📚 Learning Guide
Indian Ocean Trade Routes
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How did the Monsoon winds influence trade patterns in the Indian Ocean during the 14th and 15th centuries?

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Learning Path
Learning Path

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Choose the Best Answer

A

They allowed for predictable sailing routes, enhancing trade efficiency.

B

They made sailing unpredictable, discouraging long-distance trade.

C

They only affected trade between Europe and Asia.

D

They were primarily used for military purposes.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

Monsoon winds blow from southwest to northeast in the summer and reverse in winter, giving sailors a predictable seasonal pattern. Traders timed their voyages to match these winds, sailing from Arabia to India in the summer monsoon and returning west in the winter monsoon. This predictability allowed ships to carry larger cargoes and made ports like Calicut and Malacca reliable hubs. For example, a spice merchant from Malacca would sail east to India during the summer monsoon, then return to the Red Sea in the winter monsoon, completing a yearly round trip. Thus, the monsoon winds organized the timing, routes, and growth of Indian Ocean trade in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Detailed Explanation

Monsoon winds create predictable seasonal patterns. Other options are incorrect because Many think winds make sailing hard, but in reality they were predictable; Some believe only Europe–Asia trade was affected.

Key Concepts

Monsoon winds
Indian Ocean Trade
Regional trade networks
Topic

Indian Ocean Trade Routes

Difficulty

medium level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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