Trade Relations of India With Africa Upto 14th Century A. D.
Summary
The article by Ravindranath Vaman Ramdas argues that India established extensive trade and cultural relations with Africa long before the 14th century A.D., predating European awareness and even the so-called discoveries of later navigators. The author posits that ancient Indians, particularly the Harappan civilization, had intimate maritime contacts with Egypt, the Persian Gulf, and the African coast. Evidence cited includes the discovery of teak-wood in ancient Yemen, Amazonite beads from the Nilgiri Hills at Ur (7th-6th centuries B.C.), and Indus seals and sailing boats at Ur, Bahrain, and Failaka. Dr. S.R. Rao is cited to support the claim that Harappan sailors mastered trade winds nearly two millennia before Hippalus. The text also references theories, supported by figures like Alexander Del Mar and Charles Francious Dupuis, that India colonized Egypt, citing linguistic commonalities and the presence of Indian goods and motifs. The article discusses the exchange of commodities such as ragi from Africa to India, cowrie shells from the Maldives to Egypt, and Indian textiles, spices, and gold to Africa. It highlights the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea (60 A.D.) as a key historical source detailing Indian trade from ports like Arriaca and Barygaza to East Africa. The Puranas are referenced for their geographical knowledge of Africa, including the identification of the Nile's source and regions like Zang and Sankha Dvipa. The author also points to cultural and linguistic evidence, such as Hebrew words of Indian origin and the identification of Vedic tribes with those who invaded Egypt. The text mentions archaeological findings in Zimbabwe, including stone structures resembling Siva temples and Indian beads, as evidence of Dravidian influence. Finally, it notes the use of Indian weights and Maldive currency in Africa, as recorded by Ibn Batuta, and the presence of Hindu merchants at East African ports when Vasco da Gama arrived in 1498 A.D.
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Conclusion
The article establishes that India maintained extensive maritime trade relations with Africa up to the 14th century A.D., supported by archaeological, textual, and geographical evidence. Key findings indicate that the Indus Valley Civilization had early contacts with Ur, Egypt, and the Persian Gulf, exporting goods like teak, beads, and metals. The exchange of commodities such as African gold, ivory, and iron for Indian cotton cloth, beads, and spices is well-documented, particularly through sources like the *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea* and accounts by travelers like Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo. The significance of these relations is highlighted by the cultural and technological exchanges, including the introduction of cowrie shells, the influence of Indian deities in African regions like Zimbabwe, and the shared knowledge of navigation and geography. This ancient interaction underscores a sophisticated and enduring commercial network that predated European exploration and shaped the interconnectedness of the Indian Ocean world.