The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
A Greek merchant's guide, the first to map East Africa's trade
Around the mid-1st century an anonymous Greek merchant from Egypt wrote a guide to the trade routes of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. He described the port of Adulis, ruled by King Zoskales, and the southernmost market he knew, Rhapta on the coast of today's Tanzania. Ivory, tortoiseshell and rhino horn were shipped from there: East Africa was already part of ocean trade.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 1st century
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Middle East
- c. 33 Crucifixion of Jesus — 17 years earlier
- 70 Siege of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple — 20 years later
Alive at the time
- Paul the Apostle (aged 45)
- Ban Zhao (aged 5)