Early Indian Ocean trade routes into the South African interior

What is it about?

The earliest development of Indian Ocean trade networks in southern Africa has not been well-documented. Research identified evidence that the Letaba River region of South Africa, located 400 kilometers inland, was already connected to Indian Ocean trade networks by the 10th century CE. The authors identified 14 turquoise alkaline-glazed ceramic sherds dated to 887–966 CE. These wares made in the Persian Gulf region between the 3rd and 10th century CE, likely in present-day southern Iraq. Such glazed wares were widely circulated in Indian Ocean trade networks but are near absent in the African interior.

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Photo by Simon Hurry on Unsplash

Photo by Simon Hurry on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The research shows that Early Indian Ocean trade networks in the far south of Africa connected interior regions to the coast almost from the beginning. Early trade routes likely developed along large rivers from the southern coast of Mozambique. This lay the groundwork for Iron Age political organizations of later periods.