FROM ROME TO ASIA - INDO-ROMAN TRADE ROUTES

“Every man lives by exchanging.”

― Adam Smith

Roman trade with India started around the beginning of the Common Era following the reign of Augustus and his conquest of Egypt. The use of monsoon winds, which enabled a voyage safer than a long, dangerous & a coastal one, helped enhance trade between India and Rome. In India, the ports of Barbaricum (present-day Karachi), Barygaza, Muziris and Arikamedu on the southern tip of India acted as the main centres of that trade. The Periplus Maris Erythraei describes Greco-Roman merchants selling in Barbaricum as "thin clothing, figured linens, topaz, coral, storax, frankincense, vessels of glass, silver and gold plate, and a little wine" in exchange for "costus, bdellium, lycium, nard, turquoise, lapis lazuli, Seric skins, cotton cloth, silk yarn, and indigo". Significance The wealth accumulated during those years can be seen in the monuments and architecture during those years. Junnar and Nasik flourish with rock-cut architecture, which were built from donations made by traders. One pillar or the entire Chaityagraha, the silk route and the maritime trade route, together made it possible for these traders to benefit off them. Around 40 per cent of Indo-Roman trade was controlled by the Arabs as they were the middlemen. Elephants and tigers formed a huge chunk of shipments from India to Rome. For instance, According to Chanakya’s Arthshashtra, Dronamukha is a village where the sea and land trade routes meet and the toll is collected,. It is here where black cotton soil is found. During the Satavahana period, trade flourished as toll collected by these kings generated enormous revenue. As a result, they wanted to continue controlling Junnar and thus, this was the cause of the tussle between Satavahanas and Kshatrapas.

Positive Impacts of Roman-Indian trade routes -

There were several benefits arising out of the Roman-Indian trade. One such benefit was the cultural exchange resulting from the trade between the two civilisations which had a lasting impact on both the civilisations. Roman merchants became aware of Hindu teachings, Buddhism and Jainism while Christianity reaching southern India due to trade on these routes is very much likely. Trade with the Roman Empire also had another positive impact in terms of the inflow of silver and gold coins in the sub-continent. Moreover, the establishment and development of ports like Muziris, Arikamudu and Barigaza on the southern tip of India was another positive impact.

The Descent of Roman Trade

For close to seven centuries there were continuous wars between the Roman and the Persian empire. These wars started around 54 B.C.E and ended after the Arab rulers defeated the Iranian empire capturing a large part of the Eastern Roman Empire. Trade between the Roman empire and India was greatly affected due to these wars. India’s trading activities with South-East Asia increased greatly during this period. India also resumed its trade with Rome as there was political stability during the Arab rule. The Ottomans looted, harassed, and troubled the traders which led to the disruption of trade between India and Rome. In the world that the Romans were born in, the Indian route between sea and land was very well known. The Seleucids had succeeded the Achaemenids to control the Persian-India route, the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty was also trading with India; however, all these trades were nothing compared to the millions of species which the Romans spent on Indian luxuries. The Egyptian Ptolemies were already trading with India through their Red Sea ports, and when the Romans took over. The Roman Empire replaced Greece as the administrators of the Mediterranean basin. This led to the strengthening of direct maritime trade with the east and the elimination of the taxes extracted previously by the middlemen of various land-based trading routes.

Some behind the scene’s information

– The dramatic increase in the importance of Indian ports did not occur until the Red Sea was opened by the Greeks and the Romans' attainment concerning the region’s seasonal monsoons. There was an increase in the trade between western India and the Roman East by sea during the first two centuries of the Common Era. The expansion of trade occurred due to the stability brought to the region by the Roman Empire, which allowed for new explorations and the creation of a sound silver and gold coinage. By the time of Augustus, around 120 ships set sail from Myos-Hormos to India every year. Rome used up a lot of gold, which the Kushans recycled for their coinage. Due to this Pliny complained about the drain of species to India. He said, "India, China and the Arabian Peninsula take one hundred million sesterces from our empire per annum at a conservative estimate.”

What were they trading exactly?

The Romans traded luxury items with India. South India was known for its spices and imported spice to the Roman Empire. Muslin, pearls, jewels, iron goods especially cutlery and precious stones were imported to the Roman empire by Central and South India. India on the other hand imported wine, wine-amphora, and various types of pottery. As there was a lack of uniform divisibility for the value of goods, India was a gainer in the trade with the Roman Empire. This drained a large amount of wealth from the Roman Empire and Rome eventually had to ban its trade with India. Many historians found Roman coins and pottery in the Indian peninsula; proving the existence of India’s trade with the Roman Empire. Thus trade was a vital part of older civilizations.