Historically, ancient maritime trade routes linked Kerala ports such as Muziris to the Mediterranean world. Through which major global body of water did Roman and Egyptian merchant vessels navigate from the Red Sea across to the Malabar coast taking advantage of seasonal monsoon winds?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Ancient Roman traders sailed across the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean, utilizing the predictable southwest monsoon winds to reach Malabar ports like Muziris and returning with the northeast trade winds. South China Sea and Malacca Strait connect East Asia rather than the Mediterranean to India. Tasman Sea lies near Australia. Caribbean Sea is located in the Western Hemisphere. The discovery of monsoon wind patterns by Hippalus revolutionized ancient maritime commerce between the Roman Empire and peninsular India.