The Indian Ocean has been a major center of maritime trade and cultural exchange for millennia, long before the Atlantic.

The predictable monsoon winds allowed for regular and reliable sea travel between East Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.

This trade network was multicultural and, for much of its history, largely peaceful.

Key goods traded included spices from the East Indies, textiles from India, and gold and ivory from Africa.

The Indian Ocean was a major conduit for the spread of ideas and religions, particularly Islam, which was spread by merchants to East Africa and Southeast Asia.

This system was disrupted by the arrival of the Portuguese in the late 15th century, who used military force to try to control the trade.

The Portuguese were followed by other European powers, including the Dutch, English, and French, who competed for control of the lucrative trade routes.

European powers established trading post empires and later formal colonies throughout the region.

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 dramatically increased the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Ocean remains a vital artery for global trade today.