A Study Of The Red Sea Trade In The Early Roman Empire

The Red Sea trade has a long history and formed a large scale in the Ptolemaic dynasty.In the period of Ptolemy II,African war elephants were transported from the Red Sea to compete with the Seleucid Dynasty.Since then,the war elephant trade has stopped,and the Red Sea trade route has not been interrupted.It has gradually changed into a luxury trade dominated by ivory and spices.After 31 BC,Egypt became the province of the Roman Empire.At this time,due to the opening of maritime trade routes with India,the Red Sea trade got further development.On the one hand,it showed the development of trade base in Egypt,on the other hand,it showed the development of "maritime community" represented by merchant groups,which depended on the Red Sea Trade for a living.According to ancient literature and archaeological evidence,although the trade of ivory,gems and other luxury goods was still popular in the Roman Empire,with the expansion of the trade scale with India,the content of the Red Sea trade gradually changed to the semi luxury trade represented by Indian pepper.The Roman Empire paid attention to the huge tax revenue brought by the Red Sea trade.For this reason,the Empire on the one hand repaired roads and infrastructure on the land,on the other hand,the Empire expanded its power in the Red Sea area to promote the further development of the Red Sea trade.The measures of the Roman Empire made the Red Sea Trade flourish in the first and second century A.D.Therefore,the Red Sea trade had an important influence on the early society of Roman Empire.The expansion of the Red Sea trade brought a lot of taxes to the Roman Empire,and became one of the important sources of the Empire’s financial revenue.Secondly,with the development of Red Sea trade,luxury trade has gradually changed into semi luxury trade.Even the common people can afford some goods,which expands the consumer group of Red Sea trade.Finally,the commodities of the Red Sea trade,especially Indian commodities,changed the way of life of the imperial people in terms of daily diet and medical treatment.