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first century AD. Amphora fragments, mould made pottery and roulette ware are found from the Gujarat and Maharashtra coast and in the interior of upper western region. This makes it amply clear that the there must have been frequent trade between Mediterranean and peninsular India as early as the late second century BC.73 Excavations at the Roman Egyptian harbor of Berenike and Mayos Hormos, the modern Quseir, have brought to light rich material evidence of trade with Arabia and India. 74
An Indian graffiti, in the Tamil Brahmin script, of first or second century AD was found from Leucos Limen and there is mention of a person named Cattan, a common name in Tamil mercantile community.75
During the Hellenistic and Roman period there were many trade routes which linked the Mediterranean world with the Indian subcontinent, there was the central Asian silk route to china which interconnected with Bactrian routes to India; The Iranian routes through Susa and Persepolis. The coastal routes linking the Tigris and the Persian gulf with Sindh and Gujarat; and finally the sea route to western and south India via Rome and India. Ancient sea trade from Arabia or directly from Red Sea, linked up with Alexandria and other ancient ports on the Mediterranean.76
The most dynamic trade network was the one which connected the Mediterranean and India via the Red Sea during the first century AD, when Rome had come to dominate both the Mediterranean and the Red sea.77
The proximity of the sea coast, the facility provided by the seasonal winds for quicker movements of ships, the well developed and safer ports on the west coast, the existence of emporia and the cultural Varity of the rulers and the populace, collectively created a conducive climate for the appreciation and import of roman objects in western India. 78
What made these routes possible was the very special nature of the prevailing winds. The socalled monsoon winds, blow steadily from the northeast but during summer conveniently switch to just the opposite direction, the southwest. By judiciously choosing a proper departure date the skippers could ensure having a favorable winds for both the parts of the voyage.79 According to Periplus the proper time to leave Egypt for India was in July 80 lt enabled the ship to sail down the Red Sea with the northerly that prevail over the body of water during the summer, Sail thru the Gulf of Aden with the southwest monsoon. Sail with the same monsoon, as specifically counseled by Periplus, across the
73
74 75 76
Vimala Begley. Ceramic Evidence for Pre-Periplus Trade on Indian Coasts. Rome and India ancient sea trade Sunil Gupta The archeo historical...Man and Environment vol 22 2001 Whitecomb and Jhonson supra n 22 .263-264 Vimala Begley.. Ceramic Evidence for Pre-Periplus Trade on Indian Coasts. Rome and India ancient sea trade Vimala Begley Introduction Rome and India ancient sea trade S.B.Deo Rome and India ancient sea trade, chapter 3 Lionel Casson chapter 1 Rome and India ancient sea trade 39:13.12-13
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