ABSTRACT
Peninsular India, endowed with a long coastline, indented at frequent intervals by the mouths of several small and big rivers, and dotted with numerous natural harbours, has been carrying on maritime trade with its western and eastern neighbours across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal since recorded history. India’s partners in this extensive sea-trade were ports situated on both sides of the Red Sea as well as on the southern and eastern littorals of peninsular Arabia. e Red Sea served as the artery of the Indo-Roman trade when the rst millennium began. Indian exports to the Mediterranean countries owed primarily through the Red Sea and supplemented the oriental articles received by Europe through the Great Silk Route. Political upheavals on the Indian subcontinent and the littoral countries of the Red Sea only temporarily a ected the ow of goods.
