Research report 2016 - Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Connectivity in Motion: The Indian Ocean as Maritime Contact and Exchange Zone
Authors
Schnepel, Burkhard
Departments
Max-Planck-Institut für ethnologische Forschung, Halle (Saale)
Summary
The Indian Ocean is the third largest Ocean of the world, measuring approximately 69 million square kilometers. It connects Africa, West-, South-, Southeast-, and East Asia among each other. This ocean has been transversed by sailors for more than 5.000 years now, first only in parts, but after the deciphering of the monsoon-code (southwesterly winds in summer, northeasterly winds in winter) at the turn of the common era, also in its entire width.