Land and sea routes were used by travelers practicing Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism.
Local populations “absorbed” elements of the new cultures they encountered and travelers brought back with them to their countries of origin elements of local cultures which thus spread across this vast region.
The Indian Ocean has been known since Antiquity
The fascination of the Indian Ocean quickly appears: it is the Ocean of all riches.
Alexander's armies crossed it on their return from India. During the time of Cleopatra, the Egyptians brought back pearls and precious stones.
From the Middle Ages, at the time of the Crusades, it became one of the routes of silk, spices and perfumes. During the Renaissance, via the Cap de Bonne It is the royal road to the riches and splendors of the eastern coast of Africa and the marvelous islands of Zanzibar, the Comoros, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius and beyond. beyond India and the Far East.
Conquerors, missionaries, adventurers, merchants, traffickers went there to the rhythm of the monsoons. Shortly after, the Spanish and the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the English created their famous East India companies which founded trading posts like those of Zanzibar or Diego Suarez.
the Atlantic arrives the Gold and Silver of the new world, via the Indian Ocean the spices, pearls, diamonds which make the fortune of Amsterdam or Antwerp.
In France, Colbert created the port of Lorient in 1664 to ensure traffic with the Indian Ocean. From now on, all the great European powers, but especially France and England, are fighting for control of the Indian Ocean.
Depending on conquests and political variations, the mythical islands change their names.
During the Romantic era, the Indian Ocean became the ocean of dreams from Baudelaire to Rimbaud, from Bernardin de Saint-Pierre to Henry de Monfreid.
And now here is an abundance of its cultural riches!
Responsible travel in the Indian Ocean allows you to discover this region, as well as its people and culture, in an authentic way. You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the way of life of the inhabitants and deepen your knowledge of the neighboring countries.