Spaces, Places and Things. The Spatial Dimension of Early Indian Ocean Exchange

Abstract

Early exchange along the maritime Silk Road not only spanned immense distances, but was also subject to—among other things—seasonal weather systems, hazardous waters, arid and sparsely populated coastlines with few suitable harbours, and limits imposed by infrastructure and technology. Juxtaposing theoretical models for the spatial organisation of premodern exchange with the fragmentary record of experiences handed down in historical sources, and modern digital methods for the analysis of spatial relations, this chapter addresses how we can approach the space-placethings conundrum in the context of early Indian Ocean exchange.