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Nearly 2,000 years ago, Rome had a serious luxury problem. Wealthy Romans were obsessed with goods coming from India and the wider Indian Ocean trade network: pepper, cinnamon, pearls, ivory, silk, gemstones, fine cotton and exotic perfumes. These items moved across sea routes linking Roman Egypt with ports on the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and western coast of India.
The issue, at least to some Roman writers, was that the trade seemed one-sided. Rome wanted Indian luxuries, but India did not need nearly as much from Rome in return. That meant Roman merchants often paid in gold and silver, sending precious metal east in exchange for goods that were consumed, worn or displayed by the Roman elite.
The best-known complaint came from Pliny the Elder in the first century A.D. He claimed that India, China and Arabia drained enormous sums from the Roman Empire each year through luxury trade. His criticism was partly economic and partly moral. To him, Rome’s appetite for spices, jewels and fine fabrics showed how extravagant Roman society had become.
In reality, this trade also shows how connected the ancient world already was. Long before modern globalization, Roman coins were reaching India, Indian pepper was reaching Roman tables, and merchants were crossing thousands of miles of ocean for profit.
Added fact: Large numbers of Roman coins have been found in southern India, especially in regions connected to ancient trade routes, showing how active Roman-Indian commerce became during the early imperial period.
The issue, at least to some Roman writers, was that the trade seemed one-sided. Rome wanted Indian luxuries, but India did not need nearly as much from Rome in return. That meant Roman merchants often paid in gold and silver, sending precious metal east in exchange for goods that were consumed, worn or displayed by the Roman elite.
The best-known complaint came from Pliny the Elder in the first century A.D. He claimed that India, China and Arabia drained enormous sums from the Roman Empire each year through luxury trade. His criticism was partly economic and partly moral. To him, Rome’s appetite for spices, jewels and fine fabrics showed how extravagant Roman society had become.
In reality, this trade also shows how connected the ancient world already was. Long before modern globalization, Roman coins were reaching India, Indian pepper was reaching Roman tables, and merchants were crossing thousands of miles of ocean for profit.
Added fact: Large numbers of Roman coins have been found in southern India, especially in regions connected to ancient trade routes, showing how active Roman-Indian commerce became during the early imperial period.
@rahuldeviah nha more then that
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This was also China
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So many insecure people in the comments 😂 got ragebaited lol can't hear anything good about India, their day is ruined.
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Pearls silk etc don’t come from India
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There are many roman coins found in india with a stab mark, allegedly when romans paid with gold coins, indian merchants used to take out a coin from the bag and stab it with a knife to check the gold’s purity
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🇮🇳🔥🔥
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Hahaha i like how these pakistani bots cry . Like if they have an identity crisis they will try to put some dirt on us too😂😂 .
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The comment section is the living proof why India remained subservient to British crown for nearly a century and to the EIC for another.
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It makes me sad and depressed how glorious and rich was my country and how depressing it is now😞😞
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There was no India at that time it Was Kerala
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India of that time is all in Pakistan now
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Tamizh 🔥🙌
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What was India GDP at that time ?
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