The Indian Ocean Trade Routes were significantly influenced by the predictable seasonal winds known as __________, which facilitated safe navigation for traders.

The Indian Ocean Trade Routes were significantly influenced by the predictable seasonal winds known as monsoon winds, which blow in opposite directions at different times of the year. Traders would wait for the easterly monsoon to sail from the Arabian Peninsula to India, and then switch to the westerly monsoon to return home. This pattern allowed merchants to time their voyages with reliable currents and breezes, reducing travel time and risk. For example, a spice trader in Calicut could leave in late spring, ride the easterly monsoon across the ocean, and arrive in the Arabian Gulf by summer, then return with the westerly monsoon in autumn. This predictable wind system was the backbone of long‑distance commerce across the Indian Ocean.