Madhuri Sharma
Independent Researcher
India
Abstract
This study offers a comprehensive, data-driven reconstruction of ancient India’s maritime trade networks through the integration of archaeological evidence, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and advanced geospatial analysis. Drawing upon coastal excavations, underwater surveys, port-city artifact assemblages, and contemporaneous textual records from circa 600 BCE to 1500 CE, we compile and harmonize a geospatial database of 82 maritime-linked sites. Utilizing ArcGIS Pro, bathymetric and paleo–sea-level models, and monsoon wind vector data, we perform network and least-cost path analyses to identify principal sea routes, seasonal sailing windows, and shifting nodal hierarchies among major emporia. Chronological phasing into Early Historic (600 BCE–300 CE), Classical–Early Medieval (300–1000 CE), and Late Medieval (1000–1500 CE) periods reveals dynamic expansions and contractions of trade corridors between the Indian subcontinent, the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. The evolution of vessel technology—from sewn-plank to mortise-and-tenon construction—is traced through underwater wreck analyses, indicating adaptations to longer, more arduous voyages. Network metrics highlight the rise of new hubs, especially on the Coromandel and Malabar coasts during the Late Medieval phase. Inland dispersal patterns of imported coin hoards and beads, mapped along river valleys, elucidate the logistical integration of coastal emporia with hinterland markets. Qualitative contextualization through seafaring treatises and travelers’ accounts enriches interpretation of material patterns within known historical events, such as Chola naval campaigns and the emergence of Gujarat Sultanate trade posts. Findings underscore ancient India’s instrumental role in shaping early globalization, demonstrating sophisticated environmental knowledge, technological innovation, and socio-economic organization. By illuminating past maritime networks, this research also informs contemporary heritage management, coastal zone planning, and cultural tourism strategies aimed at preserving submerged archaeological resources.
Keywords
Maritime Trade Routes, Ancient India, Archaeological Data, GIS Mapping, Monsoon Navigation
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