Grade 6 Geography Resource Book 2020

https://www.nalis.gov.tt/Resources/Subject-Guide/Indian-Arrival-Day#tabposition_25366 
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/indian-indentured-labourers/ 
https://www.indocaribbean.org/ 
https://repeatingislands.com/2009/05/07/st-lucia%E2%80%99s-indian-arrival-day/ 
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/india/forced.htm 
 
 
 
 

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UNIT 3: INDIA’S GLOBAL CONNECTIONS 
 

UNIT 3d: Where’s Home? - India’s Middle East Connections 
 
India has historically had close economic ties to the Arabian peninsula, especially the Gulf region along its eastern shores. The first historically recorded 
maritime trade route in the world was, in fact, between the Indus Valley Civilization and the civilization of Dilmun, which was located on the island of 
Bahrain and the adjacent shore of Saudi Arabia. By 2000 BCE, Dilmun acquired a monopoly on trade between the Indian subcontinent and the 
civilizations of Mesopotamia. Records and historical artifacts demonstrate that traders from Dilmun stayed for extended periods in South Asia and vice 
versa. Goods not available in the Middle East, including cotton and spices, were acquired by merchants from Dilmun. 

 
 
Later on, trade between India and the Arabian peninsula was mostly dominated by Arab traders from Yemen and Oman. In Roman times, Yemen was 
the conduit for some highly valued types of incense, both natively sourced and traded from India. At the same time, Oman was dominating the Indian 

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Ocean trade between India, the Middle East, and East Africa. By the end of the first millennium CE, trade between India and Arabia became the 
economic backbone of the Arabian peninsula. 

Interestingly, most goods flowed from India toward Arabia. The latter had little to export to India except the money that was used to purchase spices, 
cloth, and other goods found in India. One exception to this rule, however, was the pearl industry, which was the single most important export of the 
Gulf region until the discovery of oil. ​Pearl diving​ was a way of life in places like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Qatar. 

Relations between the Gulf region and India grew even stronger during the British Raj, when they acquired a strategic-military component in addition to 
an economic one. By the mid-19th century, the British had come to dominate the subcontinent. British influence and control over Arab territory mostly 
flowed as a consequence of British needs to protect sea lanes. The British established a protectorate over Abu Dhabi in 1820, and conquered Aden in 
1839, which was administered as a province of the British India. Later on, protectorates were established over Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, and 
the other states that would later make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). British affairs in Gulf Arab states were all administered by British officials in 
India, and were garrisoned mostly by Indian soldiers under British command. 

The relationship between India and the Gulf states began to reverse upon the discovery of oil and Indian independence. The balance of trade began to 
shift more in favor of the Gulf states who exported oil. Today, India imports over 80 percent of its oil from the Gulf region (including Iran) and Indians 
form a crucial and influential portion of their entire labour force. Generations of Indians have been born and brought up in different Arabian Gulf states 
and call it a home even though they have Indian citizenship. Similarly people from the Middle East - Jews - since a century have also called India their 
home. In different parts of the country primarily Calcutta, Cochin and Bombay large groups of Jews have come and settled here, made place, family and 
integrated into our culture. In the process melding parts of their traditions with Indian culture and assimilating parts of Indian culture as their own. 

References 

Encyclopedia Brittanica 
Diplomat articles 
Deccan Herald articles 

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