Red Sea trade
Red Sea trade was a maritime commerce network linking northeast Africa and Arabia with Mediterranean markets through the Red Sea and its ports.
Berenice Troglodytica: An ancient Egyptian port on the Red Sea that connected Indian Ocean shipping with routes across the Eastern Desert. Its harbor and desert road made it a major Roman gateway for Red Sea commerce.
Pepper: A pungent spice, especially black pepper, produced from the dried fruit of Piper nigrum. Pepper was among the valuable Asian imports shipped through Red Sea ports.
Punt (region): An ancient trading region reached by Egyptian expeditions, probably located in the southern Red Sea area or nearby northeast Africa. Egyptian voyages to Punt show early state-sponsored commerce along the Red Sea's African shore.
Alexandria: A major Egyptian port city founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, located on the Mediterranean coast. Goods reaching Egypt by Red Sea and Nile routes could enter Mediterranean commerce through Alexandria.
Myos Hormos: An ancient Red Sea port in Egypt, generally identified with Quseir al-Qadim. It served as another Egyptian maritime outlet for goods moving between the sea and the Nile Valley.
Frankincense: An aromatic resin from Boswellia trees, burned as incense and used in perfumes and medicines. Arabian frankincense entered regional commerce through routes connected to Red Sea ports.
Ancient Egypt: A civilization centered on the Nile Valley from the fourth millennium BCE until the first century BCE. Egyptian rulers organized Red Sea expeditions and linked maritime imports to Nile institutions.
Adulis: An ancient port on the Red Sea coast of present-day Eritrea, associated with the Aksumite kingdom. Adulis grew into a major African entrepôt for trade across the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Periplus of the Erythraean Sea: A first-century Greek-language account of ports, routes, and commerce around the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean. Its sailing directions and merchant reports document the network's routes and trading practices.
Myrrh: An aromatic resin obtained from Commiphora trees and used in incense, perfumes, and medicines. Myrrh from Arabia and northeast Africa was a prized commodity in Mediterranean trade.