The Formation of Indo-Roman Trade Relations during the Reign of Octavian Augustus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52575/2687-0967-2026-53-1-40-50Keywords:
Indo-Roman trade, Octavian Augustus, Roman Egypt, Aelius Gallus, Arikamedou, Mios-Horos, StraboAbstract
The article deals with the main issues related to the development of trade between the Roman Empire and Indian states during the reign of Octavian Augustus. The research is based on a complex of written, archaeological, and numismatic sources. Direct trade relations between the Roman Empire and the countries of the Distant East became possible only with the fall of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 B.C. The initial stage of these trade relations largely determined their features and shape. The article focuses on foreign policy during the reign of Octavian Augustus and its impact on the economic relations between the Roman Empire and India, examines the geography of these relations at the early stage, as well as the issue of problems connected with the building and manning the merchant fleet of the Roman Empire on the Red Sea. The authors conclude that the rise of Indo-Roman trade at the initial stage was facilitated by the civil war in Parthia, and this stage in itself was accompanied by significant diplomatic activity. The study allows a suggestion that the ships used in trade with India were probably built specifically for this purpose, while their crews had to be recruited not only from the Egyptians, but also from the Nabataeans.
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