Global Trade History

Trade over large distances began between clans in pre-historic times.  Global trade across continents began as soon as large ships were developed that could withstand ocean travel.  In 3000 BC, India shipped spices to the Middle East and later to the Mediterranean. Spices included cinnamon, cassia, cardamom, ginger, pepper and turmeric.  In 750 BC, Greece exported olives, wine and pottery to began trade by ship in the Mediterranean.  Silk was brought across the Silk Road from China to Rome in 2 BC.

During this same period Romans were also taking advantage of the opportunities that sailing presented. The Romans had large commercial fleets and the best of these vessels were capable of crossing the Mediterranean by sea in around a month. In fact, transporting low-value goods such as grain and construction materials could be achieved at a sixtieth of the price of doing so by land.

The Romans expanded their trade routes in the 1st and 2nd century CE by travelling over the Indian Ocean to South Asia where they were able to trade with the rich Tamil dynasties. The success of these commercial ships was only made possible by the fact that galleys and triremes were on hand to stop any potential ambushes by the hands of pirates – throughout history the importance of protecting commercial vessels could not be underestimated.

From 700 AD and 1300 AD, the Arab Empire began developing trade routes throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. Because only a few rivers in the Islamic regions of the Empire were navigable travelling by sea was especially important. Rather than keeping close to the coast these advanced Arab vessels could cross oceans thanks to a greater understanding of celestial navigation, drastically reducing the time needed to transport goods.

By 700 AD, Vikings had also developed ocean-going ships for war and trade. Viking explorers sailed to Greenland about 1000 AD.

Several centuries later it was time for Europe’s Age of Discovery, as advances in navigation and shipbuilding in north-western Europe allowed an increasing number of voyages across the Atlantic to the Americas. Here new commodities such as tobacco from Virginia and Maryland gold and silver from Mexico and Peru were discovered and brought back to Europe.

In turn many of these goods were brought to Asia to be traded. In fact, in the early 1600s many European countries such as England, France, Denmark and Portugal created East India Companies. The most successful by far, however, was the Dutch East India Company, which is considered the first truly multinational company.

http://www.historyinanhour.com/2012/10/08/a-brief-history-of-maritime-shipping/

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader