A Question of Luxury: Trading Animals and Animal Parts Across the Indian Ocean
type: CreativeWork
description: Wildlife and their parts formed an important part of trade across the Indian Ocean from the early Roman imperial period. Multiple species are noted to have crossed as part of trade networks and there is evidence that volumes of goods such as ivory, tortoise shell, and red coral were both available and shipped in large volumes from a variety of ports. Though there is limited evidence that live animals crossed in any significant numbers, there are indications that demand for “exotic” live animals from India and East Africa existed in Rome for the purposes of public spectacle and for domestic purposes. These are noted to have led to the appearance of animals such as Indian hounds, peafowl, parrots, monkeys, and others that are attributed to the trade across the Indian Ocean. Likewise, this demand is noted to have existed at such high levels that it led to the decline of many Mediterranean species. In terms of animal parts, it is often argued that this formed part of a trade in predominantly “luxury” items due in part to their high values. This dissertation will seek to challenge this notion by specifically examining the political, social, and cultural drivers of trade in wildlife and their parts across the Indian Ocean. Due to the number of goods involved in the trade a focus will be placed on the examples of red coral, tortoise and turtle shell, and “exotic” live animals. Together these goods present different aspects of demand in Indian Ocean markets and in Rome and are illustrative of multiple, layered drivers that present a more complex picture than the label of luxury products alone can explain. In brief, demand for these goods existed on both sides of the Indian Ocean for a multitude of reasons including but not limited to medicinal, religious, societal, and cultural purposes. Literary and archaeological evidence of the trade will be examined. Specific texts such as the The Periplus Maris Erythraei and the Arthaśāstra are of particular importance as are other sou…
abstract: Wildlife and their parts formed an important part of trade across the Indian Ocean from the early Roman imperial period. Multiple species are noted to have crossed as part of trade networks and there is evidence that volumes of goods such as ivory, tortoise shell, and red coral were both available and shipped in large volumes from a variety of ports. Though there is limited evidence that live animals crossed in any significant numbers, there are indications that demand for “exotic” live animals from India and East Africa existed in Rome for the purposes of public spectacle and for domestic purposes. These are noted to have led to the appearance of animals such as Indian hounds, peafowl, parrots, monkeys, and others that are attributed to the trade across the Indian Ocean. Likewise, this demand is noted to have existed at such high levels that it led to the decline of many Mediterranean species. In terms of animal parts, it is often argued that this formed part of a trade in predominantly “luxury” items due in part to their high values. This dissertation will seek to challenge this notion by specifically examining the political, social, and cultural drivers of trade in wildlife and their parts across the Indian Ocean. Due to the number of goods involved in the trade a focus will be placed on the examples of red coral, tortoise and turtle shell, and “exotic” live animals. Together these goods present different aspects of demand in Indian Ocean markets and in Rome and are illustrative of multiple, layered drivers that present a more complex picture than the label of luxury products alone can explain. In brief, demand for these goods existed on both sides of the Indian Ocean for a multitude of reasons including but not limited to medicinal, religious, societal, and cultural purposes. Literary and archaeological evidence of the trade will be examined. Specific texts such as the The Periplus Maris Erythraei and the Arthaśāstra are of particular importance as are other sou…
author: Mowbray, Sean
keywords: D051 Hanes yr Henfyd
date published: 2026-06
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:53:11Z
provider: University of Wales Trinity Saint David
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Wales Trinity Saint David

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.82227/repository.uwtsd.ac.uk.00004311