The political integration of Indian Ocean Ports-of-Trade

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Abstract

This paper will take a look at port cities in the Indian Ocean and explain their functions, importance and connections. However, unlike most recent works, the aim is not primarily to show their significance for economic and cultural integration but to try and shed some light on the political integration of port cities in their respective region and the impact this had on the Indian Ocean. The assessment of cultural and economic integration in this paper is thus by no means a complete picture, but rather aims at showing how recent research has highlighted elements of integration over those of division. For the purpose of this paper, a larger Indian Ocean region is looked at, including the Chinese Seas in the East and both the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea in the West. Chronologically the analysis will be limited to the time between the 7th century and the advent of the Europeans in the 15th century. At some points however, a view toward the era of European intervention will be useful.