Maps of Trade Routes
The Indian Ocean World (IOW) is a vast area of the worlds oceans covering a 25%of the globe from the African East coast to Japan. The seas comprise the Indian Ocean, the Indonesian Sea and the South China Sea. This span of seas and the atmosphere above it is dominated by the land mass of Eurasia that warms and cools on the annual cycle of seasons. Across this part of the globe the seasons of the IOW dominated by the monsoons. In the summer the hot air above the land draws moisture from the seas and produces the south-west monsoons. In the northern winter the cold air flows south and produces the north-east monsoon. The changing patterns of winds had a dominating affect on sea transport across the Indian Ocean. Ships heading for Europe waited until the NE monsoon began to sail west across across the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. Ships leaving the Red Sea sailed east in the SW monsoon. The patterns of trade were controlled by these seasons. Wherever ships were located sailing across the Indian Ocean was governed by the seasonal winds and the crews were forced to live in the cities they found themselves until the season changed.
Migration From Taiwan
The inhabitants of Taiwan were originally from the east coast of China and around 4000 ya
Trade Roads
Trade across the Eurasian countries and across the oceans linking Europe, India, SE Asia, and China had its origins in the people inhabiting the grasslands named the Steppe that extends from Hungary to Mongolia. These Steppe people flourished as horse and cattle owners. They developed a unique bow that had greater tension than pure wood when bent. They became skilled archers while riding at full gallop shooting in all directions.
Tribal Confederations
In the East of Eurasia tribes had groups of affiliated people, of particular note were the Xiangnu and the Yuezhi who were always in conflict.
