Historical ports

Historical ports may be found where ancient civilizations have developed maritime trade.

One of the world's oldest known artificial harbors is at Wadi al-Jarf on the Red Sea.^[1] Along with the finding of harbor structures, ancient anchors have also been found.

Ancient China[edit]

Guangzhou^[2] was an important port during the ancient times as far back as the Qin Dynasty.

Ancient Egypt[edit]

Canopus was the principal port in Egypt for Greek trade before the foundation of Alexandria.

Ancient Greece[edit]

Athens' port of Piraeus was the base for the Athenian fleet and this played a crucial role in the Battle of Salamis^[3] against the Achaemenid Empire in 480 BC.

Ancient India[edit]

Port of Chittagong (located in present-day Bangladesh) has been a recorded seaport since the 4th century BCE. In the 2nd century, the harbor appeared on Ptolemy's map, drawn by the Claudius Ptolemy. The map mentions the harbor as one of the finest in the Eastern world. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea documents trade between Chittagong and private merchants from Roman Egypt.^[4]

Lothal is one of the most prominent cities of the ancient Indus valley civilisation, located in the Bhāl region of the modern state of Gujarat, India. Lothal was one of the southern most cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. The port was constructed around 2200 BCE^[5] and is believed to be world's earliest known dock.

Ancient Rome[edit]

Ostia Antica was the port of ancient Rome with Portus established by Claudius and enlarged by Trajan to supplement the nearby port of Ostia.

Messina, sited on the Strait of Messina, also has a history as an ancient port.

East Africa[edit]

In East Africa, Post-classical Swahili kingdoms are known to have had trade port islands and trade routes^[6] with the Islamic world and Asia. They were described by Greek historians as "metropolises".^[7] Famous East African trade ports such as Mombasa, Zanzibar, Mogadishu and Kilwa^[8] were known to Chinese sailors such as Zheng He and medieval Islamic historians such as the Berber Islamic voyager Abu Abdullah ibn Battuta.^[9]

Japan[edit]

During the Edo period, the island of Dejima was the only port open for trade with Europe and only received the Portuguese and Dutch traders, due to their historical relations, whereas Osaka was the largest domestic port and the main trade hub for rice.

References[edit]

^ Rossella Lorenzi (12 April 2013). "Most Ancient Port, Hieroglyphic Papyri Found". Discovery News. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ Guangzhou [1]
^ The Battle of Salamis [2]
^ Ring, Trudy; Watson, Noelle; Schellinger, Paul (12 November 2012). Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places - Google Books. ISBN 978-1-136-63979-1. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
^ Kulke, Hermann; Rothermund, Dietmar (2004). A History of India. pp. 25–26. ISBN 978-0-415-32920-0.
^ "Eastern and Southern Africa 500–1000 AD". Metmuseum.org. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
^ "Tanzanian dig unearths ancient secret by Tira Shubart". BBC News. 17 April 2002. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
^ Newitt, M.D.D. (1995). A History of Mozambique. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34006-1.
^ "Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325–1354". Fordham.edu. 21 February 2001. Retrieved 21 April 2009.