ABSTRACT
What is the role of the Indian Ocean and its region in world history? The thesis of this book is that significant participation in Indian Ocean trade has always been a major indicator of a state’s or region’s prominence and leadership from a global perspective. It is conventional wisdom that Indian Ocean trade played a large role in the Portuguese success at the start of the sixteenth century. However, its consistent influence on the rise and fall of other states or regions has either been understated or, most commonly, not acknowledged at all. This is not to say that the Indian Ocean floated the economy of every state or region that reached a top position, but that a major presence in Indian Ocean trade has always indicated a level of economic health essential to world leadership. In presenting this thesis, this book will discuss five different international trading patterns benefiting from the Indian Ocean that have prevailed in succession spanning world history from the beginning to the present. It will be argued that the participating states or regions were those making a prime contribution to world progress and cultural creativity. The reasons for the shifts, and the contributions and results of each trading configuration will be considered in turn.
