Description
Book SynopsisIn Rome and the Indian Ocean Trade from Augustus to the Early Third Century CE Matthew Adam Cobb examines the development of commercial exchange between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean worlds from the Roman annexation of Egypt (30 BCE) up to the early third century CE. Among the issues considered are the identities of those involved, how they organised and financed themselves, the challenges they faced (scheduling, logistics, security, sailing conditions), and the types of goods they traded. Drawing upon an expanding corpus of new evidence, Cobb aims to reassess a number of long-standing scholarly assumptions about the nature of Roman participation in this trade. These range from its chronological development to its economic and social impact.
Trade Review"Rome and the Indian Ocean Trade is a fascinating monograph on a subject that has grown more and more popular among scholars over the last century. (...) Overall, this book provides a very good introduction to the trade between the Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean. It will likely be of greatest interest to ancient economic historians, but the thorough descriptions and explanations of facts and concepts make the book accessible to a general, non-specialist audience. (...) The author is to be commended for producing a publication that is a valuable contribution to the study of ancient international trade and serves as a model for sound, well-reasoned scholarship." - Dario Nappo, in: CJ~online 2019.07.08 "Cobb präsentiert einen kenntnisreichen Überblick zum Osthandel, der sich auf eine breite Quellengrundlage stützt und den aktuellen Stand der Forschung widerspiegelt. Sein Verdienst ist es zweifellos, eine gelungene und auf umfangreichen eigenen Recherchen basierende Zusammenschau der jüngeren wissenschaftlichen Auseinandersetzung mit dem Osthandel zu bieten. Sein Buch wird auch angesichts der ständig wachsenden und fast unüberschaubaren Literaturfülle weiteren Studien zur Thematik als Hilfsmittel willkommen sein." - Monika Schuol, Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2020.09.39
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Tables, Maps and Figures 1 Introduction Scope of the Book Key Themes Scholarly Developments Approaching the Evidence Summary 2 The Ptolemies and the Erythra Thalassa Early Ptolemaic Activity in the Red Sea Voyages over the Open Ocean: The Monsoon Trade Winds Increasing Trade Ptolemaic Monopolies Ptolemaic Egypt and the Port of Arikamedu Ptolemaic Routes and Facilities Summary 3 Organisation and Finance Merchants and Financiers The Scale of Investment Ship Design and Construction Summary 4 The Roman State and the Indian Ocean Trade Facilitating the Trade Administration and Security Roman Military and Diplomatic Policy The Imperial Family’s Commercial Interests? Summary 5 Trade Routes and Merchant Diasporas Trading Routes and Schedules Merchant Diasporas Romans in the Far East Summary 6 Imports Imports from the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Goods and Roman Society Summary 7 Exports Exports from the Mediterranean World Roman Coins in India 8 Rome’s Trade Balance with India A Roman Trade Deficit? The Significance of Gold and Silver as Exports Ballast and Stowage Crew Provisions Summary 9 The Peak of Roman Trade in the Indian Ocean Roman Participation in the Indian Ocean Trade: The Second and Third Centuries Archaeological Evidence: The Dating of Roman Exports Archaeological Evidence: The Red Sea Ports and the Eastern Desert Fortlets Interpreting the Chronological Patterns 10 Conclusion The Development of Roman Trade in the Indian Ocean Schedules, Practicalities and Roman Diasporas Indian Ocean Goods and Roman Society Barter and Bullion The Peak Period of Roman Trade Afterword Bibliography Index
