Rethinking Indo–Mediterranean relations : new approaches to the Roman Indian Ocean following the 3rd century crisis

Abstract

The present day globalised and interconnected world has caused a shift in how we face interconnectivity when studying the Ancient World. New methodologies and new horizons have risen to challenge this new outlook on ancient civilizations. In this regard, Global and World History perspectives allow us firstly to analyse the different processes of interconnectivity of the past, and secondly to analyse a wider and miscellaneous geographical area which has not been explored yet by traditional historiography. In this vein, this paper aims to focus on the Indo– Mediterranean relations in Late Antiquity.

Although the topic of Indo–Roman relations has become increasingly popular, it has rarely been analysed in the time–period suggested. In this context we will look at the turbulent transitionary period that the crisis of the 3rd century produced, not only within Roman frontiers, but also in the Indian Ocean, which had previously seen an unprecedented increase in connectivity with the Mediterranean world. Illustrated by the Sassanid expansion in Central Asia and the Persian Gulf, the “Late Antiquity” of the Indian Ocean suffered from several transformations that added new Central Asian influences, but that conversely also helped consolidating previous economic and social structures.

As a participant in these changes, the Roman Empire was forced to adapt a new policy towards Indian Ocean, in which its influence shrunk, but did not disappear. As a result, we shall explore how religious, economic and diplomatic policies become crucial for the interactions between the main powers of the Indian Ocean’s “Late Antiquity”.