Indo - Roman Trade
                     
Introduction
Exchange networks in India go far deep into time 
and are as old as the Neolithic Age (9000 BP). 
During the Sindhu-Sarasvatī Civilisation, these 
trade networks were further strengthened and 
expanded and trade was carried out with 
contemporary cultures like Egypt and 
Mesopotamia.
Source: www.indica.today
Inland trade
Inland trade was equally dynamic in this civilisation 
and was one of the main factors which contributed 
to its high level of prosperity. Trade declined 
towards the end of this civilisation but it revived 
by the 6th century BCE when we witnessed the rise 
of urbanisation in the Gaṅgā Valley.
Source: www.indica.today
Internal trade
Though we are not very certain about the exact 
nature of external trade till the 4th century BCE, 
internal trade was surely responsible for the rise of 
cities and the associated phenomena like the 
emergence of currency, art and public architecture 
and so on.
Source: www.indica.today
Trade relations
It was around the 1st century BCE that trade 
relations were established between India and the 
Roman Empire. What is noteworthy is that the 
balance of trade was more or less in India’s favour 
and Roman gold and silver coins poured into India 
taking her affluence to greater heights.
Source: www.indica.today
The Indo-Roman Trade
Though the Indo-Roman trade started in the 1st 
century BCE, it truly matured in the 1st and 2nd 
centuries CE. 
The geographical location of Arabia, Asia Minor and 
northeastern Africa helped to establish trade 
contacts between South Asia, West Asia and 
Europe. 
Source: www.indica.today
Evidence of Southern Peninsula
As far as India is concerned, the earliest evidence 
of this trade is to be found from the southern 
Peninsula, especially in the state of Kerala. Indo- 
Roman trade was carried out on the sea as well on 
land.
Source: www.indica.today
Promote foreign trade
It is believed that to promote foreign trade, 
Kanīṣka, the Kuṣāṇa ruler made use of the 
standard of the Roman gold coins for his own 
issues. The political tensions between the Śakas 
and Sātavāhanas did affect this trade for some 
time at least. 
Source: www.indica.today
Encourage to take the sea route
Similarly, the contentions between the Śakas and 
Parthians also served as a major impediment for 
trade overland. In order to overcome this problem, 
Augustus, the Roman Emperor encouraged the 
traders to take the sea route and offered them 
protection as well.
Source: www.indica.today
Greek sailor
There is a text called Periplus on the Erythrean 
Sea, a sort of a guide book written by an unknown 
Greek sailor which is one of the major sources to 
reconstruct the history of this trade. 
Source: www.indica.today
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