efficiency and safety of maritime trade.

💡Cultural exchange

Cultural exchange is a significant aspect of the Indian Ocean trade discussed in the script, particularly the spread of Islam. The video explains how the religion spread to regions like Indonesia through trade networks, influencing the local cultures and religions. This cultural exchange is an example of how the trade system not only facilitated the movement of goods but also ideas and beliefs.

Highlights

Introduction to the Indian Ocean trade system as a network of interconnected trade routes.

Comparison of Indian Ocean trade to the Silk Road, emphasizing its larger scale and diversity.

The importance of the monsoon winds for predictable and reliable trade routes.

The rise of the Monsoon Marketplace between 1000 CE and 1200 CE, and its subsequent decline and resurgence.

The diverse range of participants in Indian Ocean trade, including Swahili coast cities, Islamic empires, India, China, and Southeast Asia.

The self-regulating nature of Indian Ocean trade, where terms were set by merchants and market demands rather than political rulers.

The peaceful nature of trade in the Indian Ocean, with minimal need for state navy protection.

The role of Muslim merchants in dominating trade, particularly in the Western half of the Indian Ocean basin.

The impact of the Mongols on the decline of Indian Ocean trade during the Pax Mongolica due to the safety and affordability of overland trade.

The significance of the Strait of Malacca as a trade choke point and the rise of the merchant state Srivijaya.

The spread of technology, such as the magnetic compass, astrolabe, and lateen sail, facilitated by Indian Ocean trade.

The spread of Islam through trade networks, particularly in Indonesia, and the conversion of regions to Islam for economic and religious ties.

The vulnerability of city-states reliant on trade to economic fluctuations and the potential for decline.

The enduring legacy of merchant kingdoms in Southeast Asia, with a modern example being Singapore.

The unpredictable nature of trade routes and the potential for cities to rise and fall based on merchant preferences and taxation policies.

The narrative of Kota Rani, a ruler of Kashmir, illustrating the intertwining of trade, politics, and personal fate.

The broader implications of trade on the mass market, allowing for the exchange of bulk goods beyond luxury items.

The production and distribution of raw materials and finished goods across the Indian Ocean trade network.

The Crash Course production team credits and the call to action for viewers to engage with the content and be awesome.

Transcripts

Hi, I’m John Green, this is Crash Course World History, and today we’re going to

be discussing trade here, in the Indian Ocean. Oh, my globe had a globe! We’re gonna do

some new-school history where we talk about a system instead of talking about individuals

or some boring boring dynasty — no, Stan, not that kind of Dynasty — yes, that kind of dynasty.

So many world history classes still focus on People Who Wore Funny Hats, and how their

antics shaped our lives, right? And while it’s interesting and fun to note that, for

instance King Charles VI of France believed that he was made out of glass, relentlessly focusing

on the actions of the Funny-Hatted-People who ruled us makes us forget that we also make history.

Mr. Green, Mr. Green! Did Charles VI of France really believe that he was made out of glass?

Yes, he did, but today we’re talking about Indian Ocean trade and it’s going to be

interesting, I promise. So pay attention. ALSO, NO HATS! This is a classroom, not a

Truman Capote beach party!

[theme music]

So Indian Ocean trade was like the Silk Road, in that it was a network of trade routes that

connected people who had stuff to people who wanted it and were willing to pay for it.

And just as the Silk Road was not a single road, there were lots of Indian Ocean trade

routes connecting various port cities around the Indian Ocean Basin, including Zanzibar

and Mogadishu and Hormuz and Canton.

By the way, before you criticize my pronunciation, please remember that mispronunciation is my

thing and I’ve been doing it since episode one, and nobody ever notices that it’s a

thing! Sorry, I lost it there... But Indian Ocean trade was bigger, richer, and featured

more diverse players than the Silk Road, but it is much less famous probably because it

does not have a snazzy name.

What do you think, Stan? Like the “Neptunian Network”? No. “The Wet Web”? No, that’s

definitely not it. “The Sexy Sea Lanes of South Asia”? No, that’s too hard for me

to say with my lisp... “THE MONSOON MARKETPLACE!” Thanks, Danica. And now the tyranny of dates:

By about 700 CE, there was a recognizable Monsoon Marketplace, but it really blew up

between 1000 CE and 1200. It then declined a bit during the Pax Mongolica, when overland

trade became cheap and safe, Thanks to-- wait for it-- The Mongols. [Mongoltage] But then

Indian Ocean trade surged again in the 14th and 15th centuries. So who was trading? Swahili

coast cities, Islamic empires in the Middle East, India, China, Southeast Asia, and NOT

EUROPE, which is probably one of the reasons that Monsoon Marketplace isn’t as famous

as it should be. Let’s go to the Thought Bubble.

So if you live in China, and you need some ivory to make the handle for a sword, you

have to trade for it, because elephants only live in India and Africa. One of the reasons

Indian Ocean trade took off is that there were a wide range of resources available and

a wide range of import needs -- from ivory to timber to books to grain. But the most

important thing was the wind.

The Indian Ocean is home to a set of very special winds called Monsoons. You generally

hear about Monsoons in the context of rain in India, but rather than thinking of Monsoons

as the rain itself, think of them as the wind that bring a rainy season. The great thing

about seasons is that they come regularly -- and so do the Monsoon winds. So if you

were a sailor, you could count on the wind to bring you from Africa to India if you sailed

between April and September, and one that would bring you back to Africa if you sailed

between November and February. In fact, these winds were so predictable that early maritime

travel guides often listed ideal times of down to the week and sometimes even the day.

Predictable winds make trade a lot less risky: Like, back in the day when the only power

for ships were sails and oarsmen, your cargo might not arrive on time, or it might spoil,

or you might die, all of which are bad for the health of global economic trade. But predictable

winds meant lower risk, which meant cheaper trade, which meant more trade, which meant

more people could have awesome sword handles. Thanks Thought Bubble.

Okay, there are a few more facets of Indian Ocean trade worth mentioning. First, Indian

Ocean trade incorporated many more people than participated in Silk Road trade. There

were Jewish people and people from Africa to Malaysia and India and China, all sailing

around and setting up trading communities where they would act as middle men, trying

to sell stuff for more than they bought it for and trying to find new stuff to buy that they could sell later.

But despite this diversity, for the most part, especially on the Western half of the Indian

Ocean basin, the trade was dominated by Muslim merchants. Why? Largely because they had the

money to build ships, although we will see that in the 15th century, the Chinese state

could have changed that balance completely. By the way, I need to point out that when

I say that the trade was dominated by Muslim merchants, the emphasis should be on the merchants-

not the Muslim or the dominated.

As previously noted, we tend to think that states and governments and the funny-hatted

people who rule them are the real movers and shakers in history, but that’s really not

the case. In the Indian Ocean, the terms of trade were set by the merchants and by the

demands of the market, not by the whims of political rulers. And the self-regulating

nature of that trade was remarkable and pretty much unprecedented. I mean, the most amazing

thing is that, except for a few pirates, all of this trade was peaceful!

For the better part of seven hundred years these merchant ships were free to sail the

seas without the need for protection from any state’s navy. This despite the fact

that some pretty valuable crap was being traded. No, Thought Bubble, I meant that colloquially.

Alright, we need to do the open letter before Thought Bubble tries more puns. Magic!

For today’s Open Letter, to further discuss the relationship between merchants and nobles,

we’re going to go inland to Kashmir where Kota Rani was the ruler until 1339. Mostly

I just love this story. But first, let’s find out what’s in the Secret Compartment.

Oh, it’s Blowouts. Stan, are you asking me to make a diarrhea joke? Because I’m

above that. I will, however, give you a party blower solo.

Dear Kota Rani, So, you had a pretty crazy life. First, when you were a kid you were

kidnapped by a rival noble who disguised his army as a bunch of merchants. Then you were

forced to marry your kidnapper who was the ruler of Kashmir, but, then he died. And then

you became the ruler and you were really good at it and everything was going awesome and

you were lining things up for your sons, but then some dude comes in and decides he’s

going to marry you and forces you to do it by attacking you. And so what do you do? Immediately

after your second wedding you commit suicide by slicing open your belly and offer your

intestines to your horrible new husband as a wedding present. Oh, Stan. I don’t want

to say it but I have to; That really took guts, Kota Rani! Sorry... And all this because

your father welcomed an army into his house thinking they were merchants.

Best wishes, John Green

So, right. You wouldn’t let an army, or a rival noble, into your house, but everyone

welcomes a merchant -- and not just royalty. The great thing about seaborne trade is that

you can trade bulk goods like cotton cloth, foodstuffs, and timber that’s all too heavy

to strap onto a camel or mule. So for the first time we see the beginnings of goods

being traded for a mass market, instead of just luxury goods, like silk for elites.

Wood, for instance, can be used to build houses -- but it’s not all that plentiful in the

Arabian peninsula, however, when it becomes cheaper thanks to trade, suddenly more people

can have better houses. Much of the timber that was shipped in the Monsoon Marketplace

came from Africa, which is kind of emblematic.

Africa produced a lot of the raw materials like animal hides and skin and ivory and gold.

The Swahili city states imported finished goods such as silk and porcelain from China

and cotton cloth from India. Spices and foodstuffs like rice were shipped from Southeast Asia

and especially Sri Lanka where black pepper was a primary export good, and the Islamic

world provided everything from coffee to books and weapons. But it wasn’t just products

that made their way around the eastern hemisphere thanks to the Indian Ocean.

Technology spread, too. Like the magnetic compass, which is kind of crucial if you like

to know where you’re going, came from China. Muslim sailors popularized the astrolabe which

made it easier to navigate by the stars. Boats using stern-post rudders were easier to steer,

so that technology quickly spread throughout the Monsoon Marketplace. The Islamic world

also produced the triangular lateen sail, which became super important because it allowed

for ships to tack against the wind. This meant that a skilled crew could make their way through

the ocean even if they didn’t have a strong tailwind. And just as with the Silk Road,

ideas also traveled in the Monsoon Marketplace.

For instance today, more Muslims live in Indonesia than in any other country. And yes, I know

Indonesia has more than two islands. This is not to scale, obviously. Knowing what you’ve

already learned about the growth of Islam and the spread of trade, it won’t surprise

you to learn that Islam spread to Indonesia via the Monsoon Marketplace. After the 1200s,

the region which had previously been heavily influenced by the Indian religions of Hinduism

and Buddhism, like witness this temple, for instance... became increasingly Islamic as

rulers and elites adopted the religion so they could have religious as well as economic

ties to the people they were trading with. The conversion of most of a region to Islam,

where it continues to flourish today is a pretty big deal. But Islam didn’t spread

as effectively to the to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam because they weren’t centers of trade.

How do you become a center for trade? Well, let’s zoom in here to the strait of Malacca.

You can see how it could act as a choke point for trade. Any city that controlled that strait

could stop the ships from going through it, or more likely tax them. And that’s exactly

what happened, to such an extent that a powerful merchant state called Srivijaya rose up on

Sumatra. And for a while, Srivijaya dominated trade in the region, because there were so

many ships going through the Strait of Malacca to and from China. But, as we’ll see in

another episode that this trade abruptly declined in the 15th century. And with it, so did Srivijaya.

This brings up a key point about Indian Ocean Trade, which is that it was indispensable

to the creation of certain city states, like Srivijaya and the city states of the Swahili

Coast. Without trade, those places wouldn’t have existed, let alone become wealthy and grand.

Trade was a huge source of wealth for these cities because they could tax it; through

import and export duties or port fees. But the fact that they are no longer powerful

shows that trade can be a pretty weak foundation on which to built a polity, even a small one.

There are many reasons for this: like high taxes can motivate traders to find other routes,

for instance, but the main one is this: Reliance upon trade makes you especially vulnerable

to the peaks and troughs in the global economy. The legacy of the merchant kingdom in Southeast

Asia is still alive and well in Singapore, for instance. But one of the great lessons

of cities that have declined or disappeared is that there’s usually a town nearby that’s

eager to take your place and happy to offer lower taxes. It’s almost as if the merchants

decide where the people with the funny hats go, rather than the other way around. Thanks

for watching. I’ll see you next week.

Crash Course is produced and directed by Stan Muller, our script supervisor is Danica Johnson.

The show is written by my high school history teacher Raoul Meyer and myself. Our graphics

team is Thought Bubble, Last week’s Phrase of the Week was: "Unless you are the Mongols."

If you want to suggest future phrases of the week or guess at this week’s you can do

so in comments where you can also ask questions related to today's video that will be answered

by our team of historians.

Thanks for watching. and as we say in my hometown, Don't Forget To Be Awesome. Oh! It's going

to be a crash!! Everything's fine...