Research Catalog

Title

Indo-Roman trade : from pots to pepper / Roberta Tomber ; maps by Antony Simpson ; illustrations by Penny Copeland.

Author

Tomber, R. (Roberta)

Publication

London : Duckworth, 2008.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Simpson, Antony.
• Copeland, Penny.

Description

216 p. : ill., maps; 22 cm.

Summary

"This book brings together for the first time archaeological findings from key ports throughout the Indian Ocean - the Red Sea, South Arabia, the Gulf, India and Sri Lanka - to build up a balanced picture of relations between East and West. Combined evidence from artefacts and documents reveals a complex situation whereby ordinary goods were carried alongside the more costly items - such as pepper, aromatics and gems - that drove the trade. Here the focus is on ordinary artefacts used by Romans, Africans, South Arabians, Sasanians and Indians who participated in the trade. The evidence from ceramics, especially, reveals the interplay between these different ethnic groups, where they lived, when the trade was active, and even how it was organised." "The account is arranged geographically, drawing on new evidence from the author's experience of archaeological sites and materials on the Red Sea and in India. A final chapter sketches the changing fortunes of trade between the first century BC and the seventh century AD in the light of these important new archaeological discoveries."--Jacket.

Series Statement

Duckworth debates in archaeology

Uniform Title

Duckworth debates in archaeology.

Subject

• Excavations (Archaeology) > Indian Ocean Region
• Indian Ocean Region > History > To 1500
• Indian Ocean Region > Commerce > Rome
• Rome > Commerce > Indian Ocean Region
• Indian Ocean Region > Antiquities

Genre/Form

History

Note

• "This book brings together for the first time archaeological findings from key ports throughout the Indian Ocean - the Red Sea, South Arabia, the Gulf, India and Sri Lanka - to build up a balanced picture of relations between East and West. Combined evidence from artefacts and documents reveals a complex situation whereby ordinary goods were carried alongside the more costly items - such as pepper, aromatics and gems - that drove the trade. Here the focus is on ordinary artefacts used by Romans, Africans, South Arabians, Sasanians and Indians who participated in the trade. The evidence from ceramics, especially, reveals the interplay between these different ethnic groups, where they lived, when the trade was active, and even how it was organised. The account is arranged geographically, drawing on new evidence from the author's experience of archaeological sites and materials on the Red Sea and in India. A final chapter sketches the changing fortunes of trade between the first century BC and the seventh century AD in the light of these important new archaeological discoveries"--P. [4] of cover.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-207) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Introducing Indo-Roman trade -- Charting exchange through texts and objects -- Evolution of the Roman Red Sea -- Beyond the Roman world -- Lands to the East -- Changing scenes and forces.

ISBN

• 9780715636961 (pbk.)
• 0715636960 (pbk.)

OCLC

243821179

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library